Each year, RVA reaches more than 1,200 Chicago-area survivors of sexual violence through our crisis intervention, medical and legal advocacy and counseling services and provide prevention education workshops to at least 5,500 school-aged children. RVA’s services offer survivors of sexual violence the best chance at long-term recovery and reduce the risk of future problems associated with sexual assault and abuse.  We are widely known for our 24-hour advocacy—with the help of our 100-plus highly trained volunteers, we deliver crisis services to 11 hospitals across the Chicago metropolitan area. We also provide individual and family counseling as well as support groups to survivors and their loved ones who greatly benefit from the support of licensed professionals who specialize in this field.

Through education, RVA works to change attitudes about sexual violence, share strategies to reduce it, engage communities in discussing healthy relationships, and encourage more victims to seek help. Most of our public education and prevention efforts involve children and youth for two reasons: (1) Sexual violence disproportionately affects youth.  Last year, 39 percent of the victims we served were 19-years-old or younger. (2) We have the opportunity to have a positive influence on youth as they form ideas about gender roles and sexuality.  Additionally, we train hundreds of law enforcement and health care professionals on the most informed, compassionate practices in addressing sexual violence.

RVA will serve any one who seeks sexual violence assistance – at no cost– at one of our partner hospitals or at any of our community-based offices.  We are dedicated to supporting survivors and ending sexual violence.