Our Partners
The Joyful Heart Foundation works in partnership with a wide range of private, public and non-profit organizations that share our common goal. Our commitment to coalition-building comes from our firmly held belief that we are stronger together, weaker apart. This is true of our work on the rape kit backlog. We are honored to partner with law enforcement, advocates, sexual assault organizations, survivors and policymakers to end the backlog.
Many national non-profit organizations have turned their attention to the rape kit backlog, including:
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Futures Without Violence For more than three decades, Futures Without Violence (formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund) has worked to end violence against women and children around the world. Instrumental in developing the landmark Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress in 1994, Futures Without Violence has continued to break new ground by reaching new audiences including men and youth, promoting leadership within communities to ensure that violence prevention efforts become self-sustaining, and transforming the way health care providers, police, judges, employers and others address violence. |
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Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is one of the world's leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, HRW gives voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. Their rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy build intense pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse. For 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world. |
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Natasha’s Justice Project Natash'a Justice Project is working to end the backlog for good. NJP works through research, public education and media outreach. NJP also offers travel grants so that survivors can be present at their attackers’ trials. |
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National Center for Victims of Crime The National Center for Victims of Crime is the nation's leading resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. Since its inception in 1985, the National Center has worked with grassroots organizations and criminal justice agencies throughout the United States serving millions of crime victims. |
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RAINN The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.4673 and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotline's free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual assault; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual assault, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. |
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Test 400K Test400k raises awareness, advocates lobbies and pushes for innovative new technology to be used in ending the backlog of untested rape kits and make sure communities and law enforcement provide immediate and swift response time to victims of sexual assault going forward. |
Local and state groups have done tremendous advocacy as well, especially:
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Peace Over Violence Peace Over Violence is a social service agency formerly called Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women, or LACAAW. We changed our name at our 35th anniversary in 2006 to reflect the growing range of programs we offer, which have expanded beyond one on one intervention in sexual assaults and domestic abuse, toward one by one prevention of youth violence and child abuse, while running a range of specialized services reaching underserved groups. |
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Rape Treatment Center at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center The Rape Treatment Center (RTC) at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center is nationally recognized for its exemplary treatment, education and prevention programs. The RTC provides comprehensive, free treatment for sexual assault victims, including 24-hour emergency medical care and forensic services, counseling and psychotherapy, advocacy and accompaniment services; training for police, prosecutors, judges, medical and mental health personnel, and other providers of rape victim services; prevention and education programs for children, adolescents and college students; community education; consultation for schools, the media, government agencies and other organizations; and educational films and publications that are distributed nationwide. |
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Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault The Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) is a not-for-profit corporation of 29 community-based sexual assault crisis centers working together to end sexual violence. Each center provides 24-hour crisis intervention services, counseling and advocacy for victims of sexual assault and their significant others. Each center presents prevention education programs in Illinois schools and communities. |
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Texas Association Against Sexual Assault TAASA advocates for individual sexual assault survivors as well as sexual assault programs collectively. That advocacy takes many forms, from supporting legislation favorable to victims and strengthening laws against sexual predators, to advocating for increased funding for sexual assault programs at both the federal and state levels. Since 1982, TAASA has provided statewide and regional trainings/conferences to over 100,000 Texans and provided over 6 million materials through rape crisis centers and community partners free of charge. |
Their efforts have resulted in significant changes in state and federal laws regarding rape kit testing. Their long-term commitment to the cause guides and informs our work as we advocate for continued rape kit reform.
