It has been a busy start to the new year here at The Rowan Center—and we are so grateful for your partnership as we continue to serve victims and survivors of sexual violence.
In 2024, we:
- Reached 20,000+ people
- Opened the Trauma Recovery Clinic
- Served 680 clients
- Increased client referrals by 59%
- Increased client accompaniments by 86%
- Gave 791 presentations
We also hosted a successful Winter Wonderland gala and connected with our community through our year-end fundraising campaign, raising essential funds for programs serving young people in our communities. Thank you for your generosity and support!
Read more about our 2024 impact in our Annual Report >>
As we look ahead to 2025, we have big plans for expansion—but we are also facing unprecedented challenges.
We are answering more hotline calls, facilitating more education programs, offering more crisis counseling, and serving more long-term therapy clients. This growth is built upon everything you helped us build last year, which will serve us so well in the months to come.
At the same time, we are also fighting for funding at both the state and federal levels. Funding freezes affect us and our ability to continue to provide the services our communities deserve—so we need you to get involved. Be vocal with your elected officials about the need for funding for sexual violence victims and survivors!
Recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month
In January, we honored Human Trafficking Awareness Month—and reminded people that trafficking is happening right here in our communities.
Sadly, misconceptions about human trafficking can make prevention harder. For example, many people think of trafficking as a faraway problem or one perpetrated by strangers who kidnap children. In reality, traffickers are often people the victims know and trust who use grooming to gain control. In fact, 77% of trafficking happens within the victim’s county of residence, and 41% of child trafficking in the U.S. is facilitated by family members (U.S. Department of State).
When we work together to raise awareness, learn the signs of trafficking, and take action, we can more effectively prevent human trafficking and keep our communities safe.
Visit therowancenter.org/get-involved/human-trafficking-awareness-month for more resources and information about human trafficking in Connecticut.
Grounds for Discussion
In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, we hosted an important conversation at Ferguson Library in Stamford. Our Director of Education, Sarah Malhotra, broke down the realities of domestic child sex trafficking, debunked harmful myths, and shared ways we can protect our youth and take action as a community. In addition, Matt Brodacki, former Captain of the Technical Investigation Unit, spoke about child internet safety and how it connects to trafficking.
To hear some of Sarah’s thoughts on trafficking in our communities, you can watch three short videos she recorded here, here, and here.
Volunteer with Us!
To power our growth in the year ahead, we need more volunteers. People just like you are Certified Advocates who serve on our hotline, go to the hospital with victims for forensic exams, and accompany survivors to the police station and courthouse. This service is a true lifeline on someone’s darkest days, and we need more people like you to help us meet these needs.
Our next Certified Advocate training course begins Wednesday, April 2 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. and includes five weeks of classes, modules, practice calls, and an exam.
Learn more and sign up now at therowancenter.org/volunteer!