Maj. Gen. Richard Hayes Jr., The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, speaks to a delegation of rape crisis center workers during the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) workshop March 17 in Springfield, Illinois. Hayes signed a memorandum of understanding between the Illinois National Guard and ICASA to help coordinate efforts to provide service members who are victims of sexual assault the necessary resources and care.
(U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Aaron Ritter, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

•March 23, 2016•

The Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard, Maj. Gen. Richard Hayes Jr., spoke to members of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), and signed a memorandum of understanding with the local crisis center during a workshop March 17 in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield.

Nearly 50 ICASA members from crisis centers across Illinois attended the event where Hayes discussed sexual assaults in the Illinois National Guard and the combined efforts to combat it. Hayes and crisis center directors signed memorandums of understanding to establish a mutual relationship that benefits service members who are victims of sexual assault.

“Preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment and responding to the needs of the victims is a significant challenge to our organization,” Hayes said to the ICASA attendees. “The Illinois National Guard’s relationship with your organization is critical to our effort to create a culture that is free of sexual harassment and ends sexual assaults within our ranks.”     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.