Neighborhood Involvement Program - Counseling People in Crisis for 30 Years

As part of the Neighborhood Involvement Program, the Rape and Sexual Abuse Center has been helping victims of rape and childhood sexual abuse for over 30 years. In 1972 when it was opened, N.I.P's Rape and Sexual Abuse Center was one of the first of its kind in the country.

Established to provide affordable, accessible, high quality assistance to female and male victims of sexual assault and abuse, RSAC was initially seen as a solution to a local neighborhood-specific problem. Now however, RSAC's legal advocacy program partners with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office to provide assistance to the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Located at 2431 Hennepin Avenue South in the heart of Uptown, RSAC provides a 24-hour phone crisis Helpline, walk-in crisis counseling, individual and group psychotherapy for sexual abuse and assault survivors, short-term support and special interest groups, and legal advocacy for all sexual assault victims entering the judicial system in Hennepin County. After playing such a vital role within the community for 32 years, name recognition and word-of-mouth are important elements of the reputation that RSAC enjoys. Many agencies, clinics, programs and professional colleagues look to N.I.P and the Center for education about and the treatment of sexual trauma. RSAC's Community Educator works with schools to conduct sessions from kindergarten through high school discussing 'safe touch', sexual harassment, acquaintance and date rape.

Clinical Services at the Rape & Sexual Abuse Center are provided by licensed and Master's or Doctoral level staff therapists and supplemented by graduate interns. Approximately 325 clients are seen each year in individual and group therapy. In addition, the sexual assault advocates at the center volunteer their time covering the crisis helpline and the walk-in center. The sexual assault advocates complete a state-approved 40-hour training program and expect to assist 75 to 100 walk-ins and approximately 1500 calls to the crises line this year.

Individuals who have experienced sexual assault do not always seek therapy initially, but only someone to talk to - someone who understands the resulting emotional trauma of such an incident. RSAC provides that immediate help.

Survivors of sexual assault can experience the disruptive and damaging impact of an earlier victimization later in life and so seek treatment well after an incident has occurred. The destructive results of an assault or childhood sexual abuse can manifest in many ways: self esteem and self-worth issues, depression, anxiety, difficulty with intimacy and trust, difficulty maintaining long-term relationships, and struggles with commitment to a relationship or career.

N.I.P. believes that information and understanding is critical to prevention and intervention. If you or someone you know needs help dealing with sexual assault or abuse, call the 24-hour crises Helpline at 612.825.4357.