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Overview
Sexual assault is a serious public health issue that impacts everyone in Los Angeles County.
Sexual violence is an umbrella term for multiple forms of violence and abuse including sexual assault. Other forms of sexual violence are
child sexual abuse,
incest,
sexual coercion
reproductive coercion,
rape,
sexual harassment,
sexual exploitation, and
stalking.
Sexual Violence & Health Equity
Like many public health issues, sexual violence is an issue of health equity and social justice. Multiple forms of oppression like racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism contribute to all forms of sexual violence. In addition to being risk factors for sexual violence, structural racism and systemic injustices, (e.g. racist and xenophobic immigration policies, economic inequalities, oppressive reproductive health laws, and unequal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare) disproportionately impact communities who are economically and socially disadvantaged, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant and undocumented individuals. Sexual violence also intersects with many other forms of violence including child abuse, domestic, intimate partner and teen dating violence, human trafficking, gang violence, dependent adult and elder abuse, among others.
While existing data likely undercounts the extent of sexual violence in our communities, the CDC reports that “over half of women and almost one in three men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes”. Further, one in four women and about one in 26 men have experienced completed or attempted rape.
History of the Los Angeles County Sexual Assault Council (LAC SAC)
On April 11, 2022, the Los Angeles County Commission for Women’s Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Assault recommended that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors establish a Sexual Assault Council to coordinate a countywide response for survivors of sexual violence. The Ad Hoc committee’s report, Establishing the Los Angeles County Sexual Assault Coordinating Council, can be found here. The committee recommended a multi-disciplinary membership that includes individuals from law enforcement, crime labs, victim services, forensic nurses, rape crisis centers, prosecutors’ offices, and child protective services.
On September 27, 2022, the Board of Supervisors adopted the motion by Supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda L. Solis, Creating a Sexual Assault Council in Los Angeles County to Support Survivors and Prevent Sexual Violence, to establish the Los Angeles County Sexual Assault Council (LAC SAC). This motion housed the LAC SAC within the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Health Promotion Bureau, under the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP).
The Office of Violence Prevention officially launched the Los Angeles County Sexual Assault Council (LAC SAC) in April 2025. Stakeholders are currently shaping the Sexual Assault Council’s focus areas and identifying strategies to remove systemic barriers that impact service accessibility and delivery for sexual assault survivors.
*Department of Mental Health, 510 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles 90020, 9th Floor Terrace
**The California Endowment, 1000 Alameda St., Los Angeles 90012
Members: June 2025-June 2027
Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities, President
Rancho Los Amigos Patient Advisory Committee, Chair
PUSHRIM Foundation, CEO
Southern California Resource Services Independent Living Center, Board Member Carlos Benavides provides information to individuals with disabilities about their human rights and how to recognize instances of discrimination. Mr. Benavides engages organizations to raise awareness of human rights and assists individuals with disabilities in navigating complaints processes and legal actions. Mr. Benavides uses his voice to identify situations where people with disabilities have been treated unfairly. He advocates for social change by speaking to the media, and by lobbying the government to make meaningful changes that protect the rights of all people with disabilities.
Clinical Supervisor, Antelope Valley Partners for Health Jill Blanks, MA, LMFT (she/her/hers) has worked in the Antelope Valley for over 35 years providing mental health services. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma and family child health. Ms. Blanks works at Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) as a Clinical Supervisor for home visitation programs and has taken the lead in identifying gaps in mental health services, collaborating with partners to build services around those gaps. She has a passion for empowering those she works with to thrive. Ms. Blanks brings reflective processing/supervision to the leadership of AVPH, which changed the organization's culture.
Executive Director, Young B.O.S.S. Jerry Cobbs (he/him/his) is the founder and Executive Director of Young B.O.S.S (501 c3), an organization that provides mentoring for at-risk youth and their families. The 52 year-old Los Angeles native is passionate about education, prevention and intervention.
VA Long Beach Healthcare System, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Ms. Danielle A. Daniels is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over twenty years of professional experience in behavioral health and public administration. For the past seven years, Danielle has worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System. In this role, she serves as the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator. With a strong background in administration and program development, Danielle is most passionate about serving the needs of our veterans, their families and caregivers, and VA staff who experience or use intimate partner violence. A proud graduate of the University of Southern California, when Danielle is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and in the garden.
Senior Director, Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House Dr. Jane Halladay Goldman is the Senior Director of the Rape Treatment Center and Stuart House, where she oversees comprehensive services for child and adult victims of sexual assault. A nationally recognized expert in trauma-informed care, she previously led systems change efforts at the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. Her work spans clinical leadership, prevention, law enforcement training, and policy. She developed the Trauma-Informed Organizational Assessment and has advised the OVC, OJJDP, and NCJFCJ. Dr. Halladay Goldman is committed to improving care and outcomes for survivors of sexual violence and child trauma through advocacy, education, and systemic reform.
CAC Director, Inner Circle Children's Advocacy Center Susy Flores, M.S., (she/her) is the Director of the Inner Circle Children's Advocacy Center and a Bilingual Forensic Interviewer with over 18 years of experience, having conducted more than 2,700 interviews of children, and adults with developmental disabilities. With 19 years in the field of child abuse prevention, she serves as a Peer Review Facilitator and is an Advisory Committee Member for the Children’s Advocacy Centers of California. A former mental health clinician, she specialized in working with child victims and their non-offending family members. Recognized for her advocacy, she has received multiple awards, including Woman of the Year – Advocacy Award.
Assistant Head Deputy, Sex Crimes Division, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Rachel Greene (she/her/hers) has been a Deputy District Attorney for over 25 years and currently supervises DDAs handling sex crimes cases in the Alhambra, Antelope Valley, Norwalk, Pasadena, and Pomona courthouses. As a trial DDA, she vertically prosecuted cases involving sex crimes, domestic violence, and cold case murders for more than half her career. She has been recognized for her expertise in handling multiple victim, intra-family sexual abuse and forensically complex cases. Prior to joining the LADA's Office, Rachel received a fellowship to research survivors' definitions of success for the Family Violence Division of the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and volunteered as a hotline advocate.
Executive Director, East LA Women's Shelter Barbara Kappos, LCSW (she/her) currently serves as the Executive Director of the East Los Angeles Women’s Center in Los Angeles, California.
Ms. Kappos has over 30 years of experience working in the Greater East Los Angeles communities providing services to vulnerable families. Ms. Kappos has established a variety of service models based on best practices and culturally relevant interventions. Ms. Kappos is a licensed social worker with experience in the field of social work and has been influential in the areas of child welfare, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, sexual violence and substance abuse recovery.
Community Advocate and Assistant to Program Development, Native Development Network (NDNz.org) Patricia Lopez (no pronouns) was born in Bureau of Indian Affairs American Indian Relocation Housing in downtown L.A. (Aliso Village) of parents who migrated to California from their Indian Reservation in Taos, New Mexico because of the Federal Indian Relocation Act in the early 1950s. Patricia worked for L.A. County Department of Health Services from 1976-2004 in various locations and positions including as a Staff Nurse and the OB/GYN Clinic.
Patricia is a member of the Association of American Indian Physicians, American Society for Cervical Cancer Prevention, California Nurse Practitioners Association, and a Member of SEIU Local 720, Women's Caucus.
Deputy Executive Drector, Peace Over Violence Yvette Lozano (she/her) is a veteran leader in the fields of sexual and domestic violence (IPV) prevention, with over 25 years of service at Peace Over Violence. As Deputy Executive Director, she oversees prevention and intervention programs including the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART), case management, 24/7 hotline and emergency response, and training services.
Her statewide impact includes previous leadership roles with VALOR and the Los Angeles Domestic Violence Alliance, as well as providing training and technical assistance. Yvette’s decades-long commitment to prevention, advocacy, and empowerment continues to shape stronger, safer communities across Los Angeles County.
Chief Program Officer, YWCA Greater Los Angeles Lisa Hirsch Marin (she/her/ella) is driven by a vision of a world where women and girls have equal opportunities and are free from racism and violence. She is the Chief Program Officer at YWCA Greater Los Angeles, leading strategic partnerships, government grants and operational execution for five empowerment program teams, including Survivor Empowerment Services (Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence/Human Trafficking), Early Child Development Centers, Senior Empowerment, Youth Empowerment and Economic Advancement.
Ms. Hirsch Marin has double master’s degrees in social welfare and Organizational Development and Leadership, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has received the Los Angeles County Commission for Women Woman of the Year award.
Acting Captain, Special Victims Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Dianne Moreno, a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department has spent much of her career in investigations and currently, serving as the Acting Captain of the Special Victims Bureau.
Prior to the Sheriff’s department Lt. Moreno received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from SDSD and a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State University, Long Beach. She has dedicated her entire adult life to law enforcement and seeking justice for those without a voice.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. Watching her children’s sporting events is one of her most enjoyable hobbies.
Director, Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Empowerment, California State University, Dominguez Hills Mayra Romo (she/her) is the founding Director of the Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Empowerment (CAPE) at CSU Dominguez Hills, where her work reflects the university’s commitment to equity, justice, and community transformation. With over 15 years of experience, she has supported hundreds of survivors, trained more than 100 sexual assault counselors, and built CAPE into a model for survivor-centered advocacy in higher education. Her prevention efforts include the Little Black Dress Campaign, which challenges harmful social norms, and her statewide policy advocacy helped pass AB 1896, which expanded legal confidentiality protections for campus-based advocates across California.
Director of Workforce Development, Jenesse Center Inc. Yasmin Tarver (she/her) is a seasoned leader and advocate with over 25 years of experience advancing equity for survivors and underserved communities. As Workforce Development Director at Jenesse Center, she leads efforts in housing, economic empowerment, and trauma-informed care. Her work centers on creating sustainable, inclusive support systems. Yasmin is widely recognized for her professional and educational achievements, reflecting a deep commitment to service. She believes in the power of community and sustainability. Above all, Yasmin considers her greatest accomplishment to be being the mother of her two daughters, who are creating impact in their own ways.
Founding Director & CEO, Healing to You Cari Teran, LMFT (she/her) is the Founding Director and CEO of Healing to You, a comprehensive medical and mental healthcare nonprofit providing trauma-informed services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout Southern California through mobile clinics and a clinic in Wilmington. With 25 years of clinical experience, and as Vice Chair of the California Child Abduction Task Force, she is an expert in trauma, child abuse, sexual assault, and child abduction recovery and reunification. She is recognized for her leadership in trauma-informed program development and cross-system advocacy, with a deep commitment to accessible, compassionate care for survivors.
Founding Board Member, Asian Minds Matter Board Member, National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery Steering Committee Member, National Asian American Pacific Islander Empowerment Network Emily Wu Truong is an award-winning Taiwanese American mental health advocate and grief artist for trauma-informed care, harm-reduction, and systemic change to strengthen the healing power of community and connection. She serves as the first Asian board member for the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery. In 2024, she was named "AAPI Community Champion" by former Senator Portantino and honored as an "Unsung Champion of Advocacy" by the New York-based agency Alliance for Rights & Recovery. After her father died, she channels her grief energy into various art forms. As a suicide-attempt, sexual assault, and psychiatric survivor, she uses her own lived experiences to create safe spaces in support group settings over the last 10+ years. Her advocacy, creative expression and dedication to community healing inspires many to transform their own pain into beauty.
Dr. Deborah Villanueva (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and organizational leader with over two decades of experience addressing trauma, gender-based violence, and systemic inequities. She has worked extensively across Los Angeles County developing culturally responsive mental health programs for survivors of sexual assault, trafficking, and complex trauma, particularly within underserved communities. Dr. Villanueva brings expertise in trauma-informed care, cross-sector collaboration, and community-based healing. She currently serves on multiple boards and leads initiatives at the intersection of mental health, advocacy, and public policy. Her commitment is rooted in advancing survivor-centered practices and equity in all systems of care.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2025
On April 1, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted the motion by Supervisor Holly Mitchell proclaiming April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month; April 27, 2025, as Invincible Day; and April 30, 2025, as Denim Day in Los Angeles County.
Denim Day - Join the global movement. Wear jeans on purpose with purpose with millions of individuals on Denim Day and make a social statement with your fashion statement. Support survivors and educate yourself and others.
East LA Women's Center - East Los Angeles Women’s Center (ELAWC) will host INVINCIBLE, an immersive multi-media experience to cap off a month of activities during Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).
National Sexual Violence Resource Center - NSVRC provides research and tools to advocates working on the frontlines to end sexual harassment, assault, and abuse with the understanding that ending sexual violence also means ending racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression.
Trevor Project: 1-877-987-6568 Suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people. Provides information and support 24/7 yearly.
988 Crisis Line: Text, Chat, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Video phone or online portal. Suicide and crisis lifeline for mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug concerns, or a listening ear; counselors are here for you. You are not alone.
California Victim Compensation Board - (CalVCB) Provides resources and referrals to support services and reimbursement for some crime related expenses.
