Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center General Support

Have you ever wondered what an advocate does? Well here at Fair Haven an advocate does so much during a 24-hour period. The workday for an advocate usually begins around 9am, this is when they come into the office. The day may start with prepping for an individual session with a survivor of sexual assault. We educate survivors on how to work through the feelings and emotions they are having after such a life-changing event. Every survivor is different and may require different things during an individual session. During sessions we may paint our emotions on canvas, go over a list of coping skills, read through the chapter of a book together, or just talk.

Once the individual session is completed the same advocate may be on-call for the second half of the day. Being on call may required an advocate to respond to a hospital where they will support a survivor during the process of a sexual assault examination. We are there to provide information about the process and what may follow as well as emotional support. The support we provide extends beyond the examination. While being on- call an advocate also may be asked to come to a police department to sit with a survivor during a recorded interview. Advocates go and provide support wherever we are called to be.

Additionally, there are so many other hats that advocates wear in support of survivors. Advocates assist in the office with childcare so that survivors can come in and participate in individual sessions or group sessions. You may see advocates out in the community at back-to-school nights or other events. We also walk alongside the survivor as they navigate the judicial system, speaking with prosecutors, or going to court hearings. Advocates also answer our 24-hour crisis phone line and speak to survivors during those hard days and times that happen outside of office hours. These are so many of the things that we can provide to survivors at no cost due to the support Fair Haven receives from believers in our cause. We want to thank you for your ongoing contributions that allow us to continue to affect change in our community.

Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center has been serving survivors of sexual violence for over 18 years in Northwest, Indiana, USA. Our purpose is to serve God, honor survivors and inspire hope. Once again, we are entering a season of change as we expand services towards supporting survivors and educating the community. Say a prayer, that these "winds of change" impact our staff and clients as a gentle breeze that brings relief and not gale force winds that blows us down!

A Season of Acquisition

Receiving funding for expansion, we are working on purchasing the building we are currently leasing. We have never owned property and there is quite a learning curve with lots of details to cover. Discovering the property history, zoning and documentation has had a lot of different challenges. Blessed with an engaged board and building committee, we are moving forward one step at a time. 

A Season of Renovations

There are many plans to create safe and inviting spaces for our staff and clients. Offices upstairs and program spaces downstairs. We are gaining more space in the acquisition that needs to be designed according to our new purposes. That means renovations and updates are needed. Receiving quotes and hiring different trades, there has been a lot of activity.

Each department will have an office room for the team and the space will receive fresh paint, flooring and desk cubicles. The new Youth Room will be specifically for our adolescent clients. This space will receive fresh paint, flooring and room to create and display their survivor art; providing a calming yet "hip" environment for our teen clients to THRIVE. The Child Care Room will provide a safe child-appropriate space for our youngest clients or the children of our clients receiving services. 

The funding has gotten our renovations started, but we need to rally the community to help us finish.

A Season of Moving

"If you build it, they will come". Our staff are excited to spread out and have better opportunity to brainstorm with their peers in their new spaces, creating better processes and services. Organizing 18 years of supplies, documents, and furniture is definitely challenging. Storage solutions and organization methods are being implemented and the sorting has begun!

A Season of Hiring

Not only has there been many changes in the building, but our staffing as well. New grants are providing more staff at a time that we anticipate a great increase in capacity of services as a ripple effect of our expansion. Several promotions have been made from within, several hired outside of the agency, part-time and internship positions. We have been training continuously in 2024. We are excited to see the growth of our service quality by our newest additions.

A Season of Volunteers

We have more staff and yet we are still busier than ever. Blessed by a supportive community, we have had several volunteer groups offer their services through supply drives, cleaning, organizing, packing, outreach and many other necessary tasks. Once we have purchased the building, we anticipate an even greater need for volunteers. Developing our processes, instructions and building a volunteer interest portal will help us, help others, to help us! 

A Season of --------?

Change is inevitable; scary yet thrilling. The unknown can be daunting, but the opportunity for growth makes it worth it. Maintaining focus on our mission and purpose is key to our identity and providing the best support for survivors.

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