The Sedona Police Department has joined a program that provides addi­tional avenues for those who have been the victim of sexual assault.

Seek Then Speak is now available as a free resource and is part of a new city initiative. The program helps sexual assault victims engage with local recovery and reporting resources. The website, phone hotline and mobile app helps survivors gather information, explore options and take action when they’re ready. SPD Lt. Lucas Wilcoxson said other departments in the Verde Valley have implemented this program but he was just recently made aware of it.

“I want to encourage women to get the proper information and the proper help that they deserve and need,” he said. “If they choose not to report it to the police, they will at least have some knowledge and the assistance they deserve.”

Seek Then Speak is available in various languages to increase victim access, Wilcoxson said. If they choose, victims can begin the process of reporting the crime directly to law enforcement and can request supportive services from victim advo­cacy. The program helps close gaps in service delivery and promotes justice and healing.

“As few as 1 in 5 sexual assault victims report the crime,” he said. “To help victims recover and support their participation in the criminal justice process, we need to make it easier for them to reach out for help. Seek Then Speak links victims to the professionals who stand ready to serve them.”

 As to its creation, Seek Then Speak was developed to help end the silence for sexual assault victims. It engages them with gradual, supportive dialogue prompts, using an intelligent communication platform. The process helps survivors better understand what happened and explore their options, while remaining anonymous until they choose to make direct contact with law enforcement or victim advocates. Through Seek Then Speak, Wilcoxson said survivors of sexual assault have a safe way to make sense of their experi­ence and decide what their next steps will be. 

“They learn they are not alone, and that help is available,” he said. “Then they can reach out for that help if they choose, but only if and when they are ready.” 

Seek Then Speak works in partnership with an agency platform called Victim Link, which was co-developed by Voice and End Violence Against Women International. Victim Link combines technology and education to improve community responses to sexual assault, Wilcoxson said. The programs also coordinate with Start by Believing, the campaign that prepares friends and family members to respond appropriately to a sexual assault disclosure. Together, they offer a two-part solution for responding to sexual assault victims.

Seek Then Speak is available to anyone in the Sedona area by visiting SeekThenSpeak.org, calling (888) 865-9863 or downloading the mobile app.