What is a third-party sexual abuse and exploitation victim advocate?

The word advocate is a noun that means a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. The verb form of the word means to publicly recommend or support. So, with these definitions, we know an advocate is a person who acts to publicly support a cause, policy, or in this case a sexual assault and exploitation victim.

Consider this scenario. A mother recently learned that her daughter was sexually assaulted by her brother. The rape happened months ago and so no rape kit can be done at the hospital. Law enforcement cannot help her because there is no evidence a crime has been committed and no one has reported it. The local sexual assault center cannot help because she is a minor and they don’t have services in place for her. Her counselor is tangled up with mandated reporting and client confidentiality. The family is divided with some members backing the victim and others supporting the perpetrator. Her daughter is slipping farther away from the family and is suicidal. She calls her Pastor. He is not trained in sexual assault and so he refers her to law enforcement and the sexual assault center. And so, the cycle of helplessness for this victim continues. What is the mother to do? Who can she turn to for help?

A third-party sexual abuse advocate is a highly trained, neutral, professional who serves a family, or an adult victim impacted by sexual abuse or exploitation. A third-party advocate is hired following a crisis to ‘advocate’ for the victim. An advocate will establish trust with the victim to help guide them in decision-making during the acute phase of a crisis. Advocates are available on-site to offer emotional support, and information about prevention, legal rights, criminal justice processes, and safety planning. They can help find resources and can even assist with interviews, paperwork, and court issues.

Many victims and family members are relieved to have an advocate present to help assure their safety and to receive the help they need to recover from the impact of the sexual abuse or exploitation they have experienced.

Are you a victim who needs third-party support in your crisis? Do you need trusted sexual abuse and exploitation victim crisis support within your church or Christian community? Are you short staffed or lacking lay people who are trained in sexual abuse response? Are sexual abuse resources for victims limited in your area? Professional third-party sexual abuse advocates are trained to come alongside victims during a crisis, offer support and training to family members, act as an intermediary with law enforcement, county resource agencies, and organizational leaders. They can also offer counseling or support group services where appropriate.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” Eph 1:8