SFWAR’s Advocacy & Counseling Program provides culturally relevant trauma-informed services to sexual assault survivors on-site and in the community.
Services include:
- advocacy with and accompaniment to medical, legal, criminal justice and social services
- follow-up crisis intervention support, including the provision of critical referrals and information
- in-person individual peer counseling
- support groups
- technical assistance to professionals and providers
Advocacy & Accompaniment
SFWAR Survivor Advocates act as a critical link between medical, legal, criminal justice and social service systems, advocating on behalf of survivors to ensure their rights are respected and needs are met.
Medical accompaniment is provided by certified SFWAR rape crisis counselors to survivors seeking health care (i.e. medical care and/or forensic sexual assault exams) at Zuckerberg San Francisco General emergency department. Survivor Advocates are also available to provide medical accompaniment to clients who decide they would rather seek medical care at San Francisco-based health clinics or at a different city hospital.
Legal advocacy and accompaniment is provided through both the criminal justice system (from filing an initial police report through any outcome in the criminal courts) and the civil legal system (help with obtaining restraining orders/civil harassment orders, civil suits, etc.).
Social service advocacy includes assisting clients with securing food, housing/shelter, drug treatment, job training, educational opportunities, general assistance, SSI/SSDI or any other social benefits, child-care, clinical/psychiatric therapy, long-term health care, and any additional services that may be identified as benefiting a sexual assault survivor.
For Advocacy & Accompaniment support, please contact the SFWAR Survivor Advocates at 1 (415) 861-2024 ext. 304 (Spanish) or ext. 319.
Counseling
SFWAR rape crisis counselors provides peer support services to sexual assault survivors, their families and friends to facilitate individual and community healing from sexual assault. This includes the provision of individual short term (10 sessions) in-person peer counseling and support groups (8- 10 weeks); support groups are offered several times each year.
If you are interested in individual counseling or would like to join a SFWAR support group, please contact the SFWAR Director of Advocacy & Counseling at 1 (415) 861-2024 ext. 302 or email dac@sfwar.org