You may not have the answers, that’s alright, we do. Read our Frequently Asked Questions.
FAQ
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)
However, 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 during business hours.
Yes, we know supporting your loved one in the aftermath of sexual violence can be challenging. It can be hard to know what to say, how to support them, and how to support the choices they make in reporting and healing. It can even be triggering or re-traumatizing if you have sexual violence in your past.
Survivors will share their experience with others in their own time and their own way. It is important for you to honor their decisions. However, it is also important that you get the support you need as someone who is also affected. PAVSA advocates are here to support you, share their knowledge, and offer options. The information you share with advocates will not be shared with anyone else without your permission.
We are fortunate to be able to offer a coordinated community response to sexual violence, including trafficking and exploitation in our area. Here are our partners:
Sexual Assault Multidisciplinary Action Response Team (SMART)
The team’s mission is to ensure a survivor-centered community response to sexual assault with a culturally-competent and a multi-disciplinary approach. Members of the team include: Duluth Police Department, Hermantown Police Department, UMD Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, PAVSA SANE Program, PAVSA, Safe Haven, First Witness, DAIP, LifeHouse, UMD, and CSS.
For more information about SMART, contact Carly Hiti at 218-726-1442 or carly@pavsa.org.
Safe Harbor Regional Navigator – Northeast Minnesota
Safe Harbor programming identifies and coordinates current and emerging services available to identify and assist at-risk, sexually exploited and trafficked youth, while also helping to facilitate creation and development of processes for how local, county, and state systems will improve their responses for these youths to age 24.
The Safe Harbor Regional Navigator can:
- Identify available resources and helps to build capacity of service providers
- Offer and facilitates professional trainings and community education opportunities
- Provide local technical assistance and support as needed
- Participate in case consultations and ongoing opportunities for learning and support
- Coordinate implementation of Safe Harbor Model Protocol and No Wrong Door guidelines and best practices
- Train as a licensed trainer for the Not a Number Facilitators Certificate Training by Love146
The 4-county Northeast Region includes: Carlton, Cook, Lake, St. Louis counties. For more information about Safe Harbor contact Mel Alvar, Safe Harbor Regional Navigator – Northeast MN, at 218-726-1442 or alvar@pavsa.org.
Additional community partners include:
First Witness Child Advocacy Center: www.firstwitness.org
Safe Haven Shelter and Resource Center: www.safehavenshelter.org
Center Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse (Superior, WI): www.casda.org
Dabinoo’Igan Shelter: www.aicho.org/dabinooigan
Life House: www.lifehouseduluth.org