The recipient entity's physical address:
           2133 Silverside Drive
Suite A
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           2133 Silverside Drive
Suite A
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  4547

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $3,000,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Dr. Wesley 'Wes" Heath - 10310 The Grove Blvd, Baton Rouge, La 70836
Robin Myers Primeau - 528 Dufossat St, New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
Alicia Murphy- 8155 Jefferson Hwy., Unit 701, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Summer Steib - 9153 Trudeau Ave, Baton Rouge, La 70806
Joseph (Jody) Plauche' - 13647 Honey Dr., Baton Rouge, La 70810
Tiffani M. Dorsa, CPA- 8550 United Plaza Blvd, Suite 1001, Baton Rouge, La 70809
Teressa LeDay - PO Box 40196, Lafayette, La 70504-0196
Jacque Jovic- 3150 North Market Street, Shreveport, LA 71106
Dominique Dillard - 28280 Lake Salvador Drive, Harvey, La 70058
Portia Gordon, LPG - 2200 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70130
Dr. Amber Blair - 265 S. Foster Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Anna Guerra -13798 Shady Hollow Dr., Denham Springs, LA 70726

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA) seeks an appropriation on behalf of itself and Louisiana's eleven accredited sexual assault centers(SAC), which together provide the only comprehensive, community-based response to sexual assault(SA) across the lifespan in Louisiana. These agencies serve SA survivors regardless of age, gender, or relationship to the perpetrator, and are uniquely equipped to respond to non-intimate partner sexual violence. This work is distinct from and not duplicative of child advocacy centers or domestic violence programs, which are designed to address different forms of victimization.
LaFASA is the statewide membership and oversight organization responsible for accrediting SACs through a rigorous biannual process that evaluates governance, financial accountability, staffing, and adherence to national best practices. Accreditation ensures that state funds support high-quality, trauma-informed programs that meet survivors' legal rights and public safety needs. LaFASA is the federally-mandated, state-designated training and technical assistance provider for its member centers. It runs a statewide text/chat helpline, the statewide phone hotline, provides legal representation for survivors, serves as a liaison with campus and justice system professionals, and conducts prevention activities. LaFASA leadership serve on the LCLE Victim Services Advisory Board, the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Oversight Commission, the Governor’s Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention, and the state universities’ Power-Based Violence Commission, as well as regional and local working groups and task forces.LaFASA is uniquely positioned to understand the needs of SA survivors and the best practices in funding allocation and distribution.
The requested appropriation would support LaFASA and accredited SACs in delivering essential services that are mandated as survivor rights under Louisiana's Sexual Assault Survivor Bill of Rights. These rights include access to information, accompaniment, advocacy, and support throughout medical, legal, and justice processes. SACs are the primary entities responsible for operationalizing these rights in communities across Louisiana. Accredited SACs provide 24-hour crisis hotlines; accompaniment during forensic medical examinations; assistance navigating hospitals and healthcare systems; legal advocacy related to reporting options, law enforcement interviews, court proceedings, protective orders, and crime victim compensation; support for survivors navigating sexual harassment and sexual violence in employment and educational settings; and long-term counseling and therapy for survivors and their loved ones.
Data from the Louisiana Violence Experiences Survey (LaVEX) shows that most SA survivors in Louisiana are assaulted by someone who is not a romantic or intimate partner. This reality underscores why SACs are essential and why their services cannot be replaced by domestic violence programs, which are structured to respond primarily to victimization occurring within intimate partner relationships. SACs are designed to address SA committed by acquaintances, family members, coworkers, classmates, authority figures, and strangers, as well as intimate partners. In addition to direct services, SACs play a critical systems-level role by participating in multidisciplinary sexual assault response teams; providing technical assistance and training to colleges, universities, and K-12 schools; collaborating with youth­serving organizations; and conducting prevention education that promotes consent, bystander intervention, and trauma-informed practices.
An appropriation of $3 million would strengthen Louisiana's capacity to fulfill survivors' statutory rights, which are mandated in Louisiana Revised Statutes 46:1845, improve access to essential services, stabilize the sexual assault response workforce, and address a longstanding gap in the state's victim services continuum.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $3,000,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          This allocation ensures that Louisianans who have experienced sexual assault (SA) have access to advocacy, crisis response, and healing services through the state-designated, federally-mandated sexual assault coalition and accredited sexual assault centers (SACs) statewide.
The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual (LaFASA) and SACs provide free, confidential, and accessible services to survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones, as well as training, technical assistance, and coordination with multidisciplinary partners to support an effective statewide response. Louisiana Revised Statute 46:2187 defines sexual assault centers and establishes the confidentiality of survivor communications. The statute restricts this designation to programs accredited by LaFASA, ensuring that any state funds are limited to core SA services and distributed only to qualified, accredited agencies. Recognizing the differences in the levels of survivor services provided by accredited SACs, as well as the geographic areas and populations they serve, LaFASA has historically utilized a funding formula that takes these variables into account. This approach helps ensure that funding is distributed fairly based on the unique service demands, capacity, and needs of each accredited center.
In 2026, Louisiana allocated $1.5 million for SA survivor services at accredited SACs. This was the first funding of its kind in the state, aligning Louisiana with the majority of states that provide state funding for SA services. Federal funding, administered by state agencies and by LaFASA, makes up the majority of sexual assault services and prevention funding. LaFASA seeks to continue state funding for sexual assault services provided by its accredited member SACs, as well as expand the funding to support outreach and prevention efforts and to fund statewide initiatives provided by LaFASA.
In 2025, SACs served at least 1,733 new primary survivors and provided services to survivors' family members and other support people. Services included:
• Responded to 4,997 calls to 24-hour sexual assault hotlines
• Provided 1,352 medical advocacy contacts with survivors, including accompaniment for forensic examinations
• Provided 1,383 legal advocacy contacts with survivors, including protective order assistance, law enforcement interview accompaniment, and court accompaniment
• Delivered individual support services to 3,251 individuals and group support services to 692 individuals. This includes some survivors who have been receiving these services for years, so they are not included in the 1,733 new primary survivors
• Provided critical assistance to address economic disruptions related to sexual assault, including transportation, housing, and employment-related needs
• Advocated on behalf of survivors and safe communities in municipal governments, healthcare systems, correctional facilities, schools, colleges and universities, and other institutions
• Conducted prevention and outreach activities in every parish within their service areas
LaFASA assisted 159 survivors through its innovative text/chat helpline, represented 115 survivors and their loved ones in legal matters, and facilitated SA prevention and response workshops and summits statewide.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Goal 1: Utilize this funding to ensure that survivors of sexual violence have the information and support they need for healing and expand available services statewide.
Objective 1.1: Louisiana's accredited sexual assault centers (SACs) and LaFASA will operate hotlines and provide immediate crisis advocacy to primary and secondary survivors of sexual violence in Louisiana.
Objective 1.2: Advocates at LaFASA and Louisiana’s SACs will help survivors navigate the medical, legal, and other systems that impact a survivor's life. This includes in-person accompaniment for forensic medical examinations, interviews, and hearings.
Objective 1.3: Sexual assault survivors will have access to long-term support, counseling, and/or therapy. When resources allow and when situations are appropriate, this may be offered in individual and/or group settings.
Objective 1.4: Expand the organizational capacity of SACs in locally­ relevant ways, including increasing staff capacity and reducing geographical barriers to service.

Goal 2: Reduce sexual violence through community engagement and promoting systems of accountability and effective response.
Objective 2.1: The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault will provide training and technical assistance for sexual assault centers, as well as direct survivor assistance through its helpline and legal services program
Objective 2.2: Sexual assault centers will conduct prevention and outreach activities in each parish for which they are accredited
Objective 2.3: Sexual assault centers will participate in sexual assault response teams (SARTs) and other multi-disciplinary teams that are established to create a robust and comprehensive response to sexual violence
Objective 2.4: Sexual assault centers and LaFASA will provide training and technical assistance for partner agencies, including law enforcement, investigators, hospitals, healthcare providers, schools, and youth-serving organizations

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Ongoing/Annual

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                 

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Rafael de Castro 
                                       address:  5142 McInnis Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
                                       phone:  2252262531
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  rafael@lafasa.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director