STAR (Standing Together Against Rape)

The heart of STAR’s client services is the state-wide crisis line, which is staffed 24 hours a day including weekends and holidays.  Full-time staff members answer calls during business hours. The crisis line is then transferred to trained volunteers on evenings and weekends.  Callers can obtain information regarding reporting options, healthcare referrals, support and information on a variety of recovery topics.  Most importantly, callers can speak confidentially and anonymously about the violence they have experienced.  Both primary and secondary victims call the crisis line as well as medical and other social service providers.  Typically, STAR receives over 1,500 crisis line calls each year. 

Additionally, STAR offers numerous immediate crisis intervention support services as well as long term support and legal advocacy for victims of sexual assault. Together with the Anchorage Police Department and forensic nursing staff at Providence Hospital, the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) responds to every reported sexual assault within Anchorage.  STAR’s role is to offer the victim immediate support, inform the victim of their reporting options, and accompany the victim through the forensic interview and examination processes. In 2012, STAR advocates responded to 900 call outs at the Multidisciplinary Center.

STAR’s role does not end there as we offer continued support through support groups and one on one counseling sessions.  If the victim of a sexual assault decides to pursue legal action, our advocates keep survivors updated on the status of the investigation, offer support during the criminal prosecution, and act as a liaison between detectives and the prosecuting attorneys.

The mission of STAR (Standing Together Against Rape, Inc.,) is to provide the best quality of crisis intervention, education and advocacy services to victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse, and their families and our community.