DC Rape Crisis Center

We're always here: 24-hour crisis services for assault survivors since 1972. Free counseling helps hundreds of children and adults each year heal from trauma. Community education on preventing sexual violence.

How do you help people in my community?

The Center provides crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy services to the community. Our services include a 24-hour crisis hotline for survivors of sexual abuse, their families and friends. We also offer free individual, group, and family counseling for children and adults. Our Children's Counseling Program helps children and their families heal from the trauma of sexual assault using play, art, and sand tray therapy. Through our Companion services, someone from the Center will meet a survivor at the hospital or police station 24 hours a day. We provide educational outreach on avoiding sexual abuse to children in DC schools as well as sexual assault awareness and prevention presentations to groups of all ages. We have a TTY hotline for survivors who are deaf or hearing impaired. We offer free and low cost self-defense demonstrations and classes.

Why do you need my support?

We are a private non-profit agency. We rely on private donations to continue our essential free services. Every donation truly makes a difference. Our vision is to serve survivors of rape and childhood sexual abuse while also working toward preventing sexual violence. As the only private (non-government sponsored) rape crisis center in the area, we can serve the entire metropolitan area without restrictions based on where a client lives or was attacked. All of our counseling services are free of charge.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

We keep our program costs low because we rely on specially trained volunteers, interns, and students who also provide critical services. They provide more than 30,000 hours of donated time a year for the Center. The Center's staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors is committed to ensuring that we use our resources carefully.

Can I Volunteer? How?

We count on the energy and dedication of our volunteers to help us provide our essential services. Over 120 volunteers donate over 30,000 hours of their time.

• Volunteers in our Community Education department complete a Speaker's Bureau training and then are qualified to make presentations to a variety of community groups and schools on the issue of sexual assault and risk reduction education.
• Volunteers are always needed for general office support.
• Volunteers champion special events such as our 5K Challenge Run/Walk and our annual Visionary Awards Gala.
• Volunteers help staff our 24-hour Hotline (A 65-hour comprehensive training program is required for anyone interested in becoming a hotline counselor.)
• During Sexual Assault Awareness Month volunteers help coordinate and participate in our “Take Back the Night” March and Rally.
• Our annual Phone-a-thon relies on the generous time and effort of other volunteers to solicit donations from the community.