SASS Advocacy Services

SASS Advocacy services are free, confidential, and available to you 24 hours a day. SASS Advocates are trained professionals who are here to listen, provide emotional support and honest information, support your decisions and choices, and work to help you achieve your goals. We are not affiliated with law enforcement, and all services are available to you regardless of whether you choose to report a crime.

How can I get a SASS Advocate?

Call Us. You can call the crisis line and ask to speak with an advocate.
Drop In. Come to the SASS office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday to meet with an advocate in person.

What kinds of services can advocacy provide for me?

Crisis Response: SASS advocates can provide: 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.

Long Term Support: Includes ongoing, one-on-one emotional support, information and referrals, 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. Advocates can offer information 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.

Systems Advocacy: This is advocacy within the systems where survivors may find themselves enmeshed after an assault. 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.