​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Rape Crisis Centers

In 1971, Kentucky's first rape crisis center began serving victims of rape and sexual assault. Over the next eight years, three more centers opened operating on minimal federal and local funding support. Until 1986, these four centers were the only programs of their kind in Kentucky.

With the state general fund support from the 1986 General Assembly, the expansion of these specialized services became possible. Originally, the Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation was given responsibility for funding and providing administrative oversight to rape crisis centers statewide. Administrative oversight responsibility was moved to Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) in 2008.

To ensure these specialized services are accessible across the commonwealth, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) funds 13 rape crisis centers each serving from five to 17 counties.

Rape crisis centers serve victims and their family members and friends in the counties in their respective regions. While each of the 13 centers may provide a specialized array of services based on the needs and opportunities of the area served, all centers provide the following services:

The Clinical Services Branch resides within DCBS and provides funding for the rape crisis center network and administrative oversight for the state's rape and sexual assault policy development, programs and services.

For more information about Kentucky's rape crisis centers, please visit the website for the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs which represents and provides staffing and related support for the 13 rape crisis centers and direct services to victims.

Children's Advocacy Centers

Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) serve as a state-of-the-art model of best practices in community response to child sexual abuse. Kentucky has prioritized the development of CACs in order to promote the well-being of children while facilitating the most effective investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases.

CACs create a child-friendly environment in which interviews, examinations and mental health services can be conducted. In addition to focusing on the best interest of children, CACs also provide an opportunity to give support to the key professionals who dedicate themselves to the protection of children, particularly social workers, advocates, law enforcement officers and prosecutors. CACs and the teams of professionals attached to them currently serve more than 7000 children every year.

In 1998, Kentucky adopted a statewide CAC network, which provides for one CAC in each of Kentucky's 15 Area Development Districts.  Many CAC operates satellite offices to reduce the travel time required to receive services.  CACs provide technical assistance training, professional training and community education programming and other coordinated services to support organizations and individuals in their service regions, in addition to direct services they provide to child victims of abuse and sexual assault.  The CACs are designed to be not-for-profit organizations governed by a board of directors made up of local leaders who provide ongoing opportunities for growth and stability. ​

Domestic Violence Centers

ZeroV is Kentucky's statewide voice on ending intimate partner violence (IPV) in our homes and communities. The coalition is the CHFS designee to provide statutorily mandated victim services to survivors of intimate partner violence in all 120 counties of the Commonwealth. These services are provided by the coalition's 15 member programs, with one program located in each Area Development District. Services include:

• 24-hour crisis hotlines
• Safe and secure temporary shelter (emergency shelter)
• Support accessing food and clothing
• Legal/court advocacy
• Transportation and accompaniment to relevant appointments
• Case management and safety planning
• Support groups and individual or group counseling
• Children's groups and access to education for school-age children
• Parenting classes
• Adult- and youth-targeted community awareness and education
• Referrals to substance use programs
• Housing assistance, financial education, budgeting, and help in reaching economic security
• Accept and make referrals to other community resources
  
  Additional services that may be provided include:

• Advocacy with respect to obtaining public benefits under federal and state programs
• Access to emergency medication as necessary for life and safety
• Prevention programs and activities, including primary prevention efforts
  
  KRS 209A mandates that professionals give survivors of domestic and dating violence educational materials related to domestic or dating violence and abuse, including information about how they may access regional domestic violence programs or rape crisis centers, and information about how to access protective orders. The "Help is Here" brochure is provided by ZeroV for professionals to share with survivors to fulfill this obligation.  Visit https://www.zerov.org/krs_209a to access this and other resources
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  In addition to representing and supporting its 15 member programs, ZeroV works to create a future free from intimate partner violence by

• providing housing and supportive services through its nationally acclaimed statewide housing program.
• administering the Batterer Intervention Program.
• advocating for survivors of IPV at the policy-making table.
• providing training and technical assistance on issues that impact survivors of IPV to partner agencies and organizations across the state.
• partnering with government agencies, nonprofits, and private organizations to make meaningful and lasting change focused on the intersecting needs of survivors.
  
  ZeroV is dedicated to creating safe lives and thriving futures for survivors of intimate partner violence and their children. As a Kentucky united against violence, our work will continue until the violence in our state is ZERO. Learn more at https://www.zerov.org/about_zerov.