Community Resources
Most Domestic Violence Programs and Sexual Assault Crisis Centers offer services that are free and confidential and can be contacted 24 hours a day. Here is a brief overview of the services offered by most Domestic Violence Programs and Sexual Assault Crisis Centers:
24-Hour hotlines – for victims, family members, friends and professionals; offer crisis intervention, support, referrals, (and Domestic Violence Programs offer safety planning).
Individual counseling – may be peer-to-peer or therapy
Support groups – topics of groups vary by program; can include groups for victims, survivors; friends and family of survivors; groups for teens or children, etc.
Legal advocacy – court accompaniment, explanation of legal options, referrals to attorneys
Hospital accompaniment – offered by most sexual assault crisis centers and domestic violence programs; provide support during rape exams
Community agency referrals - depends on the needs of the victim (may include social services, mental health, health, housing, etc.)
Transportation – available on emergency basis if victim needs to get to shelter; available on more limited basis for victims to get to appointments and meetings
Children/teens services – varies by program; counseling, support groups and playgroups may be available; teen programs in schools available in some programs
Shelter – available through all domestic violence programs, although a few programs do not have their own shelters and may use safe houses, other programs, or hotels to provide shelter; in rare cases shelter can be provided to sexual assault victims
Training – all programs have staff available to do presentations in the community, provide training; the amount of training available varies by program
Public awareness – public service announcements, “freebies’ (pens, emery boards, balloons, stickers, etc.), brochures, displays at conferences, etc.
Outreach - agencies determine the underserved populations in their services areas and develop strategies to reach these populations; examples of underserved populations may include non-English-speaking persons; teens; people of color; LGBT community; older women and men; people with disabilities, and others
List of national resources on sexual and domestic violence.
List of sexual and domestic violence programs in Virginia by locality.