Regardless of when the assault occured, or the age, race or sex of the survivors, Healing Hearts offers a supportive, healing atmosphere with caring people to assist them in regaining feelings of safety, control, trust, autonomy and self-esteem.

Services A Life Line Advocacy Referrals Specially Trained Examiners Examination Room Awareness

Healing Hearts Crisis Center offers two kinds of services:

Crisis intervention, advocacy, support and referral services

In a case where a survivor wishes to report an assault to law enforcement, the clinical services of a medical-legal examination. A survivor is not required to report the incident to law enforcement authorities in order to receive the advocacy, support and referral services.

647-8833 / 5351 is a crisis hot line for any survivors of sexual assault - no matter when the assault occured.

If a survivor finds that he or she is facing issues relating to the assault, HHCC phone lines are manned 24 hours a day by staff or volunteers willing to help. or to listen if the survivor just needs to talk.

All Healing Hearts staff and volunteers have completed at least 80 hours of extensive training and are each sensitive to the wide range of emotions and circumstances that can occur in a sexual assault. The advocate's role is to be there for the survivor and to provide crisis intervention and support to the survivor.

A referral list of more than 100 agencies and services throughout the island allows the advocate to offer the survivor some solutions to both intermediate and long-term problems. Referrals include counseling, Sexually Transmitted Diseases/HIV testing, and criminal injuries compensation.

M.D.s and registered nurses have been trained to perform forensic evidentiary examinations as it pertains to sexual assault victims. The role of the examiner is to remain neutral and objective, but to care for the survivor with sensitivity. The examiners fully understand their role, not only in the criminal justice aspect of a sexual assault case, but also in the healing and emotional well-being of a survivor. Each nurse, upon certification as a forensic nurse, is qualified to perform medical-legal examinations.

A specially-equipped examination room allows the sexual assault patients to undergo the medical-legal examination in a separate, private, calming environment.

Education and public awareness are the best ways to help the women, children and men who have survived sexual assault.

Healing Hearts is involved with outreach programs for elementary, middle and high schools and the community at large to teach appropriate touching, when and how to say no, and to provide personal safety for oneself and others.

For volunteer work or to schedule a presentation, call 647-8833/5351 during business hours.