Ohio

COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES

AIDS Resource Center Ohio

Lima Region

Toledo Region

AIDS Resource Center Ohio provides comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention/education programs, testing and counseling, support services, and linkage to service throughout 35 Ohio counties. ARC Ohio is the region’s access point for two primary federal and state programs assisting those living with HIV: the Ryan White CARE Act and Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS. All persons living with HIV/AIDS wishing to access these resources can do so by enrolling in ARC Ohio’s case management program. In addition, ARC Ohio offers an array of other services aimed at maintaining and enhancing the quality of life for people living with HIV, including: crisis intervention, financial aid, nutritional assistance and pantry program, rent and utility assistance, advocacy and community referrals, quality of life programs, funds for diagnostic and medical care, transportation assistance, home-based assistance, education, support groups, and a supportive housing program for HIV+ individuals who are homeless. All AIDS Resource Center Ohio programs are confidential and free for participants.

American Red Cross Rape Crisis Services

The mission of American Red Cross Rape Crisis Services is to offer information, emotional support, and counseling to any person who has been sexually abused, assaulted, or raped. Services include: a 24-hour rape crisis hotline offering emotional support, information, and referrals; hospital and legal advocacy; individual, family, and group counseling services; support groups for adult survivors of rape and childhood sexual abuse; and prevention education programs in schools and in the community. Rape Crisis also offers specialized services to LGBT survivors and men who have been sexually assaulted. All of these services are free and strictly confidential.

Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization

The Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification, domestic violence, and sexual assault through prevention, education, advocacy, violence documentation, and survivor services. BRAVO works, within and on behalf of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. BRAVO serves the Central Ohio area by providing the following services: crisis intervention; documentation of hate crimes, domestic violence, and sexual assault; judgment-free support for survivors, family members, and friends; links to local law enforcement officials; community-wide education; and support groups. All reports are confidential and all services are free.

Butler County Rape Crisis Program

Hamilton Office

The Butler County Rape Crisis Program, a service of the Community Counseling & Crisis Center, was established in 1989 to serve the needs of sexual assault survivors, their family members, and friends. The Rape Crisis Program seeks to reduce the trauma of sexual assault by providing confidential immediate and long-term support for sexual assault survivors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Services include a 24-hour hotline and crisis intervention assistance for sexual assault survivors at area hospital emergency departments and police departments. Law Enforcement Liaison to assist survivors who choose to press charges against their assailants can be provided. The Rape Crisis Program periodically offers support groups for survivors. All Rape Crisis Program services for individuals affected by sexual assault are confidential and free of charge.

Cleveland Rape Crisis Center

Founded in 1974, The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center is the only agency in Cuyahoga County that provides free, comprehensive services to survivors of sexual assault. Services include: 24-hour crisis intervention hotline; information and referrals; individual and group therapy for children, adolescent, and adult survivors of sexual abuse and their non-offending family members; justice system advocacy; and community education. All services are free and confidential.

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is a community mental health agency that provides direct services to male, female, and youth survivors of sexual assault, and their family and friends in and around Central Ohio. Individual and family counseling are available, as well as case management services. All services are confidential. A sliding fee scale is available for residents of Ottawa and Erie Counties. Medicaid and some other insurance plans are accepted.

Lorain County Rape Crisis Service

Operated by The Nord Center, Lorain County Rape Crisis Service offers comprehensive services to survivors of sexual assault, their family members, and significant others. Services include: 24-hour sexual assault hotline, hospital accompaniment and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, advocacy and support throughout legal proceedings, short-term crisis intervention and individual or group support, referrals for counseling, and support for family members and significant others. Lorain County Rape Crisis Service is willing to meet one-on-one with prisoners and to provide educational presentations in correctional facilities. Services are free and confidential and available to adolescents, men, and women throughout Lorain County.

Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services

Open Arms offers programs, services, and resources to those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault in Hancock County. The Rape Crisis Program at Open Arms provides the following services to survivors of sexual assault: 24-hour crisis hotline; advocacy in the emergency room and accompaniment through the legal process; emergency shelter, as available; one-on-one support and education about sexual assault; support groups for adult survivors of rape; and support for family and friends. All services are free and confidential.

Women's Re-Entry Network

Women’s Re-Entry Network (WREN) provides a holistic network of support to any woman who has been involved in the criminal justice system with a goal of promoting personal goal achievement and collective empowerment. WREN also provides services to family members. Services include: individual and group counseling, intensive case management, GED classes, family reunification support, employment readiness and placement, creative writing classes, and jail-and prison-based outreach services at the Cuyahoga County Jail and the Northeast Pre-Release Center. The Surviving Abuse Together Group focuses on supporting survivors of physical and sexual violence. All services are confidential and free of charge.

YWCA of Toledo H.O.P.E. Rape Crisis Center

The YWCA H.O.P.E. Rape Crisis Center is the only rape crisis service provider in Northwest Ohio and provides comprehensive services to survivors of sexual assault and their family members. Services include: 24-hour hotline; crisis intervention; information and referrals; hospital accompaniment, support, and advocacy; legal system and criminal justice advocacy; and support groups. All services are free and confidential.

LEGAL RESOURCES

Ohio Justice and Policy Center

215 E. 9th St., Suite 601
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Office: (513) 421-1108
Website: www.ohiojpc.org
E-mail: contact@ohiojpc.org

The Ohio Justice and Policy Center (formerly the Prison Reform Advocacy Center) is a non-profit law office that works for productive, statewide reform of the criminal justice system by: promoting rehabilitation for incarcerated people; enabling them to successfully reintegrate into the community; and eliminating racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Though its impact litigation and advocacy, the Ohio Justice and Policy Center (OJPC) works to eliminate unconstitutional and dangerous conditions of confinement for Ohio prisoners. The Human Rights in Prison Project provides prisoners with legal representation and advocacy to address violations of civil rights. OJPC focuses on systemic issues of widespread importance in the prison system, such as the denial of healthcare. Prisoners in need of assistance can write to OJPC at the address above. 

Ohio State Bar Association

In all of Ohio's major metropolitan areas and certain other counties, the local bar sponsors a lawyer referral service. If you need a lawyer, you can call the referral service to obtain the name of a lawyer. Often the lawyer will schedule a half hour consultation for a very affordable fee (typically $15-$25). Ask for fee information when you call.

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES

Office of the Chief Inspector

The Office of the Chief Inspector monitors the application of the inmate grievance procedures in institutions to ensure that inmate concerns and problems are being appropriately addressed. Each institution has an Inspector of Institutional Services who is physically located at the institution. This inspector administers the inmate grievance process at the facility and conducts regular inspections to ensure departmental rules and policies are being properly followed.

The Office of the Chief Inspector provides assistance to institutional investigators and inspectors as well as conducts internal administrative investigations for the department. Inmates who believe that their grievance has not been resolved by the inspector can file an appeal to the Chief Inspector within 14 days of receiving the inspector’s disposition. Ask the inspector for an appeal form and mail the appeal along with copies of the grievance, disposition of grievance, and informal complaint (if any) to the Chief Inspector, who will review the appeal and send a decision in about 30 days. All decisions made by the Chief Inspector’s office are final.

Office of Ohio Inspector General

The Office of Inspector General investigates fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption within the executive branch of state government. Complaints received by the office are reviewed and evaluated to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe the underlying allegations, if true, would constitute a “wrongful act or omission” on the part of a state officer, agency, or employee. Inmates can write to the Office of Inspector General to report incidents of sexual abuse in detention and concerns regarding the handling of investigations into such abuses.

JDI has directly contacted each organization listed in the Resource Guide in hopes of pointing survivors toward those currently accepting new clients. However, the inclusion of any group or individual in the Resource Guide does not necessarily constitute an endorsement or recommendation by JDI, nor can JDI guarantee the availability of the services described here.