Survivor Services
Hospital Accompaniment
WHW staff and volunteers are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to provide support to sexual assault survivors in area hospital emergency rooms.
Crisis Intervention
We provide one-on-one crisis intervention sessions to help survivors deal with the immediate after-effects or emerging memories of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. Survivors needing long-term counseling may be referred to community-based counseling programs or to therapists and counselors.
Legal Advocacy
Staff and volunteers accompany sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking survivors to criminal and civil court daily in Hamilton County, providing advocacy and support. WHW staff can assist a survivor in filling out the necessary paperwork to obtain a Civil Protection Order. Agency staff works directly with the Cincinnati Police Department, Cincinnati Prosecutor’s Office and the Legal Aid Society to provide support, crisis intervention and advocacy to survivors during various phases of their case.
Support Groups
WHW conducts several support groups to help survivors cope with the confusion, anger and fear often experienced after episodes of sexual assault and domestic violence. These groups enable survivors to share their experiences, feelings and provide them with support to overcome their fears and feelings of isolation.
For our support group schedule, please call our 24-Hour Hotline at 513.381.5610, Toll-Free 1.877.889.5610 or TTY 513.977.5545.
Crime Victim Rights
Crime Victims Compensation
The Crime Victims Compensation unit administers awards of compensation in accordance with Ohio’s Crime Victims Compensation Law, which provides payments to eligible survivors of violent crime for their unreimbursed economic losses. WHW’s advocates are trained by the Attorney General’s office to assist survivors in filing compensation claims. Please call our hotline to schedule an appointment to begin the filing process. To contact the Crime Victims Compensation unit, please call 1.800.582.2877 or visit http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Victim for additional information.
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday)
VINE is available to anyone, including survivors, advocates, law enforcement, judges and the public. It provides free, anonymous, 24-hour access, over the phone or through the Internet, to the custody status of offenders in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, county jails, and juvenile inmates in the Department of Youth Services. VINE also provides automated telephone or email notification when the offender has a change in custody, including release, transfer, escape, re-arrest (return from escape) or death. For more information, please call our hotline or go to www.VINELink.com. An advocate with WHW can help you register for VINE in person or over the phone.