Quanada's Sexual Assault Program
The Sexual Assault Program provides crisis intervention, 24-hour hotline, counseling, shelter, legal and medical advocacy and educational services. You do NOT have to stay at the shelter to use counseling or other services. All services are free and confidential.
Shelter
Emergency shelter is available to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault at 2707 Maine,
If You Are A Victim:
• This is not your fault.
• Get to a safe place.
• Do not shower, bathe, wash your hands, brush your teeth, use the toilet or clean up in any way. You could destroy evidence.
• Do not change or destroy clothing. Your clothes are evidence.
• If the assault occurs in your home, do not rearrange and/or clean up anything. You could destroy evidence.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible. (Evidence should be collected when you arrive at the hospital.)
• Contact a friend or family member you trust or call the local rape crisis center hotline. Quanada 1(800) 369-2287
You Have The Right To:
• Determine whether to report the crime to the police.
• Ask for a female police officer if you choose to report.
• Locate an attorney to represent you. (The prosecutor is not your attorney.)
• Request that someone accompany you in the examination room.
• Be considered a rape victim/survivor regardless of the rapist's relationship to you.
Getting back to normal can take a long time and you may wonder if there is anyone who can help. Many survivors have found it helpful to talk to rape crisis counselors. You can call Quanada at 1(800) 369-2287 to make an appointment with our counselors.
When the Survivor is Someone You Know:
When someone you know or care about has been assaulted, it is normal for you to feel upset and confused. At a time when you may want to help most, you will be dealing with a crisis of your own.
You may find it difficult to listen when the survivor needs to talk about his or her feelings. You may hope that by not talking about it, the feelings both of you have will go away.
You may be tempted to make decisions for the survivor, to be over-protective. You may want to hide the assault from others. You may feel disturbed or confused when the survivor continues to be affected for weeks, months or even years.
Some partners may want more physical intimacy sooner than the survivor does. Others may feel repulsed.
Maybe you feel guilty and responsible, believing you could somehow prevent the assault. You may also feel anger at the survivor or at everyone in general.
All of these feelings are understandable following the sexual assault of someone you love. If these feelings are hidden or expressed in hurtful ways, they can interfere with the resolution of your crisis and that of the survivor.
The survivor may need your support and understanding. You, however, also need support.
Rape is a violent assault, not a sexually-motivated or gratifying act. The rapist's aim is to dominate, humiliate, control and degrade the victim. Because the act of making love involves the same parts of the body as sexual assault, some people can confuse sex and violence. Some respond to a survivor as if she/he provoked, wanted or enjoyed it.
Many people also believe rape is not traumatic. Not understanding the reality of sexual assault can make the crisis more difficult for both of you. The emotional impact of sexual assault does not disappear, but talking about it can help.
Your feelings are normal, and resources are available for you at Quanada.
Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault
www.icasa.org
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
www.taasa.org
Illinois Attorney General
www.ag.state.il.us