Our team is your team, here to support, advocate, and stand with you.

PAVSA advocates respond on our helpline 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

PAVSA advocates will share their knowledge, offer options, and empower survivors in their healing. They will explain confidentiality to you, not share your information without your permission, and inform you of their mandated reporting requirements. PAVSA advocates can also support the family and friends of survivors.

Advocates offer a range of support following sexual violence, including:

• Provide support after sexual violence happens, including trafficking and exploitation
• Normalize and validate feelings around your experience
• Provide crisis counseling
• Provide information about the reporting process
• Seek shelter at local or state shelters
• Transportation assistance to get folks to or back from the hospital for a sexual assault exam
• Assist in relocating for safety through our collaborations with Day One and Polaris Project
• Translation services through our collaboration with Day One
• Offer referrals if needs are outside our scope of services

If you want to talk to someone right now, call 218-726-1931.

Advocates respond to emergency departments in Duluth 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

If you have questions about what to expect at the hospital or need help with transportation, a PAVSA advocate is available 24/7 at 218-726-1931.

Advocates and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) respond to area emergency rooms 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Our Area Emergency Departments

• Essentia/St. Mary’s ER Duluth: 401 E 1st Street, Duluth, MN 55802
• Aspirus/St. Luke’s ER: 1030 E 2nd Street, Duluth, MN 55805
• Aspirus/Lake View Memorial ER: 325 11th Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616
• Essentia/St. Mary’s ER Superior: 3500 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI 54880
• Community Memorial Hospital ER: 512 Skyline Blvd Suite 1, Cloquet, MN 55720

SANEs are Registered Nurses who are trained to understand the dynamics of sexual violence, providing survivor-centered care, and collecting forensic evidence. During the exam, patients will be offered a medical exam, medications to prevent some Sexually Transmitted Infections and pregnancy, and an opportunity to have evidence collected.

Survivors who previously reported a sexual assault to the police or to the hospital can inquire about the status of their case and whether or not their sexual assault evidence kit has been tested on the Betty Skye Line. The Betty Skye Line is a confidential information line available to survivors to learn more about their case without having to connect with Law Enforcement immediately. The Betty Skye Line is available by phone or email at 218-730-5449 or bettyskyeline@pavsa.org.

You have the right to medical care after a sexual assault at no cost to you. You do not have to report to the police to get medical care.

PAVSA advocates are here to support you on your healing journey, when you are ready. We’re here to get you through this without judgment. They will share knowledge, offer options, and empower survivors in their healing. They will also explain confidentiality to you, not share your information without your permission, and inform you of their mandated reporting requirements.

Advocates offer a range of support following sexual violence, trafficking and exploitation including:

• Normalize and validate feelings around your experience
• Discuss a safety plan
• Provide information about reporting to the police
• Seek shelter at local shelters
• Assist with transportation to and/or from the hospital for a medical forensic exam
• Assist in relocating for safety
• Offer interpretive services
• Offer referrals if needs are outside our scope of services

You can meet with a PAVSA advocate over the phone, video conferencing, or in-person. Also, there may be availability to meet with an advocate at your school and medical, treatment, or correctional facility.

If you want to talk to someone right now, call 218-726-1931.

Campus Advocacy

PAVSA advocates are available to provide supportive and legal advocacy to students on local college and university campuses who have experienced sexual violence.

Our Area Campuses:

• University of Minnesota – Duluth (UMD)
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Trained PAVSA advocates available on campus through WRAC
  • Assistance with requesting accommodations on campus
• College of St. Scholastica (CSS)
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Provide advocacy services on campus in collaboration with VIP and GEVAs
  • Assistance with requesting accommodations on campus
• Lake Superior College (LSC)
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Provide advocacy services on campus by request
  • Assistance with requesting accommodations on campus

Advocacy for Those Who Experienced Trafficking and/or Exploitation

PAVSA advocates available through Safe Harbor are able to provide advocacy services to those age 24 and under who have experienced or are at risk for sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Advocates can offer a range of services, including:

• On-going supportive advocacy for folks 24 and under
• Supportive advocacy for parents, guardians, and/or caregivers of folks 24 and under
• Legal and systems advocacy
• Prevention services through educational presentations and groups
• Connection to other Safe Harbor services through Northeast Regional Navigator

You can meet with a PAVSA advocate over the phone, video conferencing, or in-person. Also, there may be availability to meet with an advocate at your school and medical, treatment, or correctional facility.

PAVSA advocates and an attorney are here to support you if you have safety concerns, need assistance in reporting, and/or help dealing with the aftermath of sexual violence. After a sexual assault you may feel powerless. We’re here for you, whatever you decide.

Advocates offer a range of legal services following sexual violence, including:

• Safety planning
• Apply for a protection order, known as an Order for Protection (OFP) or Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO)
• Apply for the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program
• Accompany you to report sexual violence, including trafficking and exploitation, to the police
• Accompany you to interviews with law enforcement and/or educational institutions
• Provide information about the criminal justice process
• Accompany you to court and campus hearings
• Assist you in ending a lease due to sexual violence
• Assist you to complete a Crime Victims Reimbursement Application
• Support you when you write and deliver your Victim Impact Statement
• Attorney offers legal advice and representation in civil matters including:
  • Divorce, Child Custody, and Paternity
  • Housing (landlord/tenant disputes)
  • Orders for Protection/Harassment Restraining Orders
  • Title IX
  • Employment
  • Immigration

Don’t hesitate to reach out, even if you’re not sure what type of legal help you need or it’s not listed above. We will assess your case and determine if we can assist you.

Licensed therapists are here to support you on your healing journey by providing trauma-informed therapeutic services. These services are at no cost to you and we do not ask for any insurance information. We believe that you should have quick access to therapeutic services, when you are ready.

You can meet with our therapist over the phone, video conferencing, or in-person.

We offer multiple support group classes designed to bring survivors together in a safe space to help move forward.

Trauma-Conscious Yoga with Svälja Yoga

Mondays from 5–6pm

Sexual violence disconnects the mind from the body and yoga practice works to restore that connection. The class is perfect for beginners and experienced yoga practitioners alike. It is a one-hour, slow paced, gentle, and restorative practice. All abilities and gender identities are welcome. Yoga mats are available to use. This class is offered in-person and online.

Registration required ahead of time if interested in attending: svalja.yoga/pavsa

Art Group

Wednesdays from 3–4pm

Facilitated by Licensed Therapists. Build resilience, learn coping skills, acknowledge strengths, utilize artistic exploration, and process thoughts and feelings. Supplies provided. No art experience needed. 18+ welcome.

Writing to Heal Circle

Tuesdays from 3-4pm

An inclusive writing support group for everyone. This is a free and confidential group. Supplies are provided and no writing experience is needed. 18+ are welcome to attend. 32 E 1st Street Duluth, MN 55802.

Support for Partners, Friends, and Family

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.