Services and care are available. What happened is not your fault. The person who did this to you is at fault.

Find somewhere safe. Phone the police if you are in danger at 911. Go to a friend or neighbor for help. Or call our 24 hour crisis hotline, 758-9888.

Tell someone you trust. A friend, or family member, or call our hotline.

Seek medical care. If there are any injuries as a result of the assault, you can be treated at Holy Cross Hospital. The physicians there can also offer medication to protect you from sexually transmitted diseases and prevent pregnancy. It is important to get this care within 72 hours.

Save Evidence. In order to save evidence, it is best if collected within the first 72 hours of the assault. This evidence includes the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault, items at the scene of the assault, and physical findings that will be collected during the exam. This can be difficult, but the advocate or a friend can help support you through this. Although it is very natural to feel dirty after an assault, it is important that you do not wash, bathe or change clothes until you have been cared for by the emergency room.

Call the police. If you make the decision to involve the police, it does not mean that you have to press charges or go to court. However, it does give them accurate information that they can use if you decide to press charges in the future.