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Sexual Assault Answers

What do I do if my child is sexually assaulted (acquaintance rape, date rape, stranger rape)?

· Go to the hospital. This is the most important thing to do after being sexually assaulted. Medical staff can examine you for injuries and test for infections and pregnancy. Hospital personnel can inform you about emergency contraception. If you go to a hospital emergency room within 72 hours, the hospital can collect evidence of the sexual assault.

· Contact Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling 24-hour crisis line at (815) 636-9811 to speak with a specially trained advocate. The advocate will meet you at the hospital to support you through the process. You may also tell hospital staff to contact an advocate on your behalf or the police.

· Advocates can help victims by calling family or friends, explain the medical exam and the evidence collection procedure, bring clothes for the victim to wear home from the hospital, talk to the police and help the victim decide if they want to talk to the police and provide support.

· If the victim chooses to report the sexual assault to the police an advocate can help her through this process too. An advocate can explain how to report to the police, go with the victim to the police station and wait, explain the victim’s rights throughout the investigation and provide support.

· If the victim chooses not to report to the police the advocate will respect her decision.

· If the victim chooses to take the case to trial, the case will be handled by a state’s attorney. The advocate will work with the state’s attorney to keep the victim updated on the case and make sure the victim’s rights are respected.

· Contact Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling to initiate counseling services for the victim, family and friends.

For more information on dealing with a sexual assault contact:

Rockford Sexual Assault
Laura Basso, Therapist/Advocate
1201 South 7^th Street #109
Rochelle, IL 61068
Phone: (815) 562-8844
Fax: (815) 562-8833
Email: Lbasso12rsac@aol.com

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What can I do to support my child if they are sexually assaulted?

Provide support by responding to what the victim wants not what you think they need.
Do not blame the victim. Rape is a crime, and blame belongs with the person that committed the crime. Remember it is never a victim’s fault.
Do not punish or restrict the victim due to the sexual assault. This gives the message that the victim is to blame for the sexual assault.
Encourage and support them to contact a rape crisis center for counseling services.
Sexual assault is traumatic and affects the victim physically and emotionally. Every victim reacts differently to being raped.
Seek out counseling and support services for yourself and the family so you can better provide support to the victim.

For more information on dealing with a sexual assault contact:

Rockford Sexual Assault
Laura Basso, Therapist/Advocate
1201 South 7^th Street #109
Rochelle, IL 61068
Phone: (815) 562-8844
Fax: (815) 562-8833
Email: Lbasso12rsac@aol.com

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Why is counseling important?
Sexual abuse/assault is a traumatic event and sometimes it can take years to heal. Our body/mind temporarily allows us to suppress or feel numb as it copes with the traumatic event. Often the trauma is so painful that we are not equipped to resolve it soon after the event. This is especially true for the child who has been sexually abused and often times still lives in the same dangerous environment. Painful feelings, nightmares, flashback and various other effects often surface years after the actual trauma.

For more information on dealing with a sexual assault contact:

Rockford Sexual Assault
Laura Basso, Therapist/Advocate
1201 South 7^th Street #109
Rochelle, IL 61068
Phone: (815) 562-8844
Fax: (815) 562-8833
Email: Lbasso12rsac@aol.com

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How much will it cost?
There is no fee for children 0-17. As an adult, one can receive up to ten counseling sessions free of charge. All sessions will be charged on a sliding base scale. Legal/medical advocacy and public education are free of charge. Donations are accepted for professional training

For more information on dealing with a sexual assault contact:

Rockford Sexual Assault
Laura Basso, Therapist/Advocate
1201 South 7^th Street #109
Rochelle, IL 61068
Phone: (815) 562-8844
Fax: (815) 562-8833
Email: Lbasso12rsac@aol.com

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Funding for this site by:
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
www.macfound.org.