History

The Rape Victim Advocacy Program has served the needs of sexual abuse survivors since 1973. We are indebted to the brave women who first broke the silence about sexual abuse and started a volunteer-based grassroots effort to raise awareness about sexual violence.

Abbreviated Timeline of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program:

1971 – Women Against Rape, a consciousness-raising group, forms in Iowa City to explore issues of violence against women.

1973 – The Rape Victim Advocacy Program begins providing sexual assault victim/survivor services. The Rape Crisis Line starts with women volunteering to answer a donated phone overnight in a local attorney’s office. Later in the year, the Rape Crisis Line moves to the Women’s Resource and Action Center at the University of Iowa.

1974 – RVAP is established as a University of Iowa Student Government commission. Funding for a work-study position allows RVAP to develop a Speaker’s Bureau and an Information Bureau to increase community outreach.

1976 – RVAP receives funding from the City of Iowa City and the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to hire the first RVAP coordinator, Terry Kelly, who serves until 1981.

1981 – Karla Miller serves her first term as Director until 1991.

1984 – The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) provides federal funding to sexual assault victim/survivor service programs.

1985 – RVAP offers safe rides through the Women’s Transit Authority until 1991.

1987 – RVAP moves to its own location at 17 W. Prentiss Street.

1991 – Diane Funk serves as Director until 1993.

1993 – RVAP creates the Johnson County Sexual Abuse Investigation Team.

1993 – Christie Munson serves as Director until 2000.

1998 – RVAP moves to its current location at 320 S. Linn Street.

1998 – Services expand to Cedar, Iowa and Washington Counties with the support of federal funding for rural outreach through the Violence Against Women Act.

1999 – The Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline is established by State of Iowa appropriations.

2000 – RVAP becomes a member of the new Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team (JCSART). Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) are trained, enabling Johnson County to provide sexual assault exams by SANEs 24 hours a day.

2000 – Theresa Klingenberg serves as Director until 2002.

2002 – Karla Miller returns as the Executive Director, and Diane Funk as the Assistant Director.

2003 – RVAP celebrates 30 years of offering essential services to Johnson County. The anniversary is enjoyed by a thriving agency of nine staff members, 37 volunteer advocates and eight board members.