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City proclaims April Sexual Assault Awareness Month; local nonprofit STAR to provide free advocacy and services
Summary
The council read a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and heard from Ashley Severson of STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response), which offers free counseling, legal representation and accompaniment services across multiple parishes.
At the start of the council’s proclamations, Council presented a proclamation recognizing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and invited Ashley Severson, a representative of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response (STAR), to describe services the nonprofit provides.
Severson told the council STAR offers free, confidential services including counseling, case management and legal support, and that advocates will accompany survivors to hospitals, to law enforcement interviews and to court when requested. She said STAR also maintains a prevention-focused social change team and operates centers in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Alexandria.
Severson asked council members to share STAR’s contact information with residents; she said the group’s website (STAR ngo) lists resources and ways to reach an advocate. "We offer free counseling services, free legal representation, as well as case management services," she said, summarizing services available without proof of insurance or proof that an assault occurred.
Mayor and council members thanked Severson and said staff would share the nonprofit’s contact information through city channels to raise awareness of available services.
