1. Non-Client Crisis Intervention Non-client crisis intervention is crisis intervention counseling provided to someone who is not assigned a client identification number because s/he does not give a name/identifying information and/or does not wish to become a client of the center or have their case re-opened. This service is usually provided via hotline but may occur in person (e.g. someone discloses and receives crisis intervention services after an education presentation).
In most cases, this will be a victim-initiated call. In some cases, it may be a parent, other family member or friend who requests assistance in handling their emotions regarding the sexual assault or sexual abuse of a child, partner, family member or friend.
2. Client In the case of counseling, a person generally becomes a client when the center has gathered enough information to assign a client identification number or the person seeks additional services from the program subsequent to crisis intervention services.
In the case of advocacy, a person generally becomes a client when the center provides telephone or in-person advocacy services related to medical care or reporting to law enforcement.
A. Victim Any person of any age who seeks assistance after being sexually assaulted.
B. Significant Other Any person of any age who seeks assistance in dealing with their own crisis/feelings as a result of the sexual assault of a loved one. If contact with a significant other is solely focused on services provided to a victim who is a center client, this is significant other consultation (see #4 below) and the significant other does not become a client.
3. Counseling Verbal assistance intended to be helpful and supportive for victims of sexual assault or the significant other(s) of a victim.
A. In-Person Counseling Face-to-face verbal assistance intended to be helpful and supportive for victims of sexual assault or the significant other(s) of a victim.
B. Telephone Counseling Time spent on the hotline or on another telephone line providing assistance to a center client who is dealing with sexual assault.
C. Family Counseling Counseling provided to two or more victims or significant others who define themselves as a family unit.
D. Group Counseling Counseling provided to more than two victims or significant others who meet together on a regular basis over a period of time. This includes support groups, counseling groups, therapy groups, psycho-educational groups.
4. Significant Other Consultation Sharing information with a significant other (e.g. parent, guardian) or gathering information from a significant other about a victim being served by the center. The significant other does not become a client as the result of this contact. Significant other consultation services are documented in the clients file.
5. Individual Advocacy Providing assistance, in the company of, or on behalf of, a specific victim or significant other by some other form of intervention on the victims behalf, during proceedings affecting the victim (i.e. accompanying victim to hospital or States Attorneys office).
A. Medical Advocacy Individual advocacy related to medical procedures both at the hospital/medical care facility and during follow-up care.
B. Criminal Justice Advocacy Individual advocacy with police, sheriff, states attorney, judge, court system.
C. Other Advocacy Individual advocacy on behalf of victim/significant other(s) with school personnel, social service agencies, etc.
6. Information/Referral Responding to telephone or in-person requests for information about sexual assault, location of additional resources on the subject of sexual assault or location/explanation of other resources and services which may be helpful to a victim or significant other.
7. Institutional Advocacy Affecting change in the policies and procedures of an agency or institution in order to insure more sensitive, responsible treatment of sexual assault victims. This may be done in-person, on the telephone or in written communication. Infonet lists a variety of institutions with whom center staff may advocate such as law enforcement, medical and hospital, school, etc.
8. Professional Training Providing in-depth education, skills building, and evaluation of skills in order to prepare others to helpfully and effectively intervene on a victims behalf. This is usually offered to groups of people, although an individual may receive a one-to-one training session. Infonet lists a variety of training audiences including law enforcement medical and hospital, clergy, etc.
9. Public Education A presentation to groups of people (perhaps an individual) on the subject of sexual assault, the myths associated with its origins and perpetration, the effect of sexual assault on the victim, the characteristics of an offender, etc., that is designed primarily to inform an audience (as contrasted to imparting skills and evaluating use of skills which transpires in training). Infonet lists a variety of public education audiences including school age audiences, civic organizations and others.
10. Volunteer Training Providing in-depth education, skills building and evaluation of skills in order to prepare volunteers to provide services to victims and significant others.
11. Volunteer In-service Training Additional training provided to expand volunteer skills.
12. Media Contacts Time spent contacting print, radio and/or television media outlets regarding sexual assault and related issues.
