Empowering Communities: A Love Letter From NCCASA to Rape Crisis Advocates

At NCCASA, we recognize the transformative power of support services for survivors of sexual violence. Every call answered, every volunteer hour contributed, and every crisis chat initiated represents a step toward safety, healing, and empowerment. 

Throughout 2023-2024, 24,374 hotline calls were answered by dedicated advocates across our State, providing survivors with immediate support, safety planning, and referrals to vital resources. These conversations create avenues of care for survivors during moments of crisis. In addition to hotline calls, 3,100 crisis/support chats expanded opportunities of access for survivors to seek help in a confidential, trauma-informed way. These numbers inform us that more individuals—especially those who may not feel safe making a phone call—can and are receiving the assistance they need.

In addition to hotline calls and online support chats, 8,577 clients received in-person or remote services from local programs, meaning that survivors are accessing comprehensive care tailored to individual needs both throughout and after crisis. Additionally, advocates provided 2,446 support groups, with 21% of these groups specifically created for children. The utilization of these groups and services reinforces the need for both continued and intentional care. 

Local Programs Encourage and Facilitate Community-Building and Strength 

With 161,640.96 volunteer hours logged, community members across North Carolina have shown their unwavering commitment to creating safer environments for all. Volunteers do everything from staff crisis lines to organize prevention programs, and they play an essential role in fostering healing for survivors. The sheer number of volunteers across local programs and RCCs inform us about the peoples’ willingness to show up, as well as the collective concern for creating safer communities that clearly expand much further than the walls of local programs’ walls. 

Strengthening Communities Through Education and Training

Organizations provided 2,821 educational presentations about violence prevention, survivor support, and advocacy, ensuring that larger-scale impact is sustained in addition to direct care for survivors. In other words, local programs and RCCs not only recognize the importance of direct services on sexual assault response, but many of them also recognize the deeper rooted catalysts of sexual violence, for which sexual violence education is necessary for prevention.  Additionally, 972 professional trainings were conducted to equip service providers, educators, and first responders with the knowledge and tools necessary to support survivors effectively further expanding the impact of local programs and RCCs on professional, economic, and community development. 

These Are More Than Numbers 

These services are more than just statistics—they represent survivors across our State accessing the essential services they deserve to heal and the numerous advocates, volunteers, and community members who wake up every day with a commitment to care for their community–a safer one, in fact.

When we invest in survivor support and violence prevention by funding local programs and rape crisis centers, we invest in a future where sexual violence doesn’t harm a single individual–that is our shared vision. 

At NCCASA, we remain committed to uplifting these efforts and advocating for the continued funding and expansion of these life-saving services. We encourage community members to get involved—whether by volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness—so that every survivor in North Carolina continues to receive access to the support they deserve.

All data reported and sourced from Council For Women and Youth Involvement state grantees.