Sexual assault, domestic violence survivors in Utah rural areas face more barriers to assistance

ST. GEORGE — More than 200 survivors sought help in 2022 at the DOVE Center, which has provided a resource for individuals experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking in southern Utah for 30 years.

Hundreds of survivors seek care, but Bailey VanOver, a program coordinator at DOVE, said that many survivors still don't report or seek services.

"We have learned from clients that there is a misconception that DOVE does not provide services in Kane County, and the distance to St. George is a barrier for many," VanOver said. "Even when clients are informed that they can access DOVE services over the phone, most survivors of rape and sexual assault prefer to meet in person."

The DOVE Center currently has three locations in St. George and Washington. These include a confidential shelter location, the organization's main office and a confidential transitional housing location.

Finding available resources is especially difficult for survivors in rural populations, which is why the DOVE Center is taking steps to break barriers faced by rural survivors and improve its rape and sexual assault services in Kane County, starting in Kanab.

"COVID intensified these barriers," said DOVE Center Executive Director Jillian Penhale. "Although the organization was able to offer telehealth services to both local and rural survivors during the pandemic, inadequate internet services in rural areas proved to be a challenge."

Additional barriers for DOVE Center clients in rural areas include transportation, communication and confidentiality.

"In Kane County specifically, transportation is a barrier due to the fact that all three of DOVE Center's current locations are at least an hour drive away and public transportation does not always transport individuals from Washington County to Kane County," VanOver said. "Consequently, numerous clients have made statements that due to the travel time and/or overall lack of transportation, they do not seek DOVE Center services or do not do so long term."

Distance isn't the only barrier, either — far from it, says VanOver.

"The saying 'everyone knows everyone' is prevalent in small towns and rural communities. While this is not negative, it can hinder individuals from seeking services such as a forensic sexual assault exam, out of fear of who may find out," VanOver said.

To address these issues, the DOVE Center plans to utilize grant funds from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to launch a pilot program to improve the rape and sexual assault program, expand case management, advocate through the organization's Hospital Advocacy Response Team and provide prevention and education services for survivors in Kane County.

In addition, the organization will offer group therapy services to survivors housed at the Washington County Jail.

"This will be accomplished through the hiring of a mobile advocate, who will, in turn, be responsible for creating, coordinating and recruiting volunteers for the Hospital Advocate Response Team in Kanab, providing follow-up services, including client intakes and case management and establishing and co-facilitating an art therapy support group for RSA (rape and sexual assault) clients in Kanab," VanOver said.

The center hopes that the initiatives undertaken through the grant fund will help individuals in Kane County access its services "more readily and easily."

If the pilot program is successful, the DOVE Center will seek to expand its mobile advocacy into additional rural areas as needed, such as tribal lands, Enterprise and Central, according to a release from the center.

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