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Waymakers SAVS & Prevention

@savswaymakersoc

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👋🏼 Waymakers Sexual Assault Victim Services
💙 Orange County, CA's only Rape Crisis Center
☎️ Speak to an advocate: 714-957-2737
💬 Hablamos español

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Thank you to @csuftitanhealth for inviting the Waymakers Sexual Assault Victim Services team to participate in the Titans Healing Together event as we begin Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

We were honored to share resources, educational information, and the Clothesline Project, a powerful visual display created to raise awareness about the impact of violence. Each shirt is designed by a survivor or by someone honoring the memory of a loved one affected by violence. The different shirt colors represent various forms of violence and serve as a testament to the strength, resilience, and stories of those impacted.

Events like this help foster awareness, encourage connection and support, and remind survivors that they are not alone. By creating space for education, healing, and access to resources, we can work together to build safer and more compassionate communities.

Together We Heal.
Together We Thrive.

#orangecounty #csfutitans #dvawareness #clotheslineproject taken in Cal State Fullerton by @savswaymakersoc

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2 days ago

Celebrating 20 years of community, collaboration, and support!

Waymakers’ Sexual Assault Victim Services team was honored to join the Orange County Family Justice Center for their 20th Anniversary celebration this past Saturday!

For two decades, the Orange County Family Justice Center has brought together law enforcement, victim advocates, social services, and community partners under one roof to help individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, and other forms of violence access the support and resources they need.

As a partner providing victim advocacy services at the Family Justice Center, we are proud to be part of this collaborative community.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by, braved the heat, and celebrated with us! We had such a great time connecting with community members, meeting new faces, and celebrating the people and partnerships that make this work possible.

Here’s to 20 years of the Orange County Family Justice Center and many more years of working together to build safer, stronger communities!

#waymakersoc #orangecounty #orangecountyfamilyjusticecenter #victimservices taken in Orange County, California by @savswaymakersoc

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8 days ago

Recent news and conversations about sexual violence and domestic violence can bring difficult memories and emotions to the surface. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you don’t have to navigate those feelings alone.

Whether you need someone to talk to, information about your options, help with a protective order, or simply a safe place to start, support is available.

Swipe through for local and national sexual assault and domestic violence resources you can save and share.

Waymakers Sexual Assault Victim Services provides confidential support to survivors in Orange County, including a 24/7 hotline.

📞 Sexual Assault Victim Services 24/7 Hotline: 714-957-2737
📞 Domestic Violence Assistance / Protective Orders: 714-935-7956

If these resources could help someone you know, save this post or share it with them. Sometimes having the right number at the right time can make a difference.

#sexualassaultawarenes #domesticviolenceawarenes #survivorsupport taken in Orange County, California by @savswaymakersoc

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15 days ago

Celebrating Lita Mercado and her remarkable 20-year anniversary with Waymakers, two decades of leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to strengthening lives across Orange County.

From her early days as an administrative assistant in Victim Assistance Programs to serving as Program Director, Lita has shaped the very foundation of our victim services work. Her vision helped develop Waymakers’ Human Trafficking Program and fueled the growth of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, expanding critical support for survivors throughout the region.

Lita shepherded a team whose expertise has elevated victim services statewide, delivering cutting‑edge trainings for advocates and partners across California. Today, she oversees more than 100 dedicated victim service professionals, leading with determination, compassion, and a relentless drive to provide the highest quality care.

As a member of our Executive Team, Lita plays a key role in shaping the future of Waymakers. We are deeply fortunate that she has chosen to dedicate her professional acumen, leadership, and heart to Waymakers and the Orange County community.

Here’s to 20 years of impact and to the countless lives made safer, stronger, and supported because of her work.

Congratulations, Lita!

#orangecounty #nonprofitorganization #leadership #waymakersoc taken in Orange County, California by @savswaymakersoc

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a month ago

📚✨ Turning the page on an unforgettable evening of gratitude! ✨📚

Our Waymakers Rape Crisis Center volunteer appreciation party was a celebration of the incredible volunteer SA crisis counselors who show up at all hours to stand beside survivors when they need support most.

With a book club theme, we celebrated our volunteers as the true page-turners of hope—selfless victim advocates who help write brighter chapters for survivors every single day.

From answering our 24-hour crisis hotline to providing 24/7 survivor forensic exam accompaniment, they bring compassion, courage, and unwavering support to every chapter of a survivor’s journey.

To our extraordinary volunteers: thank you for being the voice on the other end of the line, the steady presence in the room, and the reminder that no survivor has to face this alone. 📖🩵

Your time matters. Your presence matters. You matter.

#WeAreWaymakers #VolunteerAppreciation #community #communityofcare #oc by @savswaymakersoc

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2 months ago

We Rise Above is a high school student-led program that aims to educate and empower youth in navigating difficult topics such as sexual and teen dating violence. Sexual violence in Orange County is a significant issue, with over 1,500 reported cases in 2020. We Rise Above provides peer-to-peer prevention & risk reduction education through community events like self-defense & educational workshops.

Join our cabinet to help us make safer communities & support survivors! Application link is in our bio.

#weriseabove #preventioneducation #Irvine #highschool #leadership by @savswaymakersoc

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3 months ago

📞 What Happens When You Call a Rape Crisis Hotline?

If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens when you call a rape crisis hotline, you’re not alone.

Many survivors of sexual assault hesitate to reach out because they don’t know what to expect. At Waymakers, our trained advocates are here to provide compassionate, trauma-informed support—never pressure.

When you call our 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline, you can expect someone who will:

👂 Listen without judgment
💙 Believe and validate your experience
📝 Explain your rights and options
🤝 Help you make informed decisions at your own pace
🌱 Connect you with advocacy, resources, and ongoing support

Calling a rape crisis hotline isn’t about being told what to do. It’s about giving survivors the information, support, and control they deserve.

Whether the assault happened today, last month, or years ago, it’s never too late to reach out.

📞 Waymakers Sexual Assault Victim Services (SAVS)
24/7 Confidential Crisis Hotline
714-957-2737 | 949-831-9110

You are not alone. There is hope. There is help. 💙

#knowyouroptions #believesurvivors #ocrapecrisiscenter taken in Orange County, California by @savswaymakersoc

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3 months ago

🎇 Holiday Notice 🎇
Our offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day.
Need support? Our 24-hour confidential crisis hotline is available at (714) 957-2737. Wishing everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July! ✨ by @savswaymakersoc

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3 months ago

A Victory for Survivors Across California 💙

Today, we celebrate an important win.

After months of advocacy from survivors, victim service organizations, community partners, and advocates across California, the final state budget includes $50 million in funding to help support victim services.

This funding helps sustain critical programs that survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and other violent crimes rely on every day. It means more people can continue to access crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, emergency shelter, legal support, and compassionate care when they need it most.

We are incredibly grateful to our own Victim Assistance Program Director, Vanessa Reyna, and Grant Manager, Grecia Condey, who traveled to Sacramento to advocate alongside partners from across the state and ensure lawmakers understood what was at stake. We also want to thank every survivor who courageously shared their story, every advocate who raised their voice, every legislator who listened, and every community member who supported this effort.

While this is a meaningful victory, our work is far from over $50 million only covers one year. The need for victim services continues to grow, and long-term, sustainable funding remains essential to ensuring every survivor has access to the support they deserve.

At Waymakers, we will continue to stand with survivors, advocate for vital resources, and work toward a future where no one has to face trauma alone.

Thank you to everyone who helped make your voices heard. Together, we are making a difference.

#Waymakers #SupportSurvivors #VictimAdvocacy #VOCA #California taken in Orange County, California by @savswaymakersoc

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3 months ago

⛱️☀️ by @savswaymakersoc

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4 months ago

✨ International Day of Yoga Spotlight: Pamela Boysen ✨

From the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pamela stepped forward with compassion, flexibility, and a deep commitment to supporting survivors. What began as hotline advocacy quickly grew into in-person care, training fellow volunteers, and ultimately bringing healing through movement.

As a psychotherapist and trauma-informed yoga instructor, Pamela creates spaces where survivors feel safe, empowered, and heard. Through her Yoga for Healing workshop, she reminds participants that healing is personal—offering choice, encouragement, and community (and even tea afterward 💛).

Her impact is best reflected in the voices of those she’s supported:
“Life changing… I felt so safe.”
“Kind, encouraging, and empowering.”

Pamela, thank you for showing us that healing can begin with a breath, a moment of stillness, and a caring presence. 🧘‍♀️

#InternationalDayOfYoga #TraumaInformedCare #HealingThroughYoga #CommunityCare #Gratitude by @savswaymakersoc

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4 months ago

🌈 Hello, June!

A fresh month to uplift, support, and stand together. Every person deserves a world rooted in love, respect, and safety—today and always. 💙

#PrideMonth #SupportMatters #YouAreWorthy #StrongerTogether by @savswaymakersoc

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4 months ago