New advocacy program lands in Crenshaw
Published 12:12 pm Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Self-blame. Guilt. Shame. Fear. Mistrust. These are some of the feelings that a sexual assault victim may feel on any given day. As a survivor herself, Terria Herron, a sexual assault rural case manager with the Family Sunshine Center, understands these emotions. Herron uses her prior experiences to help victims cope with their feelings and make positive steps toward regaining strength, self- confidence and self-reliance.
“It’s really a continuation of healing for me to use my personal experiences to help others cope,” Herron said. “I know what they are thinking. I know how they feel broken and used. I truly feel their pain. The journey to regain wholeness is not easy, but it’s necessary, and worth it.”
Herron covers Butler, Crenshaw and Lowndes counties providing counseling and advocacy to sexual assault victims who she meets through referrals from hospitals, law enforcement agencies or self-referral.
“I am working in these communities to bring awareness to issues that affect sexual assault victims, including providing information about consent, the rape culture, and sexual assault on college campuses,” Herron said. “I work closely with community organizations and other non-profits, as well as making presentations in the community and in school settings.”
She also provides individual, group and family counseling services.
“My goal is to be a ray of sunshine in the life of a victim, and to help them transition from victim to survivor,” she said.
If you or someone you know is ever in need of immediate help, call the Family Sunshine Center crisis line at 1-800-650-6522. It is totally confidential and available 24 hours a day, every day. If you would like to participate in any of the services FSC offers, call 334.296.6147.
Herron will be in Crenshaw County on Mondays in Luverne, at the Luverne Journal from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. She is housed in Butler County on Tuesdays in Greenville at Safe Harbor from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and in Lowndes County on Thursdays at the Family Guidance Center in Hayneville from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
