Founded: 1997

Population Served: Survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and random violence whose perpetrators are participating in RSVP's in-custody Offender Component

Key Elements: Counseling, empowerment classes, referrals, opportunities to participate in survivor impact presentations

Goals: To support survivors through their own process of restoration and empowerment, while creating and ensuring opportunities for them to drive the development, implementation, and evaluation of all RSVP components.

Description: Driven by its commitment to survivors' needs and voices, the Survivor Restoration Program is a pioneer for victims' rights, reeducation, and empowerment. SRP reaches out to women, children, and men who have been silenced by violence in their lives, providing them with the support, resources, and protection necessary for leading healthy lives. SRP achieves its goals through strong partnerships with key community-based domestic violence service providers, medical and criminal justice agencies.

SRP supports survivors of violence in a three-step program which works to restore in victims a sense of their own being and wholeness. Based on the principles of restorative justice, the three steps of the Survivor Restoration Program are as follows:

Victims: The first step of the program assists victims in their efforts to stabilize their living and financial situations, as they begin to confront the impact of their victimization. During this first step, victims are referred to services and are encouraged to use support systems and services to their advantage.

Survivors: The second step of the program supports victims in their transition to survivors dealing with the emotional and personal impact of violence. Survivors confront their victimization, and promote healing and empowerment for themselves and their families.

Advocates/Activists: During the third step of the program, survivors translate their collective experience of survival into action. Advocates/activists work with new victims and survivors, champion community reeducation efforts, and serve as healthy models for their families.