Sexual Assault Services
Friend to Friend is committed to providing free and confidential advocacy services, safe shelter, and emotional support to adult sexual assault survivors.
Some of the services we provide are:
Court and Legal Advocacy to assist victims of sexual assault obtain restraining orders. Our court advocate accompanies clients to court, helps them to understand the paperwork, requirements, and procedures of the court system, and explains what to expect during the process.
Sexual Assault Hospital Accompaniment: Friend to Friend’s hospital accompaniment program helps ensure adult rape and sexual assault survivors have an opportunity for confidential free of charge access to services and support. When a survivor arrives at First Health Emergency Department, Friend to Friend will provide a trained advocate to provide both adult male and female survivors emotional support. Our trained advocates will also offer follow up information, community services referrals, and connect survivors with free and confidential support groups for ongoing support and healing.
Safe Shelter: Serenity House is located at an undisclosed location in order to ensure the safety of clients and staff. The Serenity House is an all green, four-star energy efficient, cottage style home that can house up to 34 women and children. Serenity House has a security system that affords excellent protection. If an abuser should find his way to the shelter, local police respond immediately. Entering onto the property of a domestic violence shelter is now a felony in North Carolina, rather than a misdemeanor. Clients can stay in the shelter up to 90 days, during which time they and their children begin to heal, while being taught self-sufficiency and how to make plans for a safer future. If occupancy at the shelter is full, clients are referred to domestic violence shelters in neighboring counties.
Counseling: Friend to Friend offers clients a full range of individual and group counseling services including sexual assault support groups, advocate guidance, and training in survival and safety skills. We also offer information and referrals to other local services and licensed therapists.
Community Education: Friend to Friend’s most effective strategy to help prevent sexual assault is through collaborative education programs for schools, community groups, and professionals in Moore County. Through this strategy, we partner with educators and community leaders to help members of our community become educated on the issues of sexual assault. Our community education program also helps raise awareness in the community about the physical, emotional, and financial cost of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking to the survivors, as well as the huge cost to our community as a whole. Our community educators can visit Moore County schools, among other local groups, and educate students, teachers, and other members of the community about healthy relationships, bullying, human trafficking, and sexual assault.
Sexual Assault Support for Adult Survivors: Friend to Friend offers emotional support to adult survivors of sexual assault and adult survivors of child sexual abuse through weekly virtual support group offerings. Free and confidential call in support groups are offered weekly to sexual assault survivors regardless of their location and access to reliable transportation. To find out more information on dates and times of support groups, please call our Advocacy Center Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm at 910-947-1703. A call-in number will be provided weekly to ensure the safety of the participants.
In addition, friend to friend also…
Hosts an annual Rock N' Run 5k for Sexual Assault Awareness in April
Is a co-chair of the Moore County Sexual Assault Task Force
Displays the Moore County Clothesline Project (circa 2018) every October at our Take Back the Night Candlelight Vigil.
