If you have been sexually assaulted, you do not have to decide anything today, and you do not have to do this alone. These are places in and around Madison that can help, whenever you are ready.
Before you read on: if someone might see what you look at, use a private window or a device only you use. The Quick exit button in the corner leaves this page, but it does not erase your history. There are more tips in Safety and privacy.
I know Madison doesn’t have as much help as survivors deserve. What we do have is worth knowing about, and the places below are real, trained, and there for you. If one doesn’t fit, or you can’t reach anyone, try the next one, or the national lines at the bottom of this page, which are open around the clock from anywhere.
Advocates here can listen, explain your options, and support you at your own pace. Calling does not commit you to anything.
Formerly the Rape Crisis Center
Dane County’s sexual violence resource center. Support includes a 24-hour crisis line, advocacy, support groups, and counseling, in English and Spanish.
Bilingual, for Latine and other marginalized communities
Confidential, bilingual support for people affected by sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking, including legal advocacy, Spanish-language support groups, and counseling.
The Rape Crisis Center has also announced a survivor textline on its website. If you would rather text than call, look for the details at thercc.org. Living outside Dane County? The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault keeps a directory of services by county.
You can get medical care after an assault whether or not you decide to report. A specially trained forensic nurse can check on your health, talk through pregnancy and infection concerns, and collect evidence if you choose that. If some time has passed, call and ask about your options anyway.
Emergency Department, open 24 hours
The only program of its kind in Dane County. According to Meriter, program funding covers the exam, so insurance is not needed, and they help everyone regardless of ability to pay. For adults, the nurses do not automatically contact police, with exceptions such as minors, vulnerable people, and cases where a weapon caused injury. Ask the nurse what will and will not be shared before you begin.
For UW–Madison students
Students can get forensic nurse exams and advocacy through University Health Services, in partnership with the Dane County Multi-Agency Center. Nothing is required or automatic.
Not sure where to start? Call the Rape Crisis Center line at 608-251-7273. An advocate can explain what to expect and help you decide what feels right.
Advocates can explain how the legal system works, what your rights are, and what help is available, without pressuring you to take any step. This is general information and not legal advice.
Supports victims of crime through the criminal court process: information about court and your rights, referrals and advocacy, help contacting the attorney on your case, guidance on victim compensation, and help with threats or intimidation.
Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of Crime Victim Services
A state program that can help pay for medical and hospital costs, counseling, and lost wages related to a crime. The program has a reporting requirement and filing deadlines, so call early and ask how they apply to you.
If the person who hurt you is a partner or family member
Dane County’s domestic abuse agency, offering a 24-hour help line, legal advocacy, support groups, and programs for children.
Bilingual, confidential
UNIDOS offers legal advocacy along with its 24-hour helpline, for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Reaching out should never put you at risk. A few things to think about, especially if someone you live with, or someone who hurt you, may check your phone, computer, or accounts.
Browsing can be monitored and is impossible to erase completely. A private window helps, but a phone, tablet, or computer that only you can access, or a library or a trusted friend’s device, is safer.
The button, or pressing Escape twice, takes you to another website right away. It does not clear your browsing history, so it is a way to leave a page fast, not a way to hide that you were here.
Calls and texts can show up on a shared phone bill, a family plan, or a synced account. Consider calling from a phone that only you control, and check whether anyone can see your call history or messages.
At the start of a call, ask whether it is safe to leave a voicemail or send a text, and ask what they keep confidential. You can tell an advocate which times and numbers are safe.
Location sharing, shared cloud photo accounts, and shared calendars can reveal more than you expect. If you are unsure, an advocate can help you look through your settings.
Advocates at the Rape Crisis Center, DAIS, and UNIDOS can help you think through safety planning at your own pace, including where to go, who to tell, and what to keep close.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Booking a Breathe Forward session? Use an email address and phone number that only you can access.
National lines are free and open around the clock: the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. More ways to reach them.
Breathe Forward sessions are held online by video, so you can join from wherever you are, one on one or in a small group.
Book a session