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History

RAAP was established in 1983 when a close friend of RAAP's three founders was raped. In the process of trying to find help for their friend, the three women learned that there was no agency providing low-cost services or immediate crisis intervention services for victims of sexual assault in Denver. The three women, experienced in grassroots fundraising, organized a door-to-door canvass to raise money and started Denver's first rape crisis center, the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program.

Timeline
1983
     February
          First night of door-to-door canvassing.
    
     March
          Phone line put in office of basement of St. Barnabus Church to support hotline
    
          First hotline volunteer training
    
          Take Back the Night" March with Flo Kennedy and Andrea Doworkin as speakers
     
          Development of Board of Directors
    
          Applied for 501(c)3 status
1984
     Prevention program began being offered in schools which included the development of "These  
     Things belong to Me" (Abuse Prevention Play inspired by the Illusion Theater program in
     Minnesota)
    
     Mayor Pena hosted a premiere showing of play at the Paramount Theater
    
     Sponsored the start up of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA)
1986
     Began offering individual counseling services to those who had no resources and then moved
     into group counseling
    
     Hosted National Coalition Against Sexual Assault Conference in Denver
1987
     Received the equity of home for office space from the Albi family and a generous donation from 
     an anonymous donor to secure the space
1988
     Worked with CCASA to present Marital Rape Bill legislation
1989
     Added Ayuda and TDD hotlines
1990
     Growing staff created the need for more office space so attic space was converted
    
     After facilitating focus groups to understand how better to serve women of color, began offering
     African American women and Latino groups
1991
     Began offering Self Defense Classes
1995
     After two years of effort, the Denver Sexual Assault Interagency Response Protocol was signed
     and initiated
1996
     Opened first satellite office in southeast suburbs to serve residents of the 18th Judicial District
1998
     Added case management/victim advocate component
    
     Began developing the 18th Judicial District Sexual Assault Interagency Council
    
     Began program offering services specifically to Temporary Aid to Needy Families recipients
    
     Elementary and Middle & High School Prevention Curriculums were re-written
    
     RAAP website was developed
1999
     Growing staff and programs created need for major renovations and addition to building
    
     Began offering counseling services to monolingual Spanish speaking clients
2000
     Administrator/Teacher Sexual Harassment Prevention Training was added
    
     Development of specific college prevention curriculum
2001
     Opened second satellite office in Northern suburbs to serve residents of 17th Judicial District
    
     Signed Sexual Assault Interagency Protocols in the 17th and 18th Judicial Districts

     Established Intern Therapy Program

2003
     In 2003, the Rape Assistance and Awareness Program celebrated 20 years of service to the
     metro-Denver community. The clients, staff, Board of Directors and volunteers of RAAP took time
     over the course of 2003 to reflect on where we have been and where we are going.
    
     RAAP's special events for 2003 fell under the "20 Year History" umbrella, giving RAAP a unique
     opportunity to raise awareness for the organization. Several local television and print media
     outlets ran stories on the momentous occasion.
    
     RAAP looks forward to the next 20 years of service to the metro-Denver community. RAAP will   
     continue to provide a comprehensive range of quality victim services as well as education
     programs on the prevention of sexual violence.
    
     First male Executive Director in the history of RAAP

     Landscaping at RAAP

2004
     Purchased newer van for Canvass Department outreach efforts

2005
     Sexual Assault Interagency Council 10-year signing ceremony

     Website redesigned

2006
     Expansion of Case Management/Advocacy Services

2007
     Expansion of outreach to diverse communities

     First Annual RAAP fundraising Golf Tournament

2008
     Purchased another newer van for Canvass Outreach efforts

2009
     Expanded therapy services with Pro Bono providers
    
     Expanded Volunteer services
 
     Focus on network/outreach with Victim Services community

2010
     Internal painting of offices by volunteers

     New roof materials and installation donated
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