Our Program & Services
Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program 24-hour Crisis Hotline: (888) 597-SAOP (7267) Office Phone Number: (740) 591-4266 77 East State Street Athens, OH 45701 www.saopseoh.org saopseoh@gmail.com Facebook: SAOPseoh Twitter: saopseoh
What is SAOP? SAOP is a confidential rape crisis center based in Southeastern Ohio that serves the communities of Athens, Gallia, Hocking, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, and Vinton counties. SAOP serves survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse, domestic/dating violence, and stalking.
Mission Statement Our mission is to create a safe community where victims and survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, and domestic/dating violence are thoroughly respected and supported. We work to engage the community through prevention, advocacy, and education. We strive to end interpersonal violence in all of its forms, and to provide and coordinate resources that foster healing and promote empowerment for victims, survivors, and communities of Southeastern Ohio.
History of SAOP SAOP was founded in August 2013 to serve survivors in Meigs and Perry counties of Southeastern Ohio. In December 2013, Athens county was added to our service area. In October 2015, SAOP expanded service to Gallia, Hocking, Morgan, and Vinton counties. Beginning in October 2016, SAOP became a program of the Edna Brooks Foundation, Inc. working closely with the local organization, My Sister’s Place.
SAOP Goals Establish and provide survivor services for community members who have been victimized or who identify as survivors or co-survivors of sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, domestic/dating violence, and stalking Identify existing community resources and provide resource referrals to support survivors of violence Train existing community resources to provide comprehensive services when working with survivors of violence Work with community organizations to create a coordinated community response to violence
Train and organize community volunteers as advocates working within our communities Increase community awareness about the occurrence of sexual and interpersonal violence within our service area Strive to create partnerships within our communities to form a unified front for the prevention of and response to violence
SAOP Principles of Confidentiality When working with our advocates, you have the following rights regarding the confidentiality of your personal information: • Information you provide to SAOP will be kept confidential to the greatest extent allowed by law. • You may choose what information you want to provide SAOP. You will not be denied access to services if you choose to not provide certain identifying information. • SAOP advocates are mandated reporters and may be required by law to report certain situations to the appropriate authorities. Staff and advocates will inform you of our mandated reporting requirements prior to starting any communication. Even when these reports are made, SAOP will not share any information beyond what is required by law.
SAOP Services Below is a list of the confidential services provided by SAOP staff and volunteer advocates. If you choose to not utilize some of these services during your time working with a SAOP advocate, you are still able to utilize any of the other services we offer.
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24-hour crisis hotline In-person advocacy Medical advocacy and accompaniment Law enforcement advocacy and accompaniment Legal advocacy and accompaniment Co-survivor advocacy Assistance filing Ohio Victim of Crime Compensation paperwork Community resource referrals Trainings for community organizations Transportation
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or is experiencing dating/ domestic violence or stalking...
Call (888) 597-SAOP (7267)
Survivor Rights Every survivor has the right to: Be respected Be supported Make their own choices Be safe at work, home, and school Report to law enforcement Receive medical attention Receive counseling and other supportive services Be informed of all options and outcomes of any formal procedures To have an advocate of their choosing present every step of the way
Sexual Assault is
NEVER
a survivor’s fault
Getting Help If you are in immediate danger please call 911. If you are not sure whether we can help, contact us anyway. If we can’t help, we can provide you with other services in the area. The Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program does not charge clients for services. 24-hour Crisis Hotline: (888) 597-SAOP (7267) Office Phone Number: (740) 591-4266 77 East State Street Athens, OH 45701 www.saopseoh.org saopseoh@gmail.com
SAOP is funded by grants including the Rape Crisis Fund and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Victims of federal crime will be served through SAOP services. Photographs by movidphotos.com