Community resources
Confidential support
- SARNCO 24 hour Rape Helpline (614-267-7020). The Rape Helpline is staffed by trained volunteers who can provide information about options, provide appropriate referrals and offer emotional support.
- SARNCO On-Campus Advocates (614-688-2518). SARNCO On-Campus Advocates provide confidential support for survivors of sexual violence, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors of OSU’s Columbus campus. The on-campus office is located at 33. W. 11th Avenue, Room 202, Columbus, OH 43201.
- CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence (614-224-4663). The hotline sponsored by CHOICES is staffed by individuals with expertise on relationship abuse and also provides a direct way for those needing emergency shelter to access it.
- Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization (BRAVO) 866-86-BRAVO or 614-294-7867 BRAVO provides survivor advocacy and assistance regarding hate crimes, discrimination, domestic violence, and sexual assault. BRAVO is a founding member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP). Each year, BRAVO documents incidences of hate crimes and domestic violence along with similar agencies across the United States. Bravo website.
Asian American Community Services
The Family Support Program (FSP) is a volunteer-based program that addresses issues of violence such as: domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and hate crimes. FSP assists Asian victims and their families who suffer from any types of above violence in the community. The program supports and assists the victims by helping them to understand their options and working with them on making important decisions about the American social system including legal/court, medical and educational system. They have trained staff and volunteers who are bilingual in Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Laotian, and Vietnamese. FSP provides necessary intervention, ensuring confidential, efficient, accurate and client-friendly services.
614-312-0337
Capital University Law School’s Family Advocacy Clinic
The Clinic serves victims of domestic violence who do not meet eligibility criteria to receive legal aid assistance, but who are still unable to afford a private attorney. The Clinic’s partners include the Legal Aid Society, CHOICES Shelter, and the Columbus City Attorney’s Office. If students meet their criteria, they may assist with attaining a protection order.
614-236-6500
Columbus City Attorney’s Domestic Violence & Stalking Unit
This office takes reports, investigates cases and assists with needs of victims/survivors during the court process for misdemeanor domestic violence and stalking cases. A referral may be made for those seeking a protection order. If you wish to file a criminal complaint you must appear in person at the Prosecution Resources Unit, Intake Section which is located on the 7th floor of 375 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
614-645-6232
Columbus Police Department Sexual Abuse Squad
Takes reports and investigates sexual assault cases which occur off campus in the city of Columbus. Columbus police detectives may meet a victim/survivor in the emergency department of central Ohio hospitals, at the location of the crime, in the victim’s/survivor’s home (if they reside in Columbus) or at the police station located in downtown Columbus.
614-645-4701
Columbus Urban League
Free support and education services for African American clients. The Columbus Urban League provides community education and support services for rape and sexual assault victims. They may also help victims/survivors file for Victims of Crime Compensation and offers a school based curriculum on rape and sexual assault.
614-257-6300
FirstLink 24-Hour Information & Referral Services
A general referral resource to help address a wide range of needs (e.g. clothing, housing, food, etc.).
614-221-2255
Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Unit
The Victim Witness Assistance Unit provides information regarding the practices and procedures of the criminal justice system to victims and/or witnesses. The unit assists victims, witnesses, and the Assistant Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney assigned to the cases. The Victim Witness Assistants in the Adult Criminal Division assist victims in cases where the defendant is an adult accused of certain felony crimes. These crimes include sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, stalking, homicide, and others.
614-462-3555
Mt. Carmel Crime & Trauma Assistance Program
The Mount Carmel Crime and Trauma Assistance Program provides specialized professional assistance to victims of crime and trauma. Available to both adults and children, the program facilitates recovery through education and therapeutic intervention, with personal and empathetic opportunities for support and healing in both group and individual settings. Mt. Carmel provides free counseling services and begins their intake process by phone. Please call them for more information.
614-234-5900
Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program
This office can provide financial compensation for those who have experienced crimes and meet the requirements for the program.
877-584-2846 614-466-5610
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN)
A national hotline that connects callers to their nearest rape crisis line
800-656-4673
Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO) 24-Hour Rape Helpline
- 24-Hour Emergency Room Advocacy – Trained volunteer advocates provide emotional support, crisis intervention and community referral information to survivors of sexual violence in local hospital emergency departments. In addition, SARNCO works with Deaf Women Against Violence Everywhere to provide culturally appropriate advocacy to survivors who are Deaf in the emergency department.
- 24-Hour Rape Helpline – Trained volunteer advocates provide emotional support, crisis intervention and community referral information over the telephone to survivors of sexual violence, co-survivors, and the community.
- Sexual Violence Prevention Program – SARNCO provides prevention education and outreach about sexual assault, dating violence and sexual harassment in the community.
- Long-Term Advocacy and Recovery Resources – SARNCO provides long-term advocacy and support to survivors and co-survivors who need assistance working with law enforcement, navigating the criminal justice system and with links to other community services during the recovery process. Recovery books geared toward healing from sexual violence are available at no cost to survivors and co-survivors of sexual assault. Long-term advocacy services and free recovery books can be accessed through the 24-Hour Rape Helpline at 614-267-7020. SARNCO also maintains a Resource Center which has hundreds of books, journals, videos and resource materials on sexual assault and relationship violence that can be checked-out by survivors, co-survivors and members of the community.
Stalking Resource Center
1-800-FYI-CALL (M-F 8:30 AM - 8:30 PM EST)
gethelp@ncvc.org
Suicide Prevention Services 24-Hour Hotline
614-221-5445
VINELink
VINELink is the online version of VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday), the National Victim Notification Network. This service allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day. Some states have the ability to display this website in Spanish. Victims and other concerned citizens can also register to be notified by phone, email, text message (SMS) or TTY device when an offender's custody status changes. Users can also register through their participating state or county toll-free number.
NOTE: If a person is dealing with a stalker or intimate partner abuse/domestic violence situation, it is important to take precautions when accessing any kind of support. In some circumstances, stalkers and/or abusers may access phone or computer records. When possible, people in these situations may want to use public computers or phones to seek out information. It is also good to safeguard your information by frequently changing passwords to random, unpredictable ones. It may also be helpful to think about steps that can be taken to keep information away from a stalker or intimate partner (e.g. keeping things with a friend or getting mail at a different address).
The nature of the resources listed below is for immediate or primary support or advocacy, as well as local ongoing services. For other resources, including advocacy, informational/educational, legal, and programmatic resources, please see the Additional Resources pages.
ASHA Ray of Hope: 614-565-2918 Domestic Violence resources for the South Asian community
BRAVO: BRAVO works to eliminate violence perpetrated on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identification through prevention, advocacy, violence documentation and survivor services.
Catholic Social Services: 614-221-5851
Choices: for victims of domestic violence
Columbus Bar Association Find a Lawyer
Columbus Urban League: 614-257-6300 Free support and education for African American clients
Committee Against Sexual Harassment (c/o YWCA): 614-224-9121 Advice and referrals for employment issues
Domestic Violence Shelters in Ohio
Family Violence and Prevention Center
Jewish Family Services: 614-231-1890
Legal Aid Society of Columbus: 614‐224‐8374
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
Directory of services by county
Ohio Dept. of Health Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program
Ohio Hispanic Coalition Domestic Violence 24 hour Hotline: 614-746-3534 Spanish- and English-language services for Latino(a)s/Hispanics.
Shalom Task Force Domestic Violence Hotline: 888-883-2323 Resources for the Jewish community. Advocates available to speak Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, Hungarian, and Spanish.
Suicide Prevention Services 24‐Hour Hotline: 614‐221‐5445
Women's Outreach for Women: 614-242-1284 Support services for women, sensitive to needs of Latinas & lesbians experiencing intimate partner abuse.
For employees:
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission
Columbus Regional Office
Aman Mehra, Regional Director
Rhodes State Office Tower, 30 East Broad Street, 4th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-5928 Fax: 614-466-6250
TTY: 614-752-2391
crc.ohio.gov
