The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network(RAINN) is a nonprofit organization that supports survivors of sexual violence and aims to prevent violence. It operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and is a resource for law enforcement, policymakers, and anyone looking for resources. RAINN has developed a comprehensive training series to help civilian sexual assault service providers (CSASPs) cope with the fog of troubling memories during their shifts. CSASPs are often presenters with RAINN in their local community and can be trained by RAINN’s counselor or one of its staff members.
- Support Groups and Mindfulness Practice
RAINN has developed in-person and online support groups for survivors of sexual abuse. RAINN staff members can assist participants by sharing their experiences and resources that may be helpful for the participant. The in-person support groups are held in Washington D.C., New York City, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Chicago, and online support groups are held in several locations around the country, including San Francisco and Los Angeles.
- Practical Support
Supporting your caller with practical advice and resources during the call is vital. One of the most important things to do is listen carefully to what they are saying, validating their experience and offering non-judgemental support. If relevant, you can provide information about medical care or sexual assault examination kits (SAEKs) if trained medical professionals have not already done this.
- Sexual Assault Response Technical Assistance (SART)
RAINN provides a free online training course for CSASPs and others interested in learning how to respond if a rape or sexual assault is reported to the police. The system is available here. We do our best to make the information accessible to anyone, even those with limited computer experience. However, there are some accommodations we can make when you are within our office hours or on a weeknight.
RAINN wants to help you be the best CSASP you can be so that you can maximize your potential to provide comfort and support. We want to offer comfort and support in return, so if there is anything we can do for you, please let us know! Read more on Barrons: https://www.barrons.com/news/metoo-and-the-media-five-years-after-weinstein-exposes-01664426407