Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) provides a
range of services for those individuals seeking
assistance regarding a recent or past sexual assault
or abuse history. All services, including our
hotline, empowers individuals to seek out their own
solutions by providing accurate information and
options with compassion and respect for the
survivor’s cultural background and experiences.
24-Hour Confidential Hotline:
Our hotline is staffed by Confidential Sexual
Violence Advocates 24-hours per day, seven days per
week. Individuals can seek assistance through the
hotline to obtain information, referrals, crisis
intervention, options, and support.
The Somerset
County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) can be
accessed by contacting the hotline, as well as
requests for accompaniments to medical exams, police
department, prosecutor’s office, and/or court
proceedings. The hotline can be accessed by
dialing (908) 526-7444.
Crisis Response:
Confidential Sexual Violence Advocates are specially
trained to accompany survivors of sexual violence
through
the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), as
well as medical exams at the local hospital or
doctor’s office, or to local police departments
and/or prosecutor’s office. During accompaniments,
Advocates provide information, options, emotional
support, as well as supporting the decision a
survivor wishes to make during his or her treatment
and/or aftercare. Advocates are also able to assist
significant others during this time of crisis.
An Advocate can be reached by contacting the 24-hour
hotline at (908) 526-7444.
Advocates are also available to
survivors who have chosen to proceed with a criminal
investigation and/or civil complaint. Advocates are
there to be supportive and inform a survivor of his
or her rights during interactions with law
enforcement, as well as providing emotional support
throughout. Additionally, Advocates can be helpful
in informing survivors of legal procedures and
providing support during court appearances. SASS
often works in conjunction with the Somerset County
Office of Victim-Witness Advocacy to provide such
support. Since court and legal proceedings
typically occur during business hours, it is highly
recommended to contact SASS staff to discuss this
option and to make an appointment for the
accompaniment. SASS staff can be reached by
calling the hotline at (908) 526-7444, or (908)
526-2335 ext. 132 or 130 during business hours.
Counseling:
Survivors and their loved ones can
also access counseling services at SASS. SASS
provides both individual and group counseling
options by qualified staff members at our location
in Somerville. Short-term 12-week counseling at SASS is
free of charge and can be extended on a case-by-case
basis to a maximum of 24 weeks for on a sliding
fee scale. Whether sexual violence has occurred
recently or in the past, survivors need specialized
treatment by a professional with experience to help
deal with the trauma of sexual assault. Anyone interested in beginning
counseling through SASS may call our hotline at
(908) 526-7444 for more information.
Often survivors benefit from the
assistance other survivors can share and offer. Our
professionally facilitated support group provides a
confidential space for survivors to obtain support
from one another while sharing their experiences,
both past and present. SASS currently offers a
support group for adult female survivors of both
child and/or adult sexual assault and abuse. An
intake process is necessary before entrance into the
group. For more information, please contact
Irene Lebbad at 908-526-2335, ext. 130.
Community Education, Outreach,
and Prevention:
For twenty years, SASS has been
providing programs at local schools, businesses, and
community organizations in an effort to raise
awareness about sexual violence. We are currently
embarking on a process in which we are aiming to
prevent sexual violence in our community. We are
partnering with local agencies in an effort to
mobilize our community to prevent sexual violence
before it starts. To obtain more information
about this process, or to discuss your program or
school’s needs, please contact the SASS Coordinator
at (908) 526-2335, ext. 132.
SASS currently utilizes
volunteers
from the community to provide essential crisis
intervention services to survivors of sexual
violence and their loved ones. This can be done
both on the phone through our hotline, or in person
through SART, at Somerset Medical Center, or at
local police departments. Volunteers are an
important part of SASS and assist survivors during
their time of crisis.
Want to keep up
to date on exciting WHCC news and happenings? Join our E-Newsletter
distribution list. Just
email
the Development Departmentor call 908-526-2335 ext 134.
◊ Attention Counselors! WHCC has counseling rooms available for lease. Suitable for individual,
couples, or family counseling,
nutrition counseling or life coaching sessions.
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