Sex Abuse Treatment Center rallies before Hawai‘i State Capitol

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, a statewide program of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, held a sign-waving event in front of the Hawai‘i State Capitol on Tuesday.

April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“If you have been impacted by sexual violence, we encourage you to reach out for services,” said Lynn Costales Matsuoka, Sex Abuse Treatment Center executive director. “We want you to know that you’re not alone and you don’t have to go through it alone.”

Tuesday’s sign-waving event also featured the Sex Abuse Treatment Center’s various partners, including Honolulu’s Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu Police Department, Hawai‘i Department of Health, Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General and the University of Hawai‘i’s Title IX and the Office of Institutional Equity.

In 2022, Sex Abuse Treatment Center provided specialized services to 1,750 callers through its 24/7 crisis hotline (808-524-7273). The hotline offers immediate help to sex abuse survivors, including counseling and assistance in accessing medical-forensic exams.

There were also 738 survivors who connected to the Sex Abuse Treatment Center for the first time in 2022. Of these survivors:

• 53% were children
  • 7% were under the age of 5
  • 46% were 5-12 years old
  • 7% were 13-17 years old
• Youngest person served was under the age of 1
• Oldest person served was over the age of 80

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center expanded its hotline services last year to include texting as an outreach option for survivors who may be in a situation where they cannot make a phone call. Anyone can text the hotline to receive a link to an encrypted web chat with a trained crisis worker. The web chat is also available on SATCHawaii.org. The web chat is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.