Report Showcases Legislative Triumphs, Groundbreaking Trauma-Informed Initiatives, and International Reach.
MICHIGAN (March 25, 2024) – The Army of Survivors (TAOS), a leading global organization dedicated to preventing abuse in sports at all levels, proudly announces the release of its 2023 Impact Report. This comprehensive report highlights the organization’s significant achievements, milestones, and ongoing efforts in the relentless pursuit of creating a safer and more inclusive environment in the world of sports.
In the wake of increasing awareness surrounding abuse in sports, TAOS has emerged as an international leader in trauma-informed education, advocacy, and policy. The 2023 Impact Report showcases TAOS’ commitment to fostering accountability, championing athlete-survivors, and the collective impact of its work in the last year.
Key Highlights from the 2023 Impact Report:
- Compassionate Coach™: In 2023, TAOS designed and completed the Compassionate Coach™ program, which increases coaches’ understanding of how to cultivate a trauma-informed environment and support survivors of abuse. The Compassionate Coach™ curriculum was designed in partnership with athletes and athlete-survivors of abuse alongside leading experts in institutional courage, trauma-informed care, and player-centered coaching.
- Policy Achievements: TAOS saw significant progress with its policy efforts in 2023, both on the federal and state levels. TAOS saw the passage into law of several important bills to support survivors. On the state level, TAOS saw the passage of Michigan House Bill 4120-4125 on June 29, 2023. The bill extends the time that litigation can be made against an abuser for survivors of childhood sexual assault and violence. Previously, the cutoff for filing a lawsuit in the State of Michigan for abuse that occurred as a child was a maximum of the age of 28. On the federal level, TAOS saw the introduction of the ALERT Act (Accountability of Leaders in Education to Report Title IX Investigations Act) to hold universities accountable for sexual abuse by requiring university leaders to certify if they have received any reports of sexual abuse perpetrated by university employees.
- International Reach: In 2023, TAOS had exceptional success in informing the international mechanisms of reporting and accountability for those who cause harm and systems that allow abuse to continue worldwide. Notably, TAOS embarked on a six-month project with FIFA to safely engage a group of athlete-survivors worldwide, representing various sports and diverse experiences with abuse, that offered feedback and opinions about the creation of an International Safe Sport Entity. The project concluded with a final report of recommendations based on the learnings from athlete-survivors.
In 2024, TAOS looks forward to increasing its educational and trauma-informed services, resources, and global advocacy initiatives through emerging programs, such as its Trauma-Informed Survivor Advocacy Training and Compassionate Coach™ program. Moreover, TAOS is focusing on expanding its global advocacy efforts through collaborations with organizations that focus on eliminating abuse in sport, to create a concerted effort to address issues of abuse and trauma in sports on a global scale.
A Message from Julie Ann Rivers-Cochran, Executive Director of The Army of Survivors:
“The Army of Survivors’ achievements in 2023, from policy progress to the development of educational programming like Compassionate Coach™, underscore our allegiance to creating safer sporting environments. We extend our deepest gratitude to our supporters whose unfaltering commitment fuels our mission. In 2024, let’s continue to advocate, educate, and drive systemic change; together, we can ensure athlete voices are heard and their safety prioritized in every arena.”
About The Army of Survivors:
The Army of Survivors is a global leader in advocating for survivors of sexual assault in sport. The nonprofit organization was founded in 2018 by more than 40 survivors of sexual violence that was enabled by USA Gymnastics, Michigan State University, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the FBI. This unique history allows TAOS to bring awareness to the systemic problem of sexual abuse of athletes from the lens of athlete-survivors, and everything continues to be done with athlete-survivors at the center of the work. The goal is to end sexual violence in sports by ensuring all perpetrators, those who collude with perpetrators, and those who fail to act are held accountable; creating transparency in reporting; building an environment where athletes do not fear retaliation when reporting abuse; and advocating for meaningful change that supports athlete-survivors.
