The Rowan Center Inc

TO PROVIDE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THE ROWAN CENTER IS THE ONLY AGENCY PROVIDING FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE EIGHT TOWNS OF LOWER FAIRFIELD COUNTY: DARIEN, GREENWICH, NEW CANAAN, NORWALK, STAMFORD, WESTON, WESTPORT AND WILTON. ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND HAITIAN CREOLE. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:24-HOUR HOTLINE: THE ROWAN CENTER STAFFS A 24-HOUR ENGLISH/SPANISH HOTLINE WITH COUNSELORS AND MORE THAN 70 VOLUNTEER VICTIM ADVOCATES, ALL OF WHOM HAVE COMPLETED 40 HOURS OF STATE-CERTIFIED TRAINING. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022, 48% OF SHIFTS WERE COVERED BY VOLUNTEERS, PROVIDING IMPORTANT RELIEF FOR OUR STAFF ADVOCATES AND COUNSELORS.CRISIS TEXT LINE AND CHAT SERVICE: THE ROWAN CENTER STAFFS A CONNECTICUT CRISIS TEXT LINE AND CHAT SERVICE WITH TRAINED COUNSELORS. THE TEXT LINE AND CHAT SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH A SIMPLE, EASY TO USE SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN GET SUPPORT FROM A TRAINED COUNSELOR BETWEEN 9AM AND 5PM FROM THEIR PHONE OR WEB ACCESIBLE DEVICE. ADVOCACY: OUR ADVOCATES ARE AVAILABLE TO MEET CLIENTS AT HOSPITALS IN GREENWICH, NORWALK AND STAMFORD TO AID DURING EVIDENCE-COLLECTION EXAMINATIONS AND AT POLICE STATIONS TO OFFER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, MAKING POLICE STATEMENTS, ETC. OUR ADVOCATES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO ACCOMPANY AND GUIDE CLIENTS THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS FOR CASES AND OTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM SERVICES SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROTECTIVE ORDERS. SHORT-TERM CRISIS COUNSELING: AS PART OF OUR DIRECTIVE FROM THE CONNECTICUT ALLIANCE TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE, THE ROWAN CENTER PROVIDES UP TO 12 FREE CONFIDENTIAL SESSIONS TO ADULT AND TEEN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE. SERVICES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS OF VICTIMS, WHO THEMSELVES ARE SECONDARY VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR TERTIARY SURVIVORS/VICTIMS, THOSE WHO ARE CONNECTED TO THE VICTIM AND IMPACTED BY THE VIOLENCE. OUR COUNSELORS MEET CLIENTS AT OUR OFFICES, THEIR SCHOOLS, OR A SAFE PLACE THAT IS MORE CONVENIENT FOR THEM.INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS FOR CHILDREN: THE ROWAN CENTER IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TWO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE RESPONSE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS SERVING OUR AREA. THEY ARE MULTI-AGENCY INVESTIGATIVE TEAMS COMPRISED OF SEVERAL AGENCIES: CHILDREN'S CONNECTION, CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, LOCAL POLICE, STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OTHERS. THE TEAM WAS DEVELOPED TO ENHANCE COORDINATION IN THE INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. THROUGH INTERAGENCY COOPERATION, THE EXPERTISE OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IS BROUGHT TOGETHER TO STREAMLINE INVESTIGATIONS, THEREBY MINIMIZING THE NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS REQUIRED AND REDUCING THE TRAUMA OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE CHILD AND FAMILY. THE ROWAN CENTER ADVOCATES SERVE THE FAMILY OF THE CHILD VICTIM.SUPPORT GROUPS: THE ROWAN CENTER OFFERS SURVIVORS A SAFE AND CONFIDENTIAL SPACE TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND HEAL AS A COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR, WE OFFER WEEKLY MEN'S SUPPORT GROUP AS WELL AS A BI-MONTHLY WOMEN'S 40+ SUPPORT GROUPS. PREVENTION EDUCATION: OUR SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMS RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT PERSONAL SAFETY, SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT; THE PREVALENCE OF SUCH VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY; SIGNS OF PERPETRATOR BEHAVIOR; AND SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA. SCHOOL-BASED PRIMARY PREVENTION EDUCATION PROGRAMMING BUILDS EMPATHY, PROMOTES RESPECT FOR PERSONAL BOUNDARIES, AND ENCOURAGES BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WHILE ALSO PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THEY OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS CRIME.