PARIS – REACH, Oxford County’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services, celebrated its 30 years of service at the organization’s annual meeting on Oct. 26 at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

The event included honoring those who have been involved with REACH from the beginning, and who remain committed to REACH 30 years later. The Make A Difference Award was presented to individuals who were instrumental in identifying a need for raising awareness about sexual violence in the community, and establishing what was originally known as the Rape Counseling Project.

Bette Ann Cushman and Ellen Crosby were honored as founders of REACH. Cushman and Crosby received a Make a Difference Award for their vision and commitment to collaborate with others based on shared goals, in order to establish an Oxford County resource that has now positively changed the lives of many survivors and their loved ones. As head of Family Planning in Norway in the 1980s, Cushman saw the seriousness and prevalence of sexual assault and abuse in the area. Bette Ann has stayed connected to REACH throughout the years and remains one of the organization’s staunchest supporters. Ellen Crosby worked with Bette Ann and six other individuals to make REACH a reality. Crosby, a licensed clinical social worker, has been practicing in Norway and Lewiston for more than 20 years with specialization in helping clients who are survivors of sexual violence.

Maya Best, a licensed clinical social worker, has been a champion of, and a counselor to, survivors of sexual violence for many years. She also received a Make a Difference Award and was honored at the annual meeting for her years of speaking out through words, music and artwork and facilitating survivors to tap into their voices and creativity. Best recognizes and promotes the value of both individual and support group opportunities to foster healing.

Norway Savings Bank was awarded a Make a Difference Award for their ongoing support of REACH’s mission in making area communities a safer place for all children and adults. Norway Savings Bank has demonstrated their generosity in dedicating staff, time and resources that have been instrumental to REACH’s efforts to raise awareness of sexual violence within the community.

REACH’s first director, Joni Foster, attended the annual meeting; in her remarks she stated that having law enforcement present at the annual meeting was significant and important. As stated by Debbie Dembski, who served as director of REACH in the 1980s and from 2006 to 2011, “We have made progress – more children and teens are finding safe people to talk to, telling their stories and being believed and supported – unlike generations of survivors of sexual abuse and assault where the norm was to keep secrets, were blamed, were not believed and had their experience minimized.”

Dennis Yates, Norway fire chief, and his wife, Chris, accepted the Golden Glove Award for winning REACH’s fifth annual Police vs. Firefighters. It was their first win in five years.

REACH’s annual meeting included highlights of the organization’s future. On Oct. 1, REACH and two other sexual assault centers merged to become Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services, serving Oxford, Androscoggin and Franklin counties. Marty McIntyre, executive director of the merged agency, explained that the three centers have been working collaboratively for almost two years to provide coverage of the 24-hour helpline. In her remarks, Marty stated that representatives from the three agencies moved carefully through the merger process to make sure that the merger would be in the best interests of victims and survivors, would benefit the communities served and would provide the best support for the staff who are providing the services.

Copy the Story Link