|
|
|
||||||||
The Rape Crisis Center of
Medina and Summit Counties
704 North Court Street
Medina, Ohio 44256
Phone 330.764.8635
Fax 330.764.8636
Local Hotline 330.721.HELP (4357)
Hotline 1.888.334.4064
Mission Statement
The Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit Counties believes that all people have the right to live without the fear of sexual violence, and that victims of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members deserve support to alleviate the trauma of sexual abuse in their lives.
Services
Crisis Intervention
Information and Referral
Support and Advocacy
Volunteer Opportunities
Prevention Training
Speaker's Bureau
Anti-stalking Services
If you have been raped
If you are sexually assaulted, you may wish to consider having a medical exam to treat any physical or internal injuries you might have, as well as to test for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. You may even think you do not have injuries, but you should still consider getting medical attention.
The best time to report the crime to police and to collect evidence is immediately following the assault. It may be difficult to decide if you want to press charges, but if you have a medical exam done to collect evidence within 72 hours after the assault, you can always decide later to press charges. After that, without evidence from a medical exam, prosecuting the perpetrator becomes more difficult.
In order to preserve any evidence for the exam, it is important that you DO NOT do the following things: wash up, shower, bathe or douche; change clothing; eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth or use mouthwash; urinate or move your bowels; alter the crime scene in any way. The more evidence that is preserved, the easier it will be to prosecute the perpetrator.
There will be no cost to you for the exam. The cost will be paid by the Victims of Crime Compensation Fund administered by the State of Ohio Attorney General's Office, regardless of whether or not you choose to press charges.
At your request, a Victim Advocate can meet you at the hospital or at the police station to provide support, as well as to answer any of your questions.
Please remember that you are not alone. Rape Crisis Advocates are available to listen and support you at any time. Call the 24-Hour Hotline at 1-888-334-4064.
If someone you know is raped
Because of the nature of relationships, when the crime of rape happens, more than just the victim is affected. Sexual violence impacts family members, partners, spouses, children, and parents of the survivor. Co-survivors can experience a multitude of feelings, about the rape, including, guilt, shock, concern, helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness. Anger can be directed toward the perpetrator, law enforcement, prosecutors, rape crisis advocates, the situation, themselves and even the survivor. If the co-survivor was sexually assaulted in the past, this may also act as a triggering event, causing flashbacks and memories for the co-survivor.Many co-survivors want to immediately protect the survivor from further harm, and try to make decisions for them. If you know someone who has been raped, here is some important information to keep in mind.
Many rape survivors falsely believe they are responsible for their victimization. While they may have made poor choices prior to the assault, the consequences of those behaviors can never be and should not be rape. Only the perpetrator can be held accountable for the actual rape.
Let the survivor know you are there. You don't have to have all the answers or always have the "right" thing to say. Just being there for them can help. Find time to just be alone with them; let the survivor do the talking, or be comfortable with no one talking (sometimes the survivor may need silence to go over their own thoughts, while still feeling safe in the company of a trusted friend). Encourage medical attention regardless of how long it's been since the assault. Give the survivor the number to your local rape crisis center. In Medina County, call 1-888-334-4064; in the rest of the United States, call 1-800-656-HOPE and you will be connected with your nearest rape crisis center.
Believe the survivor. . .even if their story is difficult to hear, or you know the alleged perpetrator. Most survivors (78%) know their rapists, so chances are, you might know them, too.
DO NOT THREATEN OR DO ACTUAL HARM TO THE PERPETRATOR. This creates more confusion and sadness for the survivor, and you will be faced with legal consequences. Confronting the other person is not going to make the situation better. The survivor may also stop feeling safe around you.
Let the survivorr know you care. Some helpful things to say include "I'm sorry this happened to you," "What happened wasn't your fault," "I believe you," and "That must have been terrifying/painful/scary for you." Things you can do include crying with them, offering phone numbers and information about local resources (remember to leave the decision to access services up to the survivor) and just being with the survivor. Ask permission to hold their hand or put your arm around them. Remember, the survivor's body was violated, and they may need to re-establish control over it again.
Take care of yourself. While the survivor may not wish to speak with professionals, you have the right to seek help for yourself without revealing the identity of the survivor or details of the assault. Dealing with sexual assault can be upsetting and confusing, especially if you know both the survivor and the alleged perpetrator. Find someone to talk to about YOUR feelings, like the rape crisis center, personal counselor, or trusted, neutral friend.
Referrals
VICTIM SERVICE PROGRAMS
Battered Womens' Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties
330.723.9610 (Medina)
330.225.7100 ext 9610 (Brunswick)
330.336.6657 ext 9610 (Wadsworth/Akron)
704 North Court Street
Medina, Ohio 44256
Hotline: 330.723.3900 or 1.877.414.1344
Legal advocacy, support groups (Lodi, Medina and Brunswick), Medina County shelter, information and referral, some food and clothing assistance for DV survivors.
Medina County Department of Human Services
Child Abuse Hotline 800.783.2025
Adult Abuse Hotline 800.783.5070
232 Northland Drive
Medina, Ohio 44256
Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit Counties
330.764.8635 (Medina)
330.225.7100 ext 8635 (Brunswick)
330.336.6657 ext 8635 (Wadsworth/Akron)
704 North Court Street
Medina, Ohio 44256
Hotline: 888.334.4064
330-721-HELP (4357)
Provides Personal Advocacy, Support Groups, Crisis Intervention (M-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), Information, Referrals, and Volunteer Opportunities
Victim Assistance Program
Medina County Prosecutor's Office 330.723.9537 (Medina) 330.225.7100 (Brunswick)
330.336.6657 (Wadsworth/Akron)
72 Public Square
Medina, Ohio 44256
24-Hour Emergency: 330.725.6631
Provides 24-hour Medical Advocacy, and Legal Advocacy
COUNSELING SERVICES
Solutions Behavioral Healthcare (formerly ADDS Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services, Inc.)
330.723.9600
246 Northland Drive
Medina, Ohio 44256
Specializes in alcohol and drug related counseling and education and mental health counseling
Alternative Paths, Inc.
330.725.9195 330.225.7100 330.336.6657
246 Northland Drive Medina, Ohio 44256
Emergency mental health services, psychiatric evaluations and treatment, case management, day treatment for severely mentally disabled
Avenues of Counseling and Mediation
330.723.7977
Medina, Ohio 44256
Provides counseling on various issues, including parenting and groups for at-risk youth. Mediation for persons/groups in conflict.
Cornerstone Counseling
330.722.4166
221 West Liberty Street
Medina, Ohio 44256
Private counseling for children and adults.
Catholic Charities Services
330.723.9615 330.225.7100 330.336.6657
246 Northland Drive
Medina, Ohio 44256
M-Th 9 am- 8 pm; F 9 am-5 pm
Geriatric assessment, information and referral, counseling, case management, advocacy, memory loss program, education, respite, Grandparent's Support Group
HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL OFFICES
Lodi Community Hospital
225 Elyria
Lodi, Ohio 44253
330.723.5455
Medina General Hospital
1000 East Washington Street
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.725.1000
Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital
195 Wadsworth Road
Wadsworth, Ohio 44281
800.828.1789
St. Thomas SANE Unit
444 North Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44310
330.434.7263
Planned Parenthood
Plaza 71 on Medina Road
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.723.1300
Medina County Health Department
4800 Ledgewood Drive
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.723.9688
330.334.4136
330.220.6265
POLICE DEPARTMENTS
Brunswick Hills
505 Substation Road
Brunswick Hills, Ohio 44212
330.273.3722
Brunswick City
4095 Center Road
Brunswick, Ohio 44212
330.225.9111
Briarwood Beach Village
24 Circlecrest
Chippewa Lake, Ohio 44215
330.769.3121
Lafayette
5834 Heatherhedge Drive
Chippewa Lake, Ohio 44215
330.725.6475
Hinckley Township
1616 Center Road
Hinckley, Ohio 44233
216.278.7161
Lodi Village PD
110 Ainsworth
Lodi, Ohio 44254
330.948.2040
Medina County Sheriff
555 Independence Drive
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.725.0028
MCSD Detective Division
555 Independence Drive
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.725.9116
Medina City Police Dept.
150 West Friendship
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.725.7777
Medina Township
3801 Huffman Road
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.723.1408
Montville Township
6665 Wadsworth Road
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.725.8314
Ohio State High. Patrol
Temporarily Relocated to Brunswick location
330.725.4921
Seville Village
6 Spring Street
Seville, Ohio 44275
330.769.4003
Spencer Village
109 North Main Street
Spencer, Ohio 44275
330.648.2425
Wadsworth City
145 High Street
Wadsworth, Ohio 44281
330.334.1511
Westfield Center Village
One Park Circle
Westfield Center, Ohio 44281
330.887.0178
Links
Inclusion as a link on this web page does not constitute endorsement by or affiliation
with the Medina County Rape Crisis Center.
To Contact The Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit Counties
Medina County Referrals through InfoLink
(Do not use this method if you are in crisis. Call 1-888-334-4064.)
Last Updated: November 2007 (currently being updated)
