SPOTLIGHT ON A WORLD-CHANGER ORGANIZATION

JOYFUL HEART FOUNDATION | JoyfulHeartFoundation.org

— PASSION & MISSION —

• Founded by Mariska Hargitay after her first few years on the set of SVU where survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crimes, sex trafficking, and child abuse wrote her letters telling her their stories
• The mission of JHF is to “transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever.”
• JHF focuses on survivor-centric care, collaboration, partnership and has a holistic approach in healing

— FIGHTS FOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES —

• JHF is forging ahead in the fight to end the rape-kit backlog across our nation
  • Thousands of rape kits sit on shelves rotting and the perpetrators are getting away while the survivors are left feeling worthless
  • A rape survivor endures four to six hours of poking and prodding after a rape in order to get the kit completed; then it sits unused on a shelf

— TEACHING THE COMMUNITY —

• JHF has articles and education:
  • Sexual assault & rape as well as the effects and resources to help
    • Help for the survivors as well as the family, friends, or supporters and teach how to know the signs
  • Domestic violence, the effects, and how to know the signs

• They teach how to support survivors and are part of the #SupportSurvivors campaign