What We Do

The mission of the Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) is to eliminate sexual violence and its impact by providing education, advocacy and support to men, women and children. Our vision is a community free from sexual violence.

We are located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and serve residents of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Nelson, Louisa, Fluvanna and Greene. We serve anyone who has personally experienced, or cares for someone who has experienced any kind of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual molestation, incest, sex trafficking, stalking, sexual harassment or unwanted touching.

Services are provided free to all survivors, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, age, economic status, education, parenthood, physical and/or mental abilities, national origin, immigration/documentation status or any other status. Prevention Services are provided on a sliding scale, and depending on availability.

We reach approximately 550 survivors and 6,000-8,000 students each year, as well as hundreds more through our community outreach programs.

SARA is fully accredited through the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, the only such sexual assault crisis agency in this service area, and has been providing services to the community for over 40 years.

List of Support Services:

• 24-Hour Crisis Hotline
• Trauma-informed Therapy (Including EMDR)
• Emergency Room Advocacy
• Legal System Advocacy
• Support Groups
• Therapeutic Horse and Farm Camp for Young Girls
• Counseling and Advocacy for Non-Offending Parents and Families of Abused Children

We also provide programs to prevent anyone in our community from becoming a perpetrator of sexual violence. Our focus is on child development and social norms change. We work primarily with schools, institutions, and parents.

List of Prevention Services:

• Long-term Consulting for Schools
• Training for Faculty and Other Professional 
• Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program for High Schools
• Parent Workshops
• Multi-Session Classroom-based Learning, grades 6-12
• Samaritan Safe Church programs for faith congregations
• Teen Peer Education and Activism Clubs
• Anti-Oppression Learning Groups
• Character-building programs for Coaches and their Athletes