Our Mission
Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services (SRSASS) is a non-profit Rape Crisis Center established in 2011. We are located in the southwest region of New Mexico providing services to survivors of sexual violence in Grant and Hidalgo Counties.
SRSASS provides services to survivors of sexual violence and their families through case management services, crisis intervention services, community education and awareness services, counseling services, and accompaniment services for both the SANE exam and legal proceedings.
Our Vision
Our vision is a world in which all people are safe, valued and free from any form of violence and oppression.
SRSASS’ services are available 24/7/365 with a crisis hot-line that is staffed by a trained volunteer advocate or a staff member.
Chelsea Cooper, MSW Executive Director
Chelsea Cooper is a Silver City native. She graduated with her Master’s in Social Work in 2014 from Western New Mexico University. She began her professional career working with adolescent teens in the judicial system. Chelsea began working with Silver Regional SASS in 2016 as the Advocacy & Crisis Coordinator. During this time, she developed a passion and vision for survivors in Grant County. In 2017, Chelsea took over as Executive Director. She has grown Silver Regional SASS into a multi-functional Sexual Assault Support Center. She has been able to add additional counselors, forensic interviewing, and multiple advocates.
Phone: 1-575-313-6203 Extension 6203
Email: ccooper@silverregionalsass.org
Sylvia Mendez Advocacy & Crisis Coordinator
Sylvia Mendez is the Advocacy & Crisis Coordinator at SRSASS. She is a Southern California native but has lived in Silver City for 12 years now. She is a lifelong learner and has received her higher education degrees from WNMU and graduating with her MSW degree this May 2021. Sylvia believes that healing is a collaborative endeavor that requires honest caring without judgment and enjoys the challenges and reward of working with diverse clients. Sylvia is creative, has a great sense of humor and has a down-to-earth, realistic approach when assisting clients. Sylvia also enjoys exercising, gardening, and spending time with her family for self-care.
Phone: 1-575-956-6227
Email: smendez@silverregionalsass.org
Emma Eileen McKinley Outreach and Education Coordinator
Emma Eileen McKinley is the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services. Currently a student of Social Work and Philosophy at Western New Mexico University, Emma spent two years as a volunteer advocate before moving into their current role in the summer of 2021. They are passionate about violence prevention, accessibility, and harm reduction, and believe that cultivating a culture of consent can be a powerful antidote to oppression. When not creating infographics or dreaming of ways to inspire social change, Emma enjoys reading, gardening, dancing, textile crafts, and spending time with their three cats.
Phone: 1-575-313-6203 Extension 6226
Email: eeileen@silverregionalsass.org
Shannon Honey Forensic Interviewer
Shannon Honey is the Forensic Interviewer at SASS. She has been with the agency for almost two years.
She was born in Athens, GA and moved to Silver City from New Orleans, LA in 2019. She studied Sociology and Psychology at The University Of Georgia and has a BA in Sociology.
Shannon has worked as a Victim Advocate for 21 years and a Forensic Interviewer for 16 years. She has worked in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Colorado and now in New Mexico.
Shannon enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors. She is an animal advocate as well and is an avid fan of UGA and New Orleans Saints football.
Phone: 1-575-313-6203 Extension 6231
Email: shoney@silverregionalsass.org
Vacant Position Advocate Coordinator
Please review the job description below and contact Chelsea Cooper at:
Phone: 1-575-313-6203
Email: ccooper@silverregionalsass.org
Silver Regional Sexual Assault Support Services
Job Description: Volunteer Coordinator
DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:
The Volunteer Coordinator offers support to the volunteer advocates on-call and provides services to sexual assault victims and/or their families through supportive intervention while maintaining confidentiality as well as working with all other first responders. The Volunteer Coordinator’s purpose is to make certain that advocates are supported through a hospital accompaniment and/or that there is an advocate at each hospital and hotline call. In Addition, Volunteer Coordinator focuses on SANE specific trainings for advocates along with community members, stack holders, medical facilities, and local school administration and staff.
JOB RELATIONSHIPS:
Responsible to: Executive Director
Workers supervised: Volunteer Advocates
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field preferred
- Emotionally mature and willing to work with SASS clients/families
- Basic knowledge of dynamics of sexual assault
- Written and oral communication skills
- Ability to work within a team
- A means of transportation
- Knowledgeable of the 6th Judicial District Sexual Assault & Child Abuse Protocol
- Complete initial 40-hour advocate training
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop a general understanding of SASS’s philosophy, purpose, and operation
- Promote an understanding of SASS’s philosophy, purpose, and operation in SASS clients, affected families, and the general public.
- Coordinator and facilitate SANE specific training among various community members and agencies.
- Provide support and intervention through medical exam and hotline calls.
- Inform victims of their rights
- Work as a team member with all first responders
- Provide training to Advocate, Community agencies, and Law Enforcement.
- Be sensitive and considerate of victim needs.
- Assess level of danger, availability of other support systems, and need for follow up
- Maintain knowledge of procedures and laws
- Contact Advocate Coordinator on the next business day after receiving a call or accompanying victim at hospital. Communication is imperative.
- Inform the Advocate Coordinator or Executive Director of unusual or potentially problematic issues
- Be on call a minimum of one full week out the month, and fulfill responsibilities and duties while on call
- Be available to answer questions for the advocate on-call during a call
- Coordinate or respond to a missed call
- Fill out and turn in all necessary paperwork within 24 hours
EDUCATION:
After completing 40-hour training, Volunteer Coordinator must receive a minimum of 10 hours per year of continuing education. Volunteer Coordinator must also facilitate monthly meetings Advocate Meetings.
COMPENSATION:
$15.00- $20.00
Cindy Livingston, LMHC Mental Health Therapist
Cindy Livingston is honored to serve as a Mental Health Therapist for SASS.
Ms. Livingston’s background stems from an AA in Early Childhood Development as well as a BA in Human Development. Later, she acquired a Masters in Counseling at Southwestern College in Santa Fe. Ms. Livingston worked in the NM school system as a general and special education teacher for 30 years, and retired as a school counselor several years ago. Currently, she is a licensed Mental Health Therapist, working mainly with sexual assault survivors as a therapist at SASS. She also maintains a small, private therapy practice.
Phone: 1-575-519-9215
Email: clivingston@silverregionalsaas.org
Pamela Morgan, LMHC, LMT Mental Health Therapist
Pamela is a licensed mental health counselor and licensed massage therapist. She got her degree in counseling at the State University of New York in Plattsburgh in 1993. After two brief positions, one in wilderness therapy, the other in drug and alcohol work, she focused on massage until a few years ago when she retired from deep tissue bodywork because of hand pain. She got her NM counseling license in 2019 and studied trauma work before starting counseling with SASS in Feb 2021. The field of somatic body oriented therapy is a favorite approach. Pamela has lived in Silver City since 2003 and loves hiking in the wilderness with her dogs.
Phone: 1-575-519-8209
Email: pevmorgan@gmail.com