About Advocacy Services

• SASS Advocacy services are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

• SASS Advocates are trained to listen, provide emotional support and accurate information, support your decisions and choices, and work to help survivors achieve their goals.  

• We are not affiliated with law enforcement, and all services are available to you regardless of whether you choose to report a crime.

What kinds of services can SASS advocates provide for me?

 Crisis Response: transportation and accompaniment to seek medical care, make a police report, or access emergency shelter; non-judgmental emotional support; immediately needed information and referrals; safety planning; and networking with other agencies and emergency resources.

Information and Referrals: about legal and medical follow-up procedures and providers, social services, counseling options, additional SASS services, resources available in the community, and trauma response and self-care.

Long Term Support: ongoing, one-on-one emotional support; and accompaniment to access additional medical, legal or social services as needed.

For example, your advocate may accompany you to meetings with a detective or attorney, accompany you to hearings, trials and sentencing, or assist with civil processes such as obtaining a protective order or pursuing a civil lawsuit.

Systems Advocacy: Advocates can work with the survivor to address problems and barriers within systems-such as the judicial system, health care provider network, educational system or social service system- or within specific agencies or entities such as the police department, District Attorney's office, or the Department of Family Service (DHS). The goal is to assist the survivor in achieving her/his desired outcome, and to improve system response to all survivors.

Support for Others Involved With the Survivor: Family members, partners, and friends often form the core of the survivor's support system and play a huge role in how s/he will respond and heal in the aftermath of sexual violence. They often have strong feelings and respond in a variety of ways, from being caring and supportive to engaging in victim-blaming and abusive behavior. Interrupting any victim-blaming or inappropriate behavior, educating family and friends about how to best support the survivor, validating and supporting their feelings of anger, shock, and secondary trauma, and providing them with referrals and encouragement to access the support they need can be an important part of the work advocates do to support the survivor. 

How can I get a SASS Advocate?

• Call Us. You can call us 24 hours a day and ask to speak with an advocate: 541-343-SASS(7277) or toll-free (in Oregon) 1-800-788-4727
 
• Drop In. Come to the SASS office during drop-in hours to meet with an advocate in person.

And if I'm not in Lane County Oregon?

 Looking for advocacy services located in Oregon outside of Lane County?  Find them here (listed by county)

For services located elsewhere within the U.S., contact  RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network)