Mission & History
Mission Statement
The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence seeks to be an advocate for those affected by sexual trauma through the coordination of community services to provide professional, compassionate and timely interventions and education.
Our History
The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (SEMO-NASV) was formed in 1997 to provide timely, compassionate, coordinated care for child and adult survivors of sexual violence. Because sexual violence has long-term and far-reaching effects on adults and children, SEMO-NASV offers advocacy, counseling and forensic care for all survivors of sexual violence in southeast Missouri.
The formation of SEMO-NASV resulted from several meetings involving a wide cross-section of representatives from human services, medical, law enforcement, and legal communities. The meetings sought to address the unmet needs of child and adult survivors of sexual violence.
At that time, there was no child advocacy or rape crisis center in all of southeast Missouri. There was little education about sexual abuse/assault and even professionals lacked knowledge on how to deal with child and adult survivors of sexual violence. Recognizing the need for a single point of entry for survivors of sexual violence, these professionals organized SEMO-NASV and set up a board of directors comprised of community volunteers.
From 1998 through 2000, volunteer nurse practitioners provided Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (SAFE) to child sexual abuse clients. Area hospitals, businesses and individuals donated office space, utilities and furnishings. During the first year of operation, SAFEs were provided to 46 children. By mid-2000, the number had risen to 140 children. With the caseload larger than volunteers could manage, the board moved to hire a director and approached the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation in Cape Girardeau for financial assistance.
With a full-time director and financial support of donations and grants, SEMO-NASV began to focus on program development, coordination of services, client advocacy, resource development, training for community professionals, and prevention education.
SEMO-NASV receives referrals from human services, medical, law enforcement, and legal entities. You can learn more about the array of services that we provide on a daily basis by clicking Services in the main menu.
The agency now services 9 southeast Missouri counties: Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Perry, Pemiscot, Scott, and Stoddard. Assistance is provided to other counties as requested. The agency’s office is currently located in Jackson, Missouri. SEMO-NASV is accredited through the National Children’s Alliance and received their 5-year reaccreditation in October 2022.
Crisis Hotline- Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 877-820-6278.
Today, the agency employs 15 people, including advocates, medical professionals, therapists, forensic interviewers, and administrators. A dedicated set of volunteers assists with office, child care and administrative duties. As of its 25th anniversary, SEMO-NASV had provided forensic exams and forensic interviews to more than 11,900 individuals.
SEMO-NASV does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, height, weight, physical or mental ability (including HIV status), veteran status, military obligations, marital status, or disability in the delivery of services.
