‘Let’s talk teal’ CTFS brings awareness regarding sexual assault

Teal could be seen as far as the eye could see in Tarleton’s Barry B. Thompson Student Center Ballroom as the fourth annual Cross Timbers Family Services Better Beginnings Brunch took place Saturday, Jan. 27.

Teal is the color designated for National Sexual Assault Awareness Month held each April.

“We are so honored by the support we received at our Fourth Annual Better Beginnings Brunch on Saturday. Our agency is committed to both healing for survivors and prevention of violent crimes in our community. Our topic this year was sexual assault. This crime affects everyone of all backgrounds. Being willing to have an open conversation about how it affects families is so important not only to prevent these devastating crimes but also to start the healing process as soon as possible,” CTFS Executive Director Laura Gambino said. “The trial that our community witnessed this past week involving a child sex predator who was finally brought to justice shows it can happen anywhere to anyone. We want to provide resources for victims to heal as well as the prevention to keep it from happening to someone else. We are thankful for everyone in the community who supported our Brunch and joined us in the conversation about how our community can help all crime victims have a better beginning.”

In a new location, CTFS was able to add more seats, additional auction items and offer attendees elegant teal decor along with take home gifts.

Brunch included breakfast frittatas, french toast casserole, fresh seasonal berries, fruit infused water, sliced bacon, tea, coffee and bottomless mimosas.

Though lighthearted fun and a spirit of camaraderie was on the menu for the event, difficult subjects were on tap for the brunch.

Over the past three years the event has tackled subjects such as child abuse, domestic violence and human trafficking. This year, CTFS decided to highlight sexual assault awareness and moves in the legislature to establish Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Programs throughout the state.

“The first thing is having the courage to talk about it and that is why we are here,” Gambino said. “We want to talk teal this year.”

Tarleton Police Chief Matt Wells was on hand to offer a blessing for the event and Gambino stated she appreciated the collaboration on all sides with Tarleton State University.

“For those who have never been to one of our brunches, welcome to the circle. We hope you learn something and leave inspired to stand against all violent crimes,” Gambino said.

In the Erath County SART report from Nov. 2021 to 2023, there were 47 adult sexual assault cases and four courtesy reports from other counties.

In those statistics, 50% involved drugs or alcohol and 32% involved strangulation, which is IDed by police as a stepping stone to murder.

“Many sexual assaults involve alcohol because it does two things: first, it provides the camouflage for an assault to occur. Second, alcohol is the most-frequently used weapon to incapacitate a victim,” Caris Thetford, Director of Student Counseling Services for Tarleton stated in the presentation.

In 78% of the cases, the victim knew the person who sexually assaulted them and 17% met through a dating app or social media.

Other statistics were also shared in the presentation including one out of 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

Prior to the speaker taking the stage, Gambino shared photos and information regarding a soft interview room installed at the Stephenville Police Department by Leadership Stephenville Class of 2023 in coordination with Project Beloved, with The Molly Jane Mission.

Trauma informed care (TIC) considers and understands the body’s biological and neurological response to trauma. Evidence based practices call for a trauma informed approach to reports of rape and sexual assault, and a soft interview room is considered an integral component of TIC. Creating a space that is comfortable rather than stark allows the participant to feel physically and emotionally safe and can have a significant impact on the interview process. Soft interview rooms can also be useful when interviewing those suspected of committing crimes as well.

Project Beloved partners with law enforcement agencies to install soft interview rooms.

Tracy Matheson, the founder of Project Beloved attended the Brunch Matheson was the mother of Molly Jane, who at age 22, was sexually assaulted and then murdered. Molly Jane had just been accepted to Tarleton State University.

As keynote speaker of the event, Dr. Cindy Burnett, DNP, RN, CA-CP SANE, SANE-A spoke to the group as a SANE nurse. She is the System Sane Program Director for Texas Health Resources.

Burnett earned her GED then entered community college and earned her Associates Degree in Nursing in 1997 and throughout the years continued her educational journey completing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in 2016.

She gained her certification through the Texas Office of the Attorney General as a pediatric and adult Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and international SANE-A certification from the International Association of Forensic Nurses.

As part of the program, she walked the audience what it would be like as a rape victim to go through a SANE exam and what would follow it.

“As a victim, she has to recount the act to the hospital, then she has to recount the act to law enforcement and then if it goes to trial, she will have to recount to a courtroom filled with a jury, a judge and the perpetrator,” she said. “That trauma is endured over and over again.”

Burnette shared that only 10% of sexual assault crimes are ever reported and that one in five women and one in 33 men will be a victim of sexual assault during their lifetimes.

Those in college are three times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

Burnette chronicled some of the changes made in Texas regarding Sexual Assault Response Team protocols.

“Texas is on the forefront on laws for sexual abuse,” she said.

Legislation passed in 2021 mandates that sexual assault exams are free for all victims as well as counseling. It also mandates that all participants of the Sexual Assault Response Team come to the table to discuss cases. In Erath County, that includes CTFS, prosecutor/District Attorney, the county sheriff’s office, law enforcement, a mental or behavior health provider and a sexual assault nurse provider.

Erath County SART taskforce started in 2012 and was coordinated by CTFS.