DATE: Monday, November 17, 1997             TAG: 9711170057

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   51 lines

UNITED WAY, WHICH SUPPORTS CRISIS LINES, EDGES TOWARD GOAL

It's late at night and a phone is ringing in a downtown office.

A volunteer answers.

The caller, a woman, is crying so hard she can barely say the three words that will summon the support and help she needs.

``I've been raped!'' the woman finally sputters into the phone.

This scenario is played out over and over at the office of Response Sexual Assault Support Services.

The nonprofit organization, supported heavily by United Way contributions, logs hundreds of calls to its 24-hour hotline a year.

The staff of six and a volunteer force of 70 spends countless hours supporting victims of sexual assault and educating the public.

United Way contributions - some $80,000 a year - is key in operating the hotline and the group's advocacy and educational services.

``Our United Way support is critical to this service year after year,'' said Nancy W. Brock, the group's executive director. ``We have funding here that's part of our community for the people in the community.''

The group of dedicated employees and volunteers supports survivors of rape or molestation and their loved ones by holding their hand in a hospital examination room, standing with them in a courtroom, or talking through their fears in group sessions with other survivors.

Last year, nearly 1,000 people sought help from the support group, Brock said.

The services offered include counseling - individual and group - as well as referrals to outside agencies when necessary. Some of the clients are adults who were molested as children.

Another aspect of the service, which has been around since 1974, comes in the form of education. The group routinely holds educational meetings and seminars for students, businesses, civic groups, churches, hospital staff and police officers.

Some of the topics covered by Brock and her staff include information on defining assault, date rape, signals that could mean eventual harm, and when ``no'' means no.

``We've expanded the direction in which we've gone over the years,'' Brock said. ``Our educational aspect is in prevention.''

And, as always, Brock and her staff are willing to hold a hand or lend a shoulder for comfort whenever they're needed.

For more information or help, call the Response Sexual Assault Support Services hot line at 622-4300. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

The United Way Goal

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