(Des Moines, IA) – [KCCI-TV] – Officials with the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CASA)  announced this week that after more than 40 years of advocacy work in shaping Iowa’s response to sexual violence, Iowa CASA’s Board of Directors voted to dissolve the organization, with Friday marking the final day for most of its work.  The decision also brings to an end to a national program it led to strengthen sexual assault survivor services across the country.

IowaCASA provided training, policy advocacy and technical support to rape crisis centers and victim service providers statewide.

The closure also ends IowaCASA’s involvement in the Resource Sharing Project, a national initiative designed to help state and territorial sexual assault coalitions build capacity, share best practices and improve services for survivors. It is the primary resource that similar sexual assault advocacy organizations rely on to build training and guidance. RSP materials addressed complex and emerging issues facing survivors, including access to housing, services for underserved populations and how agencies can respond when sexual violence intersects with other forms of victimization.

IowaCASA previously announced that its legal advocacy program will continue operating during a wind-down period before ending March 31, 2026.

Sexual assault resources:

• Text: IOWAHELP TO 20121
• Iowa Victims Hotline: 1-800-770-1650
• Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence: 402-476-6256
• National Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
• National Domestic Victim Hotline: 1-800-799-7233