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.