How OAESV Evaluates and Supports Ohio Rape Crisis Services

Jenn Eidemiller

OAESV Grants, Resource & Communications Manager

Over the past three decades, the anti-rape movement has evolved into a professional field focused on preventing and responding to various forms of sexual violence. As this field grows and shifts, an increasing number of organizations and departments are providing survivor services, while efforts are also being made to address existing gaps.  

A key question arising from this growth is: How can we ensure that survivors across Ohio have access to high-quality, comprehensive, trauma-informed, and coordinated services? The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV) leads this work in collaboration with service providers around Ohio.

The Role of OAESV 

As Ohio’s statewide anti-sexual violence coalition, OAESV advocates for comprehensive responses and rape crisis services for survivors and empowers communities to prevent sexual violence.  

 OAESV does this through: 

  1. Mapping Ohio Rape Crisis Services 
  2. Creating and maintaining the Ohio Core Rape Crisis Standards  
  3. Program Visits to evaluate Ohio Core Rape Crisis Services

 Mapping Ohio Rape Crisis Services 

In Ohio, there are currently 31 Rape Crisis Centers, serving 75 of 88 counties. OAESV keeps an updated map to help professionals and survivors connect with advocates and prevention programs near them.  

To find an Ohio Rape Crisis Center near you, visit OAESV’s RCC Map. For additional information about Rape Crisis Services, prevention or referrals can also call OAESV’s Resource Line (888) 886-8388.  

 

Ohio Core Rape Crisis Services 

While each Rape Crisis Center in Ohio is unique, what makes them similar is that each one provides Ohio Core Rape Crisis Services. These service standards are a framework to ensure that survivors across Ohio can experience quality, coordinated, and trauma-informed services, and organizations align with best-practices to sustain their work.  

Some of the Services include Trauma-Informed Practices; Confidentiality & Ethics; Survivor-Centered Services; Accessibility; 24/7 Hotline Services; Legal Advocacy; Hospital Advocacy; Support Groups; and Prevention.  Learn more about OAESV’s Core Standards, and how they were created. 

 

OAESV Program Visits 

OAESV provides in-person program visits with each program every other year, to evaluate how they are providing Core Rape Crisis Services. Program visits are a time for Coalition staff to meet and build relationships with those on the frontlines of advocacy, crisis intervention, and prevention work.  

Program visits are an opportunity for Rape Crisis Center staff to highlight their program’s strengths, creative solutions, and innovations. It’s also a chance for staff to share what additional support they need to sustain or improve their work, and make direct asks to the coalition for training, technical assistance, and additional capacity-building resources.  

OAESV evaluates Ohio Rape Crisis Services through a combination of in-person interviews, anonymous program staff surveys, and policy reviews to evaluate how Ohio Core Rape Crisis Services are being provided by each organization. This process highlights the strengths and coordination of Rape Crisis Services in Ohio, and areas to increase support and collaboration. 

At the end of program visits, each program receives a summary report and certificate that accredits them as a recognized Rape Crisis Center. The program certificate can also support programs to apply for and receive important funding for Rape Crisis Centers through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.  

OAESV uses program visit data to provide one-on-one follow up to support agency growth. The data also inform statewide training and programming to improve services.

The 2024-2025 Program Visits

OAESV highlighted the following strengths of Ohio Rape Crisis Services from the 2024-2025 program visits. 

  1. Survivor-centered programs with an emphasis on trauma-informed services 
  2. Creative solutions to reduce barriers for survivors to access services 
  3. High commitment to community coordination and collaboration 
  4. Community outreach and strong partnerships to increase awareness 

Ways You Can Support This Work

Even as the anti-sexual violence movement has grown over the past thirty years, there is still a need to increase the coverage and capacity of services to meet the needs in Ohio. Join OAESV as a member and find ways to support this critical and life-affirming work to ensure comprehensive services are available and sustained to survivors and communities are empowered to prevent sexual violence. 

How you can continue to support Ohio Rape Crisis Services 

  • Follow OAESV and support our work as a statewide Coalition 
  • For additional information about Rape Crisis Services or get a referral, you can call OAESV’s Resource Line at (888) 886-8388. 
  • If you are providing services to sexual assault survivors in an area without a rape crisis center, reach out to us to learn about how to become a recognized Ohio Rape Crisis Center. 
  • For more information, contact Natasha Larson, OAESV Director of Programming & Member Engagement, nlarson@oaesv.org 

 

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-24-GG-00972-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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