Location and 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

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 victim-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 victim-survivors.

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

24-Hour Hospital Response

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

Essentia/St. Mary’s ER Duluth: 407 E 3rd Street, Duluth, MN 55805
St. Luke’s ER: 1030 E 2nd Street, Duluth, MN 55805
Lake View Memorial ER: 325 11th Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616
Essentia/St. Mary’s ER Superior: 3500 Tower Avenue, Superior, WI 54880

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

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. 

Video explanation of a sexual assault exam in American Sign Language (ASL) here
(Credit: WiSAKI and Deaf Unity)

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.

Supportive Advocacy

PAVSA advocates are here to support you on your healing journey, when you are ready. We are here to get you through this without judgment. PAVSA advocates will share their knowledge, offer options, and empower victim-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.

Advocates can offer a range of support following sexual violence, including:
-Providing support after sexual violence happens, including trafficking and exploitation
-Normalizing and validating feelings around your experience
-Providing crisis counseling
-Providing information about the reporting process
-Seeking shelter at local or state shelters
-Transportation assistance to get folks to or back from the hospital for a sexual assault exam
-Assisting in relocating through our collaborations with Day One and Polaris Project
-Translation services through our collaboration with Day One
-Offering 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. 

To get connected to a PAVSA advocate, please call our 24-hour helpline at 218-726-1931.

Legal Services and Representation

PAVSA advocates and the Attorney can support those who may have safety concerns, need assistance in reporting, and/or dealing with the aftermath of sexual violence. After a sexual assault you may feel powerless. We’re here for you, whatever you decide. 

We can offer a range of services following sexual violence, including:
-Safety planning
-Applying for a protection order, known as an Order for Protection (OFP) or Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO)
-Applying for the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program
-Reporting sexual violence, including trafficking and exploitation
-Follow up interviews with law enforcement or educational institutions
-Provide information about the criminal justice process
-Attending court and campus hearings
-Ending a lease due to sexual violence
-Applying for Crime Victim Reparations (reimbursement for expenses due to the violence)
-Assistance Writing Victim Impact Statements
-Legal advice and representation in civil legal matters including: 
       -Divorce, Child Custody, and Paternity
       -Housing (landlord/tenant disputes)
       -Orders for Protection/Harassment Restraining Orders
       -Title IX
       -Employment
       -Immigration

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. 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.

To get connected to a PAVSA advocate, please call our 24-hour helpline at 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. 

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 

To get connected to a PAVSA advocate, please call our 24-hour helpline at 218-726-1931.

Advocacy for Those 24 and Under Who Experienced Trafficking and/or Exploitation

PAVSA’s 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. 

To get connected to a PAVSA advocate, please call our 24-hour helpline at 218-726-1931.

Individual Counseling

PAVSA’s 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. 

To get a referral to PAVSA’s therapists, please call our 24-hour helpline at 218-726-1931.

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

Safe Spaces Support Group: 

Begins again January 9, 2024 
Meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 5:30pm 

Join us at a support group for LGBTQIA2S+ folks in the Twin Ports community. This in-person group will be a space to build strength from past experiences and connect to other members of the community.

Fill out Safe Spaces support group form if interested in attending

Art Group: 

Meets every Wednesday from 3-4pm 

Facilitated by PAVSA’s Licensed Therapists – Build resilience, learn coping skills, acknowledge strengths, artistic exploration, process thoughts & feelings. Supplies provided. No art experience needed. 18+ welcome.

Resources for Friends and Family Members of Victim-Survivors

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. 

Victim-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. 

To get connected to a PAVSA advocate, please call our 24-hour helpline at 218-726-1931.

Coordinated Community Response to Sexual Violence, Including Trafficking and Exploitation

Sexual Assault Multidisciplinary Action Response Team (SMART)

The team’s mission is to to ensure a victim-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 Mary Faulkner at 218-730-5452 or mfaulkner@DuluthMN.gov. 

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