Advocacy
Abuse and assault, including domestic, dating and sexual violence, exploitation, and stalking are traumatic events for survivors. Abuse may have both immediate and long-term impacts. The response to abuse and assault may involve police, other investigators, medical responders, evidence collection, and criminal and/or civil proceedings. In addition, there are many rights, services and resources available to survivors. These systems can be complicated to navigate.
A survivor has choices and options.
An Advocate:
- Works on behalf of the individual to ensure that the survivor remains at the center of any response.
- Provides information to help the survivor understand their options and make decisions about their next steps.
- Supports the individual’s decisions.
- Works to ensure that the individual has access to resources and services.
- Demands that the survivor’s rights are respected throughout the process.
TurnAround advocates provide:
- A 24-hour Helpline
- Assistance with reporting to police, school, and other authorities
- Support at the emergency room and/or forensic exam
- Crisis intervention
- Information
- Safety planning
- Support to secondary victims, such as family or partners
- Accompaniment to court, interviews, and hearings
- Access to services and resources, including legal services
- Follow-up and case management services