Empowering services to support you when you are ready.
24-Hour Helpline: 218-726-1931
Our Services
What We Do
Our services include:
- 24-hour Helpline and Hospital Advocacy Response
- Medical Forensic Exams with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)
- Supportive Advocacy
- Therapy
- Legal Advocacy and Representation
- Support Groups
- Support for Partners, Friends, and Family of Survivors
Location & Hours
Our office is located at 32 E 1st Street, Suite 200, Duluth, MN 55802.
Business Hours:
Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 4:30pm
(Fridays from 8:30am – 12pm in the summer)
PAVSA advocates are available 24-hours a day by phone. Also, they may be available to meet on site at schools and medical, treatment, and correctional facilities located within 30 minutes of Duluth during business hours.
24-Hour Helpline: 218-726-1931
About PAVSA
Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault (PAVSA) is committed to eliminating sexual violence in southern Saint Louis County by supporting survivors, educating the community, and advocating for change.
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is any sexual actions or words committed against someone without that person’s freely given consent. Sexual violence is about having power and control over another person, not about sex or sexuality.
It can look a number of ways:
- Sexual Harassment
- Stalking
- Unwanted Sexual Contact
- Rape or Sexual Assault
- Intimate Partner Sexual Violence
- Survival Sex
- Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking
Know Your Rights
What happened to you is not your fault. You are strong, brave, and supported. We believe you and we believe in you. If you want to talk to someone right now, call 218-726-1931.
You have many rights and the power to decide which you wish to use and how you want to use them.
Your Right to Support
You have the right to:
- make decisions about what happens next
- have an advocate to support you, when you are ready
- know your advocate will explain confidentiality to you
Your Right to Medical Care
You have the right to:
- decide if you want to have a forensic medical exam done or not
- have the exam done at no cost to you
- have an advocate present to answer questions and support your decisions
Your Right to Get Evidence Collected
You have the right to:
- have evidence collected without reporting to police
- know the testing status and results of your sexual assault kit
Your Right to Report to Police
You have the right to:
- decide if you want to report to the police or not
- report to police at any time, when you are ready
- have an advocate with you during a police interview
Your Right to an Order For Protection or Harassment Restraining Order
You have the right to:
- apply for a protection order against the person who assaulted you
- have an advocate with you at any court hearing
- seek legal advice and/or representation