Support Groups
What is a Support Group?
A support group is most simply defined as a group of people, who share a common concern. This group of people come together to share in their experiences and support one another in healing. At PAR, we offer a variety of groups that target specific populations and specific types of trauma.
How do I join a support group?
All PAR support groups are an open format, peer style group. Contact the office to confirm dates and times of different groups.
How can a support group help me?
Victims of sexual assault often feel a sense of isolation as a result of their trauma. Support groups are designed to help eliminate these feelings of isolation with the sharing of common experiences and an understanding of common problems that are related to sexual assault.
Outreach
PAR’s Outreach department offers awareness and education services through monthly events. In addition, PAR collaborates with other community response agencies to ensure the highest quality of services to those in need in the tri-county area. Multilingual outreach resources and support are also available upon request.
Outreach Advocates:
Conduct community awareness and education presentations
Provide advocacy and case management services to victims
Collaborate with service providers that provide services to victims
Assist with Volunteer Trainings
Network with community & state agencies to remain updated on resources available to clients
Establish Awareness of PAR’s mission
Establish & Maintain community partnerships with agencies throughout the region
Advise community providers of new laws and protocols regarding sexual assault
Education
Our Education department is here for all your educational needs. From school presentations on bullying, harassment, safe dating, and sexual assault, to parent presentations and staff development, the education department offers a host of possible topics. During the 2010-2011 school year, PAR’s Education Coordinator educated over 7,500 students between Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties. We also hosted a number of parent presentations in schools and community groups along with staff development for a local medical clinic, City of Charleston and City of North Charleston Police Department, and school personnel. The job of our Education Department is prevention and teaching students to be effective in prevention and bystander interventions. Specialized presentations can be created for your group’s specific needs.
Some popular presentations are:
• Good touch/ bad touch
• Building Healthy Relationships
• Sexual Harassment
• Safe Dating
• Date Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Mentors in Violence Prevention
• Assisting Victims of Sexual Assault
Volunteer
Volunteers are vital to serving PAR’s mission. We offer training to individuals who are interested in giving back to their community by volunteering their time. PAR will conduct a background check and an interview to qualify for training.
As an advocate, you may be involved in:
24 Hour Crisis Line, providing support to victims in times of crisis.
Hospital Response
Medical Appointment Accompaniment
Providing additional resources and referrals appropriate for clients
Facilitating or Co-facilitating support groups
Event planning
Please check out our Volunteer page for more information on becoming a PAR volunteer.
Child Victim Advocacy
Our Child Victim Advocates provide advocacy and case management services to child victims of sexual assault and attend weekly case staffings at Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center and Dorchester Children’s Center. PAR’s Child Victim Advocate’s provide:
• Child and Family Advocacy
• Court Accompaniment and Legal Advocacy
• Medical Advocacy
• Case management
• Referral Services
Please check out our Child Sexual Assault page for more information on child victims.