Rape Victim Advocates

Rape Victim Advocates - Celebrating our 35th Year of Helping Victims Become Survivors Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group counseling, and medical and legal advocacy in the greater Chicago metropolitan area.  RVA provides public education and institutional advocacy in order to improve the treatment of sexual assault survivors and to effect positive change in policies and public attitudes toward sexual assault.   History Rape Victim Advocates (RVA) has been providing crisis intervention for sexual assault victims in Chicago since 1974 – at no cost to the victim.  RVA was founded by Natalie Stephens, MD, an OB/GYN at Northwestern Memorial Hospital , and 10 medical students. They had witnessed too many victims leaving the emergency room in an emotionally worsened state than when they arrived, and they set out to provide victims with the support necessary to start recovering. For its first 13 years, RVA was run entirely by volunteers.  Services  Crisis Intervention - Volunteer & staff advocates provide crisis response 24 hours a day to 12 Chicagoland hospitals.  We provide non-judgmental support for victims of sexual violence and any non-offending family members or friends who accompany them to the emergency room; information regarding their rights, medical and legal issues and procedures including the medical exam and the evidence collection kit; and assistance with immediate shelter and clothing needs. Medical Advocacy - We provide information and answer questions concerning the evidence collection process, provide referrals for support services, and provide follow-up services relating to ongoing medical treatment, including issues with medical billing. Legal Advocacy - We provide accompaniment for survivors to police stations, throughout the court process, and to obtain an Order of Protection or a Civil No Contact Order; assistance with filing for crime victims’ compensation and referrals for other services. We support all survivors of sexual violence regardless if they want to report to law enforcement. We can also discuss alternatives to the criminal justice system and/or provide referrals for any work related issues.  The legal advocate liaisons with uniform police officers, sex crimes detectives and the State's Attorney Office to ensure proper charges are pursued and filed. Counseling - individual, couples and family counseling as well as support groups for adolescent and adult victims/survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse and significant others.  Services are provided at our downtown office and off site. Education and Training - education and prevention programs for schools and religious, community and social organizations; prevention programs for adolescents, youth and adults; professional workshops and trainings for social workers, medical service providers, law enforcement and school or business administrators.   Institutional Advocacy - RVA works with the criminal justice system, medical institutions, and other institutions on behalf of all sexual assault victims/survivors to ensure compassionate, effective policies and practices when handling a sexual assault crisis.     More information   RVA currently employs 13 full-time and 1 part-time staff at our four offices. Volunteers continue to be essential to RVA’s ability to offer quality, 24-hour services. RVA provides crisis intervention services annually to more than 1,300 victims of sexual assault and abuse and their family and friends in Chicago area emergency rooms. RVA volunteers donate an average of 21,200 hours to the agency each year.  RVA staff further provides counseling services to more than 250 individuals each year, and prevention education to more than 4,500 individuals, 3,600 of which are between the ages of 11-20.  Over 92% of RVA’s clients are women and girls, and over 80% are people of color.   You can find more information about RVA at www.rapevictimadvocates.org, where you can also sign up for our monthly News & Updates.