Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center (WASAC)

Sexual violence violates a person’s trust, autonomy, and safety. At the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, we recognize that sexualized violence occurs anytime someone is forced, manipulated, and/or coerced into any unwanted sexual advances or activity. The range of sexual violence includes rape, child sexual abuse, incest, date and acquaintance rape, statutory rape, marital or partner rape, commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, voyeurism, and sexual harassment.

Sexual violence is a crime motivated by the perpetrator’s wish to humiliate, control, and harm. These crimes are never the victim’s fault.

History of WASAC
The Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, Inc., was organized in 1974 under the name Wichita Area Rape Center, by a group of ten women concerned about the lack of understanding given to victims of sexual assault. In 1977, the agency was awarded a three-year Law Enforcement Assistance Administration Grant (LEAA) and has continued to grow and expand services ever since. In 1980, the WASAC became a Member Agency of the United Way of the Plains. Now the agency is fortunate to be funded through United Way, several state and federal grants including the Violence Against Women Act and Victims of Crime Act funding, contributions from community members and groups, and special events.

What started out as the vision of ten dedicated community volunteers has grown into an agency that serves thousands of survivors and their support systems every year. WASAC currently has 9 full-time and 11 part-time staff members and over 35 volunteers. We continue to move forward and strive towards our vision of a community free of the occurrence and threat of sexual violence.