Resources for Service Providers

Adapting services and outreach during a disaster

Disasters require us to re-imagine sexual violence work and how we serve survivors more holistically when people are displaced, isolated, struggling to get basic necessities, or unable to reach traditional services. During the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters, victim services providers and others have innovated to meet the changing and growing needs of survivors and their communities. This has included online/digital services, creative outreach, and flexible approaches to safety planning, housing, and financial assistance. The lessons learned from these efforts can inform planning and response in the event of disasters, and also broaden and strengthen services for the future.

Tips and resources for mobile advocacy

Resource Sharing Project (2020)

Collection of resources about mobile advocacy, including issues related to privacy and confidentiality, helplines, and internet-based support for survivors of sexual violence.

Alternative service delivery options for survivors

North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (2020)

Strategies for advocates to connect with sexual assault survivors when in-person contact is restricted, including considerations for contact by phone, apps, and snail mail.

COVID-19 and health equity: How this van is meeting survivors’ needs during COVID-19

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (2021)

Podcast discussing Sistas Van, a project of Black Women’s Blueprint, and how they shifted their services to meet the immediate needs of their community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital services toolkit (English)

Conjunto de herramientas para servicios digitales (Spanish)

National Network to End Domestic Violence (2019)

Comprehensive guidance for victim services agencies about communicating with survivors and providing services through tech-based tools such as online chat, text messaging, video calls, social media, email, and mobile devices.

COVID-19 pandemic toolkit

National Network to End Domestic Violence (2020)

Resources to support victim services agencies in working remotely and using technology to communicate with survivors during a public health crisis.

Tele-advocacy ensuring accessibility for underserved crime survivors during COVID-19 pandemic

The National Resource Center for Reaching Victims (2020)

A recorded webinar on confidentiality and security considerations in tele-advocacy, strategies to make digital services accessible and inclusive for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors, and practical tips for effectively communicating with survivors through digital platforms.

Telecounseling for survivors

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (2020)

Overview of benefits and challenges, considerations for confidentiality and accessibility, and other recommendations when using telecounseling with survivors of sexual violence.

Telecounseling with Children and Teens

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (2020)

Overview of benefits and challenges, practical considerations, and activity ideas when using telecounseling with children and teens.

Tele-counseling 101: Providing services for survivors

Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (March 2020)

A recorded webinar about best practices for effective and confidential telecounseling services for survivors of sexual violence and lessons learned from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape’s telecounseling pilot project.

Technology guide during shelter in place orders

North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (December 2020)

Overview and examples of best practices for using technology to continue serving survivors when advocates must work from home during a public health crisis or other emergency.

Outreach guidance if in-person services are limited

North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (August 2020)

Strategies rape crisis centers can use to connect with their communities through social media, mail, local media, community groups and services, and other methods when opportunities for in person activities are limited due to a public health crisis or other emergency.

Creative outreach during COVID-19 (English)

Alcance creativo durante COVID-19 (Spanish)

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (April 2020)

Practical tips for sexual assault and domestic violence agencies to adapt outreach strategies using both traditional and virtual methods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An advocate’s guide to safety planning during COVID-19

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (April 2020)

Practical strategies advocates can discuss with survivors who are sheltering in place with someone who is harming them during COVID-19 or other disasters.

Safety plan for sexual assault survivors

North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (2020)

A guide to help advocates work with survivors of non-intimate partner sexual assault to identify potential triggers or overwhelming life events and create a safety plan tailored to the individual’s physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial needs and concerns.

G uidance for using hotels to meet survivors’ immediate safety and housing needs

Domestic Violence and Housing Technical Assistance Consortium (May 2020)

Key considerations for victim services providers to quickly establish hotel programs to meet the housing and safety needs of sexual assault and domestic violence survivors during COVID-19.

Flexible funding for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors

National Alliance for Safe Housing & Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (January 2019)

Overview of the benefits, core components, and administrative logistics of flexible funding grants to support safe housing stability among survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Learn more about COVID-19 and flexible funding.

Preventing trauma and suicide during catastrophic events and beyond

Prevention Institute

Interactive modules with tools, activities, and guidance to help community-based organizations and government agencies recognize the connections between catastrophic events and suicide, assess local context and identify groups at elevated risk, and develop effective and equitable suicide prevention strategies.

Prioritizing equity and community well being in the wake of catastrophic events

Prevention Institute

Examples and lessons learned from trauma-informed practices and long-term systems change implemented by local government agencies and community partners to address community needs during and after catastrophic events.

Working remotely during a disaster

Many organizations have shifted to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters, bringing a mix of benefits and challenges for service providers and the people they serve. The resources below offer practical tips for navigating many of the logistical, social, and emotional aspects of working from home, particularly in the context of a disaster.

How to operate as a remote workplace during a public health crisis (English)

Cómo operar como un centro de trabajo remoto durante una crisis de salud pública (Spanish)

National Network to End Domestic Violence (2020)

Recommendations for victim services agencies about using technology to continue services during a public health crisis, with emphasis on the safety and privacy of survivors and the health and well-being of advocates.

Protecting survivor privacy when working from home

Victim Rights Law Center (May 2020)

Guidance for OVW-funded victim service providers about survivor privacy considerations when transporting files, sending mail, using personal devices, scanning and printing, videoconferencing, and more while working from home.

Working remotely: Key considerations for survivor-centered organizations

The National Center for Reaching Victims (March 2020)

A recorded webinar for victim advocates and technical assistance providers about benefits, challenges, technology, and strategies for maintaining connection and well-being when working from home.

Working from home: A guide for advocates during COVID-19

Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (2020)

Tips for advocates working from home about protecting confidentiality, providing remote services, setting boundaries, developing routines, and more.

Working Remotely

Resource Sharing Project (2020)

A collection of resources and recommendations for sexual assault coalitions and local programs about working remotely, including tips around technology, supervision, supporting self-care, and re-prioritizing work.

Building trust while working remotely

The Engine Room (March 2020)

Tips for building and sustaining trusting work relationships and personal well-being while working in remote teams.

Addressing racism and oppression in organizations and communities

Fundamentally, preventing sexual violence both in and out of disasters requires uprooting systems and structures of oppression and organizing communities around the guiding principles of equity and justice. This work starts at home within organizations and institutions, including victim services, emergency response, disaster management, and other sectors and systems.

COVID-19: Racial equity and social justice resources

Racial Equity Tools (2020)

Library of online resources to help communities and activists understand and respond to the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, including tools for healing and community care, organizing and solidarity, resource building and rapid response, virtual work and online engagement, and more.

Pushing back against habits of white supremacy during a crisis

CompassPoint (April 2020)

Alternative mindsets and practices that can interrupt habits of white supremacy that show up in organizations during a crisis.

White supremacy culture in organizations

The Centre for Community Organizations (COCo) (November 2019)

An overview of common characteristics of white supremacy culture that show up in organizations, with questions for reflection and discussion to spark conversations about racism.

White supremacy culture

Tema Okun (2021)

Writings, poetry, art, videos, and additional resources reflecting on a list of characteristics of white supremacy culture that has been used as a resource for learning and discussion in many anti-racist groups and organizations.

Anti-racism resource collection

Resource Sharing Project

A round-up of resources to aid sexual assault coalitions in anti-racism work within their organizations and communities

Anti-racism is fundamental to sexual assault services

Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative (2019)

A recorded conversation among three sexual assault technical assistance providers on how to both personally and organizationally build skills and practices for disrupting racism and all forms of oppression to enhance services to survivors.

Anti-racism as violence prevention

Futures Without Violence

Three-part video series for domestic and sexual violence advocates on ways that racism and oppression have shaped our anti-violence movements and ways to dismantle racism in our organizations and communities, along with a large collection of supporting resources.

Plan: Change process

Racial Equity Tools

Collected resources on how individuals, leaders, organizations, coalitions, and communities can advance racial equity work, build movements, and implement accountability practices.

Act: Organizational change process

Racial Equity Tools

Examples of equitable policies and practices, toolkits, and additional resources related to organizational change processes to align internal operations with commitment to racial equity.

Operationalizing racial justice in non-profit organizations

MP Associates, Inc. (July 2020)

Reflections on five commonly asked questions and a curated list of resources for nonprofit organizations seeking to start or sustain a change process to integrate racial equity into their policies, practices, and culture.

Tools & resources for achieving racial equity in policymaking

Independent Sector (February 2021)

Collection of resources to help nonprofits achieve racial justice and systemic change by centering racial equity in their policy and overall strategic work.

Building trauma-informed organizations

Disasters shine a bright light on the need for workplace practices, policies, and cultures that are rooted in a trauma-informed framework. In order to provide meaningful services to others, staff and volunteers must have the support and resources they need for their own physical and emotional health and safety. Organizations can take steps to build and sustain trauma-informed environments not only in times of crisis, but also in their everyday work.

COVID-19: Considerations for a trauma informed response for work settings

Trauma Informed Oregon (2020)

Strategies for applying trauma informed care principles to support the physical and emotional health of staff members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A historical trauma-informed care approach to COVID-19

Urban Indian Health Institute (February 2021)

Ways to support communities experiencing multiple traumas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prioritizing equity: COVID-19 and trauma-informed approaches

American Medical Association (February 2020)

A recorded conversation among leaders in health justice about how trauma-informed approaches impact advancing equity among minoritized and marginalized communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Building cultures of care: A guide for sexual assault services programs

Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative (2017)

Overview of the core principles of trauma-informed care and guiding points and questions to help sexual assault services programs strengthen their organizational and individual responses to survivors of sexual violence through the use of a trauma-informed approach.

The vicarious trauma toolkit

Office for Victims of Crime (2017)

Tools and resources to help victim services, emergency medical services, fire services, and law enforcement organizations address the vicarious trauma needs of their staff.

Resources for organizations

Trauma Informed Oregon

Collected resources for human service organizations and systems to recognize and respond to the impact of trauma on the workforce and the people they serve.

Self-care and trauma work

Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative (2012)

An overview of vicarious trauma and steps organizations and individuals can take to reduce and manage it.

Supporting self-care and community-care for service providers

Providing support to survivors of violence, disasters, and other traumatic events is critically important and life-changing work. It can also take a toll on the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being of advocates, counselors, and other first responders and service providers. Taking care of ourselves and each other as helping professionals is vital for sustaining our health, energy, and impact both in and out of disasters.

Emergency responders: Tips for taking care of yourself

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (March 2018)

Recommendations for emergency responders to prevent and manage stress before, during, and after disasters.

Tips for disaster responders: Preventing and managing stress

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (September 2014)

Strategies for first responders and other service providers to prevent and manage stress before, during, and after disaster response.

Healthcare personnel and first responders: How to cope with stress and build resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (December 2020)

Information about signs of stress, strategies for resilience and coping, and additional resources for professionals providing care to others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Self-care ideas and resources list for helping professionals and first responders

Trace Fleming-Trice (June 2020)

A round-up of online resources - including articles, podcasts, videos, social media groups, and more - to support self-care and community care among helping professionals and first responders.

21 day self-care challenge packet

Move to End Violence (October 2015)

Activities designed for people in anti-violence movements to intentionally practice self-care, examine habits, and take steps towards more mindful practices.