Interpersonal Safety

The Basics

• The Attorney General’s office has published a Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights with a lot of helpful information. 
• If you or someone you know is in immediate danger and/or you are having an emergency, call 911.
• If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal ideation, call or text 988, a new National Suicide Prevention hotline.
• The Trevor Project provides information and support for LGBTQ+ youth.
• The 24/7 statewide helpline is 1-800-494-8100 or by visiting RICADV website using the chat option. In case of emergency, call 911.
• Care teams can support patients in safety planning, or connecting them to organizations who are available to support individuals and families who need to engage in safety planning.
• RICADV has this information for individuals seeking restraining orders.
• RI recently passed new gun safety laws that ban large capacity magazines, raise the legal age to buy guns or ammunition, and prohibits the open carry of any loaded rifle or shotgun in public. Read more here.

IPV/DV

• For help from an IPV/DV organization, check RICADV’s website for a list of individual community- based organizations for resources and support.
• Victims of interpersonal violence may be eligible for the new state Address Confidentiality Program (ACP). More information here; application here.
• IPV survivors may have specific housing rights covered by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The National Housing Law Project has this guidance.
• The Family Violence Option Advocacy Program (ESP) assists DHS clients who are IPV survivors navigate state benefits programs and resources.
• The victim’s compensation fund has resources available to some victims of IPV.
• The National DV hotline offers a chat option.
• VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) provides protections for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. There is a new VAWA website, a notice setting out HUD’s enforcement authority under VAWA and up to $5 million in funding to provide VAWA training and technical assistance to HUD grantees and other stakeholders

Elder Abuse

• General information about elder abuse here.
• Elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation reports can be made here.  Report instructions here. 
• The Point provides adults 55+ with resource support. More information here.
• Rhode Island Legal Services offers free legal support for older adults experiencing abuse. They also offer once a month a legal clinic at the Coventry Center. Appointments are required.

The Breakdown

• 988 is a new national suicide prevention hotline. It does not replace 911 for emergencies, but rather connects people who are experiencing a mental health crisis to a counselor. FAQ here.
  • A Spanish language line is available at 1-888-628-9454.
  • TTY users dial 711 then 988 or people can use their preferred relay service.

The Bottom Line

• Care teams can support IVP survivors by referring to additional support and providing information about their rights. Care teams can print out and share the Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights with patients.

Spotlight on non-discrimination

• IPV survivors are protected against discrimination in a number of contexts including housing, employment, health insurance access, and benefit access. If a person has been discriminated against on the sole basis of their IPV status, they have the right to file a complaint. Care teams can share the following resources to help people navigate the different anti-discrimination supports available in RI.
  • For housing-based discrimination, contact the RI Commission for Human Rights.
  • For discrimination experienced at the Department of Human Services, contact the RI DHS Office of Civil Rights.
  • The RI ACLU or the RI Attorney General’s Office of the Civil Rights Advocates offers additional support for people who have been discriminated on the basis on their membership to a protected class.