Learn how to contact the Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center. WE'RE ONLY A CLICK AWAY. Contact Us Call Us Email Us This agency, along with the Office of the Attorney General, is interested in improving services to victims in the state of Kansas. If you have any suggestions or complaints about the services provided to you and wish to share them with the Office of the Attorney General, please call 1-800-828-9745 . The Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you feel you have been discriminated against while receiving services from The CARE Center please contact one of the following to file a complaint: Kansas Governor’s Grant Program 900 SW Jackson St Landon State Office Building, Room 304N Topeka, KS 66612 785.291.3205 Fax: 785.291.3204 Kansas Human Rights Commission 900 Jackson Topeka, KS 66612 785.296.3206 Fax: 785.296.0589 US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 4th & State Avenue, 9th floor Kansas City, KS 66101 800.669.4000 Fax: 913.551.6957

Advocacy and Response at The Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center 24/7 Advocacy and Response Every Call is Answered: 785-843-8985 24/7 Support Line The CARE Center Advocates are available on our 24/7 support hotline. Our trained Advocates provide supportive counseling, information and options, safety planning, and more. Call Now Medical Advocacy Advocacy and support are available at the hospital during evidence collection exams. We work with hospital staff to offer information and emotional support to survivors in order to ensure that you get the care that is best for you. Advocates can also help you to obtain follow-up medical care that you might need, accompany you to medical appointments, and offer information and referrals in order to address any injury or physical health concerns caused by sexual trauma or abuse. Learn more by visiting our Going to the Hospital page. Learn More Police and Court Advocacy Advocates can answer any questions you may have about reporting sexual trauma or abuse and are available during interviews with law enforcement to provide advocacy and emotional support. Advocates also provide court advocacy, which includes assistance with filing protection orders, accompaniment to court hearings, obtaining legal representation, navigating through legal proceedings, and more. Learn more by visiting our Reporting & Protection Orders page. Learn More Personal Advocacy Advocates are also available to talk in person or via Zoom (video-conference) to address any questions or concerns you may have. Sexual trauma and abuse can affect many parts of your life including work, school, finances, housing, health, and more. The CARE Center Advocates take your lead and can help you with a variety of needs that include applying for crime victim’s compensation, taking time off from work and school, and securing other social services that you might need. Call Now

Going to the Hospital - Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Going to the Hospital One option that might be available is getting a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE). Another name for the SAFE exam is a “kit”. The SAFE exam collects evidence for a potential investigation administered by specially trained nurses called Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. In Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties, the SAFE exam is available to people of all genders and anyone aged 14 and up. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners are specially trained to collect and record evidence of sexual assault but also offer medical care, with special attention to injury, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted disease. Email Us Call Us Is the SAFE Exam Time Sensitive? Yes. The recommended time to do a SAFE exam is within 72 hours of the assault, but in some cases the SAFE exam can be done up to 5 days. Not sure if you qualify? Contact an Advocate from The Care Center at 785-843-8985 to explore your options. Do I need to make a police report if I go to the hospital? No. You have a couple of options. First, you can make a criminal report and your kit will be assigned a case number to go along with the investigation. Secondly, you can do an “anonymous kit”. Since the evidence collected in the kit is time-sensitive, the exam can be done and no police report has to be made. Even though there is no longer a statute of limitations for sexual assault (victim-survivors can make a police report at any time), the evidence will be kept at the KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigations) crime lab for up to 5 years. If you decide that you want to make a report within those 5 years, you can contact police and they can access your kit as part of their investigation. What do I need to know before going to the hospital? The CARE Center Advocates are available 24/7 to meet you at the hospital to be a support system during the SAFE exam and help answer any questions you might have. It’s recommended that before you go to the hospital you refrain from changing your clothes or brushing your teeth. Don’t worry, if you have done any of these things you can still get an exam. You can refuse any part of the exam or stop the exam all together at any point. The costs should be covered by the local District Attorney’s office, but if you have any questions about costs or insurance, contact The CARE Center to explore your options. For youth and teens younger than 18 who have been sexually assaulted, the incident MUST be reported to law enforcement under Kansas’ mandatory reporting laws. Additionally, if you are a survivor who is under 18, over 60, or a person with a disability, it is important to understand the hospital’s mandated reporting requirements. Please call The CARE Center to find out more. Where can I get a SAFE Exam? Lawrence Memorial Hospital 325 Maine St. Lawrence, Kansas 66044 Phone: 785-505-5000 The CARE Center Advocates are always available 24/7 at LMH to offer comprehensive advocacy and support. What if my child is under the age of 14? Pediatric forensic evidence collection exams are not available at any hospitals within Douglas, Franklin, or Jefferson Counties. However, Pediatric SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Programs are available at Children’s Mercy Hospital-South in nearby Overland Park and Stormont-Vail in Topeka. The CARE Center Advocates can be available to parents upon request. For more information about Pediatric forensic evidence collection exams, please call our 24/7 Support Hotline at 785-843-8985 . You Are Not Alone. Contact Us Now. Email Us Call Us

Learn about The Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center About Us The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center was founded in 1972 and was the first rape crisis center in the state of Kansas. The mission of The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center is to promote a culture of consent while providing 24/7 support to anyone affected by sexual trauma and abuse in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. The CARE Center envisions a community free of sexual trauma & abuse while supporting healing for survivors. Our Mission We are rooted in the community. Since 1972, The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center has provided support for victims and survivors of sexual trauma and abuse. We were born out of grassroots efforts as the first rape crisis center in Kansas and one of the first centers in the U.S. The CARE Center is dedicated to serving people of all ages and genders, being an innovative leader in the field of sexual assault support and prevention, and continuing to promote a culture of consent here in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties and beyond. We envision a community free of sexual trauma & abuse. Our work is grounded in a client-centered and trauma-informed approach. We’re dedicated to ensuring both the safety and agency of our clients. We take our clients’ lead and are prepared to provide a range of services to meet an individual’s needs. Since everyone’s experience is unique, our services are flexible and individualized to best serve our clients. We are dedicated to providing free, confidential, and accessible services. The CARE Center is dedicated to providing free and confidential services to our clients. All of our services, including counseling, crisis response, advocacy, and education are 100% free of charge. No proof of insurance or documentation status is required. Services can also be accessed at any time in a survivor’s life, regardless of when a traumatic event has occurred. We’re always here. Our History In response to a number of sexual assaults that were happening on the University of Kansas campus, a group of innovative women began to coordinate a response and create a community of survivors and supporters who were committed to addressing rape and sexual assault on campus and in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1978, the organization was incorporated as the Rape Victim Support Services and was known in the community as RVSS for 30 years. In 1978 co-directors Polly Pettit & Kathy Hoggard of Douglas County Rape Victim Support Services speak to a group of senior citizens. In 2004, the agency changed the name to GaDuGi SafeCenter in order to provide a more inclusive name for survivors and to recognize the expansion of services. GaDuGi (GAH-doo-ghee) is a Cherokee word that means “working together in a community sense.” Over the years, as the agency has expanded services to all of Douglas County and farther out to Jefferson and Franklin Counties with agency offices in Oskaloosa and Ottawa respectively. 2015 was a year of growth for the agency with the expansion of youth services, therapeutic services in Jefferson and Franklin Counties, and the education program. In October 2015, the agency announced the name change to “The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center”. Now you know our history, we invite you to become part of Our Future Donate Volunteer

Support Groups at the Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center WE CARE ABOUT YOU. Therapy and Support Groups To learn more about The CARE Center individual therapy services, Call Us Email Us Whether your experience happened recently, years ago, or as a child, it’s never too late to get the help and support you need. Therapy can be a helpful resource and a tool for healing. Individual Therapy The CARE Center therapists provide trauma-informed , specialized support to people of all ages and genders who have experienced sexual trauma or abuse. All services are completely free-of-charge and confidential . Since everyone’s experience is unique and everyone needs something different, The CARE Center therapy services are flexible and individualized. When working with The CARE Center therapists, the following options are available: You can learn about how trauma affects the brain and the body. You can learn about symptoms and gain coping skills for managing them. Therapists offer a safe and understanding place for you to process your feelings, whatever they may be. Therapy can be short term crisis intervention or you can choose to continue therapy for up to a year. You are allowed to bring a support person along. Therapists often coordinate with other mental health providers to make sure you are getting wrap-around services. Individual therapy is also available to the friends, family, and loved ones of victims and survivors. Child and Family Therapy The CARE Center provides therapy to children and adolescents. Often a child or youth feels anxious about starting therapy and it is helpful to inform them that they have the choice to decide whether they want therapy, and if it is the right fit. Child clients will not be expected to recount details of the abuse; instead, therapy often focuses on addressing emotional and psychological distress through increased ability to identify and communicate feelings, development of coping skills, increase in self-esteem, and strengthening family cohesion. The treatment plan and goals for therapy are developed based on the youth’s specific symptoms and needs, as the focus. A few therapeutic modalities utilized are Play Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Art, and Bibliotherapy. Also, youth typically receive education around the neurobiology of trauma, boundaries, and consent- among other topics. When a child or teen discloses sexual abuse it is typically quite distressing to the adult caregiver in their life. Any connected loved ones are considered a ‘secondary survivor’ and are also eligible to receive therapy through the CARE Center. Secondary survivors’ best method of support for child clients is to listen in a non-judgmental manner, without pushing for details. Each person has their own individual perceptions and needs regarding who to disclose to, and how much information to share- respecting this boundary is key to helping child clients gain a sense of control. Support Groups The CARE Center currently offers support groups in Douglas, Jefferson, and Franklin Counties. Groups are free and confidential. Facilitated by the Support Group Coordinator, groups focus on cultivating a trauma-informed safe space for peers to support and believe one another and to develop anxiety soothing skills. To learn more about joining a support group, please call 785-843-8985 . Open Support Groups: The CARE Center is not currently hosting in-person support groups. Updates will be provided as soon as they are available. Therapy and Support Group FAQs What can therapy or support groups offer me? Counseling and support groups can help in a variety of ways. It can help to reduce shame and guilt by understanding that the assault or abuse was not your fault. Our counselors can help process your feelings of confusion or anxiety. Counseling and support groups also offer education on how trauma affects the brain and the body. You can learn about your symptoms and gain coping skills for managing them. Many people find a benefit in having a dedicated, private place to talk to someone about their experiences that is separate from their workplace or home life. Will I have to relive or retell my experiences? No. At The Care Center, you will NOT be asked to relive the assault during the counseling process, as that is unnecessary and can be re-traumatizing. Instead, your counselor will teach you skills designed to help you stabilize and heal. For those filling out intake forms for counseling, there are some questions related to your experience, but they are completely optional. Are the CARE Center therapists mandated reporters? While our volunteer and staff advocates are not mandated reporters, our Counseling staff are mandated reporters for instances of abuse or neglect with children under the age of 18, adults over the age of 60, or a person with a disability. This is typical of licensed mental health professionals and is always discussed within the first meeting. It is important to note that while our volunteer and staff advocates are not mandated reporters, there are certain circumstances in which we may feel the need to make a report. This is always communicated before a report of any kind is made however. The Care Center Advocates and Therapists are not Title IX mandated reporters for schools or universities.

What is Title IX? Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center What is Title IX? 1. Title IX is a landmark federal civil right that prohibits sex discrimination in education. 2. Title IX does not apply to female students only. 3. Your school must be proactive in ensuring that your campus is free of sex discrimination. 4. Your school must have an established procedure for handling complaints of sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual violence. 5. Your school must take immediate action to ensure a victim can continue their education free of ongoing sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual violence. 6. Your school may not retaliate against someone filing a complaint and must keep a victim safe from other retaliatory harassment or behavior. 7. Your school can issue a no contact directive under Title IX to prevent the accused student from approaching or interacting with you. 8. In cases of sexual violence, your college is prohibited from encouraging or allowing mediation (rather than a formal hearing) of the complaint. 9. Your college should not make you pay the costs of certain accommodations that you require in order to continue your education after experiencing violence. “9 Things to Know about Title IX” is a resource created by Know Your IX and more details can be found on their website. Need support in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson County? Contact Us! Call Us Email Us Title IX in Highschool 1. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program receiving federal funding. 2. Title IX does not apply to female students only. 3. Your school must have a clear, well-publicized procedure for responding to complaints of sexual harassment and sexual violence. 4. Your school must be proactive in ensuring that your campus is safe for you. 5. Your school or school district must designate at least one employee as a “Title IX coordinator,” whose job is to make sure your school is following the law. 6. Regardless of the outcome of any investigation, your school may not retaliate against you for filing a complaint and must keep you safe from retaliatory harassment or behavior from your perpetrator or a third-party. 7. A school’s responsibility to address harassment and violence is not limited to conduct that occurs at school during school hours. Schools must also address harassment and violence that occur “off campus,” such as on the school bus, during field trips, and during extracurricular activities. 8. Your school should provide age-appropriate training to students on Title IX, sexual violence, consent, the school’s grievance procedure, reporting options, and bystander intervention. 9. Your school must provide you the accommodations and services you need to stay in school — free of charge. Title IX in Colleges and Universities You can contact The CARE Center Advocates 24/7 by calling 785-843-8985 or email our Director of Advocacy Services at advocacydirector@stacarecenter.org

Browse the handouts and downloads offered by STACC. Handouts and Downloads The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center is always striving to provide quality resources and innovative educational materials to victim-survivors and the community-at-large. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or request for print materials. Agency Materials CARE Center Brochure CARE Center folleto en español Survivor Series Male Surviors Youth Survivors Large Print Materials The CARE Center Brochure CARE Center folleto en español Youth Survivor Series Educational Materials Self Care for Survivors Trauma-Informed Care: A Service Provider’s Guide to Supporting Adult Survivors How to Support Adult Survivors Neurobiology of Trauma Rape Culture 101 Working with Children & Youth Victim-Survivors and their Caregivers

After an Assault - Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center YOU ARE NOT ALONE. After an Assault What is Sexual Assault? Sexual trauma can be many things and we use this as an umbrella term to describe any sexual act that is imposed on another person without their consent. Oftentimes the word “abuse” is used to indicate that the violence was ongoing or long-term. This can be a one-time event or an ongoing experience and does not have to be physically violent. Everyone reacts to sexual trauma in their own way and everyone’s response afterwards is different, too. Examples of sexual trauma and abuse could be sexual assault, rape, sexual abuse, stalking, sexual harassment, street harassment, childhood sexual abuse, familial sexual abuse, sex trafficking, online sexual harassment, and sexual violence in relationships. You can reach out to The CARE Center at any point in your life, no matter when the trauma occurred. What Are My Options? Talk to an Advocate Go to the Hospital Make a Police Report Talk to a Counselor or Therapist After experiencing sexual trauma or abuse, it can be difficult to know what to do. There are many options available and you get to make the decision that feels best to you. You are not alone and The CARE Center is here to help. You can explore our website for more information and resources and an Advocate is always available at 785-843-8985 .

Learn about the Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center in Lawrence, KS ANSWERING THE CALL SINCE 1972. The Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center Started in 1972 as the first rape crisis center in Kansas, The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center promotes a culture of consent while providing 24/7 support to people of all ages and genders affected by sexual trauma & abuse in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. We are Always Here. The CARE Center is dedicated to providing free and confidential services to our clients. Call us for 24/7 support at 785-843-8985 . Learn More Our Services All of our services, including counseling, crisis response, advocacy, and education are 100% free of charge. No proof of insurance or documentation status is required. Services can also be accessed at any time in a survivor’s life, regardless of when a traumatic event has occurred. We’re always here. THERAPY AND SUPPORT GROUPS Learn More 24/7 ADVOCACY AND RESPONSE Learn More LAWRENCE ORDINANCE AND SAFE BAR ALLIANCE TRAINING Learn More PREVENTION AND EDUCATION Learn More After experiencing sexual trauma or abuse, it can be difficult to know what to do. There are many options available and you get to make the decision that feels best to you. You are not alone and The CARE Center is here to help. You can explore our website for more information and resources and an Advocate is always available at 785-843-8985 . Safely Exit OUR MISSION About Us The mission of The Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center is to promote a culture of consent while providing 24/7 support to anyone affected by sexual trauma and abuse in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. The CARE Center envisions a community free of sexual trauma & abuse while supporting healing for survivors. Learn More WE BELIEVE YOU. Your Healing Comes First We are rooted in the community. Since 1972, The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center has provided support for victims and survivors of sexual trauma and abuse. We were born out of grassroots efforts as the first rape crisis center in Kansas and one of the first centers in the U.S. The CARE Center is dedicated to serving people of all ages and genders, being an innovative leader in the field of sexual assault support and prevention, and continuing to promote a culture of consent here in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties and beyond. We envision a community free of sexual trauma & abuse. Our work is grounded in a client-centered and trauma-informed approach. We’re dedicated to ensuring both the safety and agency of our clients. We take our clients’ lead and are prepared to provide a range of services to meet an individual’s needs. Since everyone’s experience is unique, our services are flexible and individualized to best serve our clients. We are dedicated to providing free, confidential, and accessible services. The CARE Center is dedicated to providing free and confidential services to our clients. All of our services, including counseling, crisis response, advocacy, and education are 100% free of charge. No proof of insurance or documentation status is required. Services can also be accessed at any time in a survivor’s life, regardless of when a traumatic event has occurred. We’re always here.

Resources at the Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center HELP IS HERE. Resources Kansas Resources Kansas 211 Have questions about community resources throughout Kansas? Call 2-1-1 or visit their website for quick, helpful answers on support with after-school programs, senior care, food pantries & much more. KCSDV.org Not in Douglas, Franklin or Jefferson County? This map from the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence will get you connected to the sexual assault and domestic violence agencies in your area. National Resources National Sexual Assault Online Hotline /Línea de Ayuda Nacional Online del Asalto Sexual Online Support for Male Survivors: 1 in 6 StrongHearts Native Helpline Department of Defense (DoD) Safe Helpline The National Domestic Violence Hotline Teen Dating Violence Online Support National Suicide Prevention Lifeline /Red Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio Online Support for LGBTQ Youth: Ask for Help Trans Lifeline

Donate to The Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center in Lawrence, KS Donate Amazon Wishlist One way to donate to The CARE Center is from the Amazon Wish List. This list has items The CARE Center could use to help us support victim/survivors if they come into our offices. Items on this list include snacks, cleaning supplies, toys, and more! Click Here

About Our Organization - Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center About Us The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center was founded in 1972 and was the first rape crisis center in the state of Kansas. The mission of The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center is to promote a culture of consent while providing 24/7 support to anyone affected by sexual trauma and abuse in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. The CARE Center envisions a community free of sexual trauma & abuse while supporting healing for survivors. Our Mission We are rooted in the community. Since 1972, The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center has provided support for victims and survivors of sexual trauma and abuse. We were born out of grassroots efforts as the first rape crisis center in Kansas and one of the first centers in the U.S. The CARE Center is dedicated to serving people of all ages and genders, being an innovative leader in the field of sexual assault support and prevention, and continuing to promote a culture of consent here in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties and beyond. We envision a community free of sexual trauma & abuse. Our work is grounded in a client-centered and trauma-informed approach. We’re dedicated to ensuring both the safety and agency of our clients. We take our clients’ lead and are prepared to provide a range of services to meet an individual’s needs. Since everyone’s experience is unique, our services are flexible and individualized to best serve our clients. We are dedicated to providing free, confidential, and accessible services. The CARE Center is dedicated to providing free and confidential services to our clients. All of our services, including counseling, crisis response, advocacy, and education are 100% free of charge. No proof of insurance or documentation status is required. Services can also be accessed at any time in a survivor’s life, regardless of when a traumatic event has occurred. We’re always here. Our History In response to a number of sexual assaults that were happening on the University of Kansas campus, a group of innovative women began to coordinate a response and create a community of survivors and supporters who were committed to addressing rape and sexual assault on campus and in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1978, the organization was incorporated as the Rape Victim Support Services and was known in the community as RVSS for 30 years. In 1978 co-directors Polly Pettit & Kathy Hoggard of Douglas County Rape Victim Support Services speak to a group of senior citizens. In 2004, the agency changed the name to GaDuGi SafeCenter in order to provide a more inclusive name for survivors and to recognize the expansion of services. GaDuGi (GAH-doo-ghee) is a Cherokee word that means “working together in a community sense.” Over the years, as the agency has expanded services to all of Douglas County and farther out to Jefferson and Franklin Counties with agency offices in Oskaloosa and Ottawa respectively. 2015 was a year of growth for the agency with the expansion of youth services, therapeutic services in Jefferson and Franklin Counties, and the education program. In October 2015, the agency announced the name change to “The Sexual Trauma & Abuse CARE Center”. Now you know our history, we invite you to become part of Our Future Donate Volunteer