Community Resources

Your immediate safety and well-being are most important. If you have just been hurt, please take steps to make sure you are in a safe place.
 

Get a Forensic Medical Exam

Try to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Evidence collection, treatment options, and some prevention measures (such as pregnancy) are time-limited. If a sexual assault happened recently, consider receiving evaluation and treatment by a specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Intimate partner violence exams are also available shortly after an assault. Both exams are provided at no cost and without proof of insurance. No police report or proof of citizenship is required. 

The SANE nurse will evaluate you for injuries, help prevent pregnancy and infections (if applicable), and collect forensic evidence in case you decide (now or later) to file a police report.

If you would like to reach an advocate to receive a forensic medical exam for a sexual assault, or to talk through the examination process, call the DC Victim Hotline at 1-844-4HELPDC (844-443-5732). 

Going through an exam doesn’t obligate you to file a police report, but it collects and preserves evidence in the event that you decide to do so later. You can also file a police report without obtaining a medical exam, but medical evidence will often be helpful in that process.  

Complete the following steps to get an exam:

Step 1

Avoid the following before going to the hospital for a SANE exam:

• showering
• using the restroom
• brushing your teeth
• eating or drinking
• changing your clothes
• smoking or chewing gum
• cleaning yourself

If you have done any of these things, you should still get a SANE exam. Just take the clothes you were wearing at the time of the assault. Use a paper bag to carry your clothes in if you have one available.

Step 2

Each county has a dedicated SANE program and you must go to the hospital that has the program in the county where your incident happened.

For example, if your incident happened on GW’s Foggy Bottom or Mount Vernon Campus, you will need to go to Washington Hospital Center. Please note that GW Hospital does not provide SANE exams. 

For incidents that occurred in D.C.

Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20010

DC Victim Services Hotline: 1-844-4HELPDC (844-443-5732)

ER: 202-877-7632

For incidents that occurred in Northern Virginia

Inova Fairfax Hospital
3300 Gallows Road
Falls Church, VA 22042

Inova Ewing Forensic Assessment and Consultation Teams (FACT): 703-776-6666 (option 3) during business hours. After regular business hours, please call 703-776-4001 and ask to page FACT nurse.

ER: 703-776-3116

For incidents that occurred in Maryland

Prince George’s County

Prince George’s Hospital Center
3001 Hospital Drive
Cheverly, MD 20785

The Sexual Assault Center Hotline: 301-618-3154

ER: 301-618-2000

Montgomery County

Shady Grove Medical Center
9901 Medical Center Dr.
Rockville, MD 20850

ER: 240-826-6000

Step 3

• Option 1: Call SAIV at 202-994-7222 and the advocate on call can connect you to the appropriate SANE program and help arrange free transportation to the appropriate hospital.
• Option 2: For incidents that occurred in D.C., call the D.C. Victim Services Hotline: 1-844-4HELPDC (844-443-5732) and the advocate on call can answer any questions you may have about the exam process and can help arrange free transportation to Washington Hospital Center.
• Option 3: Call the relevant SANE program directly, and they can answer any questions you may have about their process.

Step 4

A complete forensic examination can take several hours. If you can, bring items to make yourself comfortable:

• a book or something else to keep yourself occupied
• a phone charger
• comfortable clothes to change into after the exam
• snacks and drinks to have after the exam
• an advocate will be present with you at the hospital, but you can also bring a friend or other support person with you if you would like.

Get Medical Attention at the Student Health Center 

Even if you do not want a forensic exam, medical attention may still be important. 

You can go to the Student Health Center (SHC) to be examined by a medical professional and screened for illness, pregnancy, and injury. This exam can be done without billing your insurance or having any related documentation sent to your insurance policy holder.

Call or walk in to the SHC for a medical appointment and let them know that you need medical evaluation following a sexual assault, but that you do not wish to have a forensic examination.

Talking to a professional counselor can be an important part of healing.

Counseling is a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space where you can share things you might not be able to otherwise and receive support and feedback from someone with professional training about assault and trauma.

Counseling can help you manage trauma symptoms, figure out how to talk to people in your life about your experience, understand how to approach intimate relationships, and generally to feel safer and more in control.

There are a number of counseling resources in the District of Columbia. Below are a handful of local counseling resources that you may want to connect with.  Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) within the Student Health Center can also provide an extensive list of local counseling resources.

Wendt Center for Loss and Healing

The Wendt Center offers individual and group counseling for trauma survivors. Wendt accepts a variety of insurance plans.

The Whitman Walker Clinic

Whitman Walker offers individual counseling, group support, and integrated health-mental health management for people in the LGBTQ+ community.

The Psychiatric Institute of Washington (PIW)

PIW provides individual and group counseling as well as inpatient services for people who have experienced trauma. PIW accepts a variety of insurance plans.

Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA)

JCADA offers individual and group counseling.

DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC)

DCRCC offers individual and group counseling services free of charge.

Private Mental Health Practitioners 

Many independent therapists and counselors have special training and experience working with individuals who have experienced sex discrimination, sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or stalking. Private therapists will either bill your insurance or submit a receipt to you so that you can submit a claim. If you do have insurance, the customer service center (usually listed on your insurance card) can give you a list of practitioners who accept your plan. Most therapists will speak with you on the phone or in person for a consultation prior to making an appointment.

Feel free to ask them if they have special training or experience working with individuals who have experienced sex discrimination, sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence or stalking. Staff in GW’s Student Health Center can help connect you to a private practitioner.

Financial assistance with counseling costs might also be available to you through the Crime Victims Compensation Program, a resource through the District of Columbia Courts. Contact GW’s Office of Advocacy and Support or the Network for Victim Recovery in D.C. for help accessing the funds.

Understanding your legal options is important so that you may make an informed decision about any next steps that you want to pursue.  You can contact the GW Office of Advocacy and Support or the Title IX Office to understand your legal and criminal/civil justice system options.

Civil Protection Orders & Anti-Stalking Orders

In addition to supportive measures through the Title IX Office, you might want to consider seeking a Civil Protection Order (CPO) through the D.C. Courts. A CPO is a court order in which a judge can require a person to follow certain requirements, including but not limited to, staying away from, not contacting, or not committing any offense against the person requesting the CPO. You can seek a protection order in D.C. if you live, work, or go to school in D.C., or if one of the incidents occurred in D.C.

An Anti-Stalking Order (ASO) is a court order in which a judge can require a person to follow certain requirements, including but not limited to, staying away from, not contacting, or not committing any offense against the person requesting the ASO.

Legal Resources

Network for Victim Recovery of DC

The Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC) is a local non-profit that provides hospital advocacy, case management, and legal services to all crime victims in DC, including GW students who have experienced sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or stalking. NVRDC's case managers can assist you through obtaining a forensic exam following a sexual assault, accompany you to report to the police, and assist you with applying for crime victims' compensation. NVRDC's attorney can represent you in a criminal case, assist you with obtaining a Civil Protection Order or represent you through GW's Title IX disciplinary process.

Legal Aid DC 

Legal Aid DC provides direct representation to clients in four substantive practice areas:

• Housing Law
• Domestic Violence/ Family Law
• Public Benefits
• Consumer Law 

In addition to providing direct representation, Legal Aid DC also helps clients avoid unnecessary legal entanglements through outreach and education, and helps them resolve their own disputes with advice and other brief assistance.

Ayuda

Ayuda is a non-profit service provider in DC that offers a range of immigration and family law assistance, social services, and language access support for low-income immigrants from anywhere in the world.

Ayuda’s attorneys provide free family law, protection order and crime victims’ rights legal services to low-income, immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Domestic Violence and Family Law services include:

• Protective Orders
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Divorce/ Legal Separation
• Spousal Support
• Crime Victims’ Rights Advocacy

DC Lawyer Referral Service

The Bar Association of the District of Columbia (BADC) offers the only Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) in the District to the community and as a service to its members. The LRS connects people in the community to experienced attorneys by practice area easily and quickly.

To get started simply fill out a quick survey to get matched with a lawyer who specializes in your subject matter. 

Once the survey is completed, the system collects a referral fee (typically $39.95) and sends an email or text message to your potential attorney. The assigned attorney will review the information and reach out to you.

*This is a paid referral service. Individuals pay standard attorney rates once a referral is accepted. For pro bono or free legal services please see the information above for the Network for Victim Recovery of DC, the Legal Aid Society of DC and Ayuda.

Each county has a dedicated SANE program and you must go to the hospital that has the program in the county where your incident happened.

For example, if your incident happened on GW’s Foggy Bottom or Mount Vernon Campus, you will need to go to Washington Hospital Center.  Please note that GW Hospital does not provide SANE exams. 

Incidents in D.C.

Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

DC Victim Services Hotline: 1-844-4HELPDC (844-443-5732)

ER: 202-877-7632

Incidents in Northern Virginia

Inova Fairfax Hospital
3300 Gallows Road
Falls Church, VA 22042

Inova Ewing Forensic Assessment and Consultation Teams (FACT): 703-776-6666 (option 3) during business hours. After regular business hours, please call 703-776-4001 and ask to page FACT nurse.

ER: 703-776-3116

Incidents in Maryland

Prince George’s County

Prince George’s Hospital Center
3001 Hospital Drive
Cheverly, MD 20785

The Sexual Assault Center Hotline: 301-618-3154

ER: 301-618-2000

Montgomery County

Shady Grove Medical Center
9901 Medical Center Dr.
Rockville, MD 20850

ER: 240-826-6000

Option 1: Call SAIV at 202-994-7222 and the advocate on call can connect you to the appropriate SANE program and help arrange transportation to the appropriate hospital. SAIV members may also be able to go with you to the hospital if you feel it would be helpful.

Option 2: Call the relevant SANE program directly, and they will help arrange transportation.

A complete forensic examination can take several hours. If you can, bring items to make yourself comfortable: a book or something else to keep yourself occupied a phone charger comfortable clothes to change into after the exam snacks and drinks to have after the exam An advocate will be present with you at the hospital, but you can also bring a friend or other support person with you if you would like.