Although we hope it’ll never happen to us, domestic violence and sexual assault are large problems that regularly affect thousands of people. According to the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, 321,500 individuals who are 12 or older are raped or sexually assaulted every year in the U.S. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence from a partner in their lifetime.
These same sources state that only 34 percent of people injured by intimate partner violence seek medical treatment and two out of every three sexual assaults go unreported. Although it is the survivor’s choice to report a case of sexual assault or domestic violence, it’s important to know what resources are available. Below are resources available to Broward and Miami-Dade County survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. All of these resources serve both men and women.
Women in Distress
Women in Distress of Broward County, Inc. aims to provide intervention, support and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. They can provide safe shelter, counseling and therapy sessions for both adults and children who have been impacted by domestic violence. Their hotline is accessible 24/7 and can be reached at 954-761-1133.
Nancy J. Cotterman Center
The Nancy J. Cotterman Center is Broward County’s Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center. They serve sexual assault and child abuse survivors of all ages. Their Crisis Unit is open 24/7 and provides immediate crisis intervention, advocacy and forensic medical examinations. Their Counseling Unit provides private, confidential mental health services to survivors and non-offending family members of all ages. All services at the center are provided at no cost to the clients. Center staff can be reached 24/7 at 954-761-7273.
Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center
Located at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center is a nonprofit that serves survivors of rape and sexual assault of all ages. Some of the services they provide include medical treatment, crisis intervention, referral services, support groups and therapy sessions. Advocates at the center can also help survivors with compensation, relocation and human trafficking application processes. The center’s mental health services are available for survivors of recent or past sexual assault trauma and for non-offending family members. Their crisis hotline operates 24/7 and can be reached at 305-585-7283.
Forget Me Not
Forget Me Not is an advocacy organization whose main goal is to prevent domestic violence and give voices to survivors. About eight months ago, Forget Me Not started a peer group for survivors of domestic violence. For information on the peer group or to be connected to other resources, contact Forget Me Not at 813-390-6214 or info@forgetmenotgroup.org.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline can connect survivors around the U.S. of domestic violence to resources that can be accessed in their local areas. Their phone hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233. Their online hotline chat, which is available every day from 8-3 a.m. can be found at thehotline.org
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network
The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network is the largest anti-sexual violence organization. They work toward prevention and advocacy of sexual violence. Their national hotline works around the clock and can help connect survivors to resources for intervention and counseling. The hotline number is 800-656-46713. There’s also the online hotline chat, which can be accessed at online.rainn.org.
