YWCA Delaware’s Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) Empowers Interns to Make a Difference

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Mollie Taneyhall, a University of Delaware senior, is gaining hands-on experience in survivor support through her practicum and internship with YWCA Delaware’s Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC). This opportunity has offered her invaluable insights into survivor services, the extensive role SARC plays in recovery processes, and the day-to-day operations of dedicated SARC staff.

Mollie Taneyhill is pursuing a major in Women and Gender Studies with a concentration in Domestic Violence Prevention and Services, along with a minor in Anthropology, at the University of Delaware.

Mollie is one of five college interns across the Delaware Valley who spent the semester at YWCA Delaware’s SARC in 2023 and the only intern who spent two semesters embedded in one of SARC’s programs. For interns like Mollie, these experiences provide an in-depth understanding of the direct impact of free and confidential services offered to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking aged 12 and older and their non-offending family members, friends and partners throughout the state of Delaware.

Majoring in Women and Gender Studies with a focus on Domestic Violence Prevention, Mollie was inspired to join SARC’s internship program after considering a future in either direct or indirect services. “What I really like about YWCA Delaware’s SARC program is that I’ve been able to do a little bit of everything,” Mollie shared. “I love being part of the community outreach and applying what I’ve learned in school to the real world.”

During her time at SARC, Mollie has shadowed case managers as they filed Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders, managed inventory for essential supplies for survivors—including food, transportation gift cards, and clothing—assisted staff in producing Spanish-language resource materials and developed practical skills. In her second semester, she is coordinating a project focused on Spanish resource translation.

“SARC interns and volunteer advocates like Mollie are the backbone of our agency and help us provide a round-the-clock safety net for those in crisis. Watching Mollie apply her skills and grow as a leader gives us hope for a future where compassion and justice are at the forefront,” said Debbie Litten, Victim Services Director at YWCA Delaware.

Alongside her work at SARC, Mollie also serves as a legal assistant at Schwartz & Schwartz, and she looks forward to a future where she can blend her passion for advocacy and justice to make a lasting impact on the lives of women across Delaware.

For more information on YWCA Delaware’s SARC internship and SARA volunteer opportunities, please contact Debbie Litten at DLitten@ywcade.org or visit ywcade.org/sarc.