Media Release

3:36 p.m.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) RAINN is launching its National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, which can be accessed at www.rainn.org.  Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center is a founding partner of the hotline, and county staff and volunteers provide counseling and information via a secure instant messaging format to rainn.org visitors across the U.S.

 

The online hotline is the first secure, web-based hotline to provide support from trained crisis volunteers to sexual assault victims and their loved ones.  In 1994, RAINN created the original National Sexual Assault Hotline which can be reached by phone at 800-656-HOPE (4673).  Since then, RAINN has helped transform more than 1 million victims into survivors.

 

"This April, more young people now use the web to find health information than to download music," said Scott Berkowitz, president and founder of RAINN.  "To adequately serve younger victims of sexual assault, the online hotline combines the services they need with the technology they embrace."

 

RAINN statistics state that 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime.  Forty-four percent of sexual assault victims are under the age of 18.

 

For more information, visit www.rainn.org or contact Rita Lawrence, Alachua County Victim Services and Rape and Crisis Center, at 352-264-6760.

 

If any accommodations are needed for persons with disabilities, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at (352) 374-5275 or (352) 374-5284 TDD.

 

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