Our Services
How we can help.
The Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut offers comprehensive, confidential services to victims of sexual abuse, sexual assault, harassment and incest. We also provide support to parents and caregivers of children who have been abused, as well as family members and friends. There are no fees for our services.
Crisis Intervention
Crisis Intervention Services are provided in the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, incident of sexual violence, or child sexual abuse. We offer support through our 24-hour hotline and accompaniment during medical, police and legal processes. Our certified advocates and counselors can assist you in making informed decisions by providing information to you regarding such matters as medical exams, the legal process, evidence collection, date rape drug testing, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Medical Accompaniment
If you were assaulted within the past 120 hours you may choose to seek medical care and sexual assault evidence collection at the emergency department of your local hospital. The Emergency Department will call us and one of our certified sexual assault crisis counselors will be immediately dispatched to support you throughout the medical process. There is no cost for forensic evidence collection in Connecticut.
Information About Your Rights & Laws
Victims have the right to choose if they wish to report an assault to the police or not. You are not required to make a complaint to law enforcement to have a forensic medical exam and evidence collection. Our counselors can assist you with information about Victim Compensation and the Address Confidentiality Program.
Victim Advocacy
Our staff integrate trauma-informed, trauma-focused approaches in all interactions with the victims and survivors we serve. During medical, community-based services, and criminal and legal accompaniments, our counselors assist our partners by alerting them to the impact of trauma and how to minimize or avoid re-traumatization of the victim. In keeping with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), our staff support incarcerated and justice-involved victims through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the Connecticut Department of Correction Facilities.
Counseling for Survivors
Counseling is available for adult victims, children, adolescents, parents, caregivers, and incest survivors. All information shared with our counselors remains confidential and there are never any fees for our services. Counseling is provided at both our New London and Willimantic offices by appointment. Virtual sessions are an option for adults and older teens who may have scheduling or transportation constraints.
Child Advocacy Centers
Our Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) provide services to children who are suspected victims of physical or sexual abuse, through a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach. The MDT brings together all the professionals and agencies needed to offer comprehensive services to children and their families. Children can and do recover from traumatic events. Parents play a critical role in helping their children cope with the stress reactions caused by abuse. SACCEC provides evidence-based treatments to help all non-offending family members recover from trauma. The New London CAC and Wendy's Place are safe comfortable spaces for children, where our Crisis Counselors also provide information and support to non-offending parents and caregivers of child abuse victims.
Child Advocacy Services
Our specialized Crisis Counselors will answer questions you have related to the investigative process and provide feedback to the assigned Child Protective Service investigator and/or law enforcement officer. We will arrange for and accompany you and your child to the Medical Evaluation. We will assist you in accessing services you need or that were recommended by the MDT. We will coordinate with other advocates that may be working with you and your child, such as the Domestic Violence Advocate, Court Victim Advocate, or Guardian ad Litem. We will assist you in obtaining a Civil Protective Order or Restraining Order if needed.
Help for Teens & Young Adults
Contrary to common belief, most people are assaulted by someone they know, like a friend, acquaintance, or classmate, not by a stranger. If you are a young person who prefers text, you can chat with a certified sexual assault crisis counselor from an Alliance member center on weekdays, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, by messaging 888-999-5545.
Support for Parents, Caregivers & Families
Trauma can interrupt a child's normal development; counseling helps in reducing the symptom of child traumatic stress, as well as offering you child support and guidance to return to age-appropriate activities. We will ask for your participation and cooperation because these are extremely important to the recovery of your child and the well-being of your family. The more your learn about how traumatic events affect children, the more you will understand the reasons for your kid's behaviors and emotions, and the better prepared you will be to help them cope.
Specialized Services for Men
Male sexual assault continues to be underreported, and even when reported, often disbelieved due to male rape myths (MRMs). There have been a growing number of research projects demonstrating that men frequently report self-blaming in incidents of sexual assault. Unfortunately this results in a low percentage of reports. Boys and men deserve the same level of compassion and sensitivity as is provided to women and girls when they come forward with reports. Our counselors have worked to build their knowledge and skills to serve male survivors and are here to support men who have been the victim of any form of sexual violence.
Empathetic Care for Elders
Like the young members of our community, elders can also be survivors of sexual violence. Our counselors are prepared to help those of all ages to address traumatic experiences. Regardless of how long ago the assault may have occurred, we are here to help now.
Assistance for Military Services Members
Those serving in the military can face additional barriers to reporting sexual assault compared to their civilian peers. Whether you are stationed at Groton SubBase, a student at the Coast Guard Academy (CGA), or a veteran, our counselors are equipped to assist you.
College Campus Intervention
If you are a student attending college or the CGA, we can provide you with a specifically trained counselor who is familiar with the policies and staff at your school. We can explain your options to you and accompany you to visit Campus Safety/Police, the Title IX office, or Student Affairs.
Prevention & Community Education
The Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut provides community education and violence prevention programs to schools, professionals and the public regarding primary prevention, risk reduction, sexual harassment, bullying, sexual assault, healthy relationships, and child sexual abuse.
Telehealth Visits
Virtual counseling sessions are available to adults and teens if they have difficulties with transportation or scheduling.
Towns We Serve
We provide services to these 41 towns in Eastern Connecticut: Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, East Lyme, Eastford, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Hampton, Killingly, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Mansfield, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Plainfield, Pomfret, Preston, Putnam, Salem, Scotland, Sprague, Sterling, Stonington, Thompson, Union, Voluntown, Waterford, Willington, Windham, and Woodstock.
Our service area covers many boroughs including:
Baltic, Central Village, Danielson, Dayville, Flanders, Gales Ferry, Groton Long Point, Jewett City, Mechanicsville, Moosup, Mystic, Niantic, Noank, North Grosvenordale, Oakdale, Oneco, Oswegatchie, Pachaug, Pawcatuck, Poquetanuck, Quinebaug, South Windham, Uncasville, Wauregan, and Willimantic.
We also serve the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations.