For Immediate Assistance

Call our 24 Hour Crisis Line

Local: 360-695-0501
(We accept collect calls)
Toll-free: 800-695-0167

For life-threatening situations
Call: 911

Sexual Assault Program

Smiling People, Foster youth services, YWCA of Clark County

Our Sexual Assault Program provides 24-hour legal, medical, and advocacy to survivors of sexual assault and their families and friends.

We also offer advocacy, support groups, counseling, community outreach, and education opportunities.

If you are a survivor, we want to help you get the support you need as soon as possible.

  • Go to a safe place immediately

  • Find support – our hotline is available 24/7

  • Seek medical attention as soon as possible

  • Save clothing and personal items involved in the assault

  • If possible, do not bathe, change clothes or change your appearance until after evidence has been collected by the police

If the assault has just occurred:

It’s Never too Late to Seek Support ↘

If you are seeking support for an assault that took place in the past, we can provide you with:

  • Sexual assault support groups for adults, teenagers, and Latina Spanish speaking folks. Call 360 696 0167 to learn more about signing up.

  • Non-judgmental support, information, and referrals for survivors who have experience sexual assault at any time in their life

  • Advocacy for all ages during forensic medical exams, law enforcement interviews, and the criminal justice process

  • Individual therapy for people ages 18 and up in Clark County

  • Prevention and community education

  • Free and confidential services available without discrimination by reason of race, color, religion, disability, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, ethnicity, income, veteran status, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law

People Smiling Together, Foster youth services, YWCA of Clark County

  • YWCA Clark County’s Sexual Assault Program recognizes that people of all genders and sexualities can experience sexual violence. Members of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or questioning) community, particularly bisexual women and transgender people, experience sexual violence at higher rates than cisgender and straight people.The Sexual Assault (SA) program also recognizes that LGBTQ+ people face unique barriers when trying to access support around sexual violence. SA advocates help LGBTQ+ survivors through these barriers.

  • Sexual assault of a child is never an accident. We believe that all children have the right to be protected, safe, heard, and above all, believed. Children who are not able to talk about an assault and/or are not believed are at an increased risk for lifelong physical, emotional, and social problems.

    • Most perpetrators of abuse are known to the child. (friends or family)

    • Trust your intuition if you feel concerned about certain people around your children.

    • Reduce the occurrence of situations where there is only one adult present with your child.

    • Teach your children the proper names for body parts, and teach them about safe and unsafe touching, and what is appropriate physical affection and attention.

    • Acknowledge that touch can be confusing for children.

    • Let your children know that it’s okay to say no, and it’s okay to leave a situation—especially one that involves someone who has made your child feel uncomfortable.

    If your child or any child you know has been sexually assaulted, which is a serious crime, assure them that telling you was the right thing to do, that you are sorry it happened, and that it wasn’t their fault. Then, get support immediately. Contact our 24 hour sexual assault hotline at 800-695-0167 or 360-695-0501 and/or call 911.

    We also offer a free bystander intervention skill-building workshop where attendees will learn to identify warning signs of potential perpetrators, as well as safe, effective ways to intervene and address suspicious behaviors. Learn more by contacting De at 360-906-9151 or dstewart@ywcaclarkcounty.org.

  • Sexual assault is hard to talk about. It thrives in an environment of silence and may cause fear, shame and guilt for the survivor. Those affected by sexual assault are often silenced by these feelings. Abusers depend on this silence to keep offending. You can support survivors, so they can find their voice.

    • Increasing awareness of sexual assault is a public health and safety issue. The internet provides many great resources for teenagers to increase awareness on this topic. Visit our list of online resources. Additionally, protecting your teenager involves:

    • Awareness – be aware of the facts and understand the risks, be aware of the signs

    • Communication – learn how to talk about sexual health, sexual assault and how to support someone who has been assaulted

    • Education – educate children and teens on safety issues around touching, the internet, dating and creating a safety plan

    • Supervision – stay involved, minimize opportunity and act on suspicions

    If your teen or any teenager you know has been sexually assaulted—which is a serious crime—assure them that telling you was the right thing to do, that you are sorry it happened, and that it wasn’t their fault. Then, get support immediately. 

    Contact our 24-hour Sexual Assault Hotline at 360-695-0501 and/or call 911.

  • Sexual assault is a traumatic experience. The healing process varies for each survivor.

    To help, you can:

    • Assure the victim that the sexual assault was not their fault

    • Avoid detailed questioning—let the survivor share information about the event at her/his own pace

    • Respect the victim’s decisions about how to proceed after the assault

    • Let the survivor know confidential support is available at our 24/7 hotline