Vermont

Mental Health Resources

Aid to Women, Men, and Children in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE)

P.O. Box 307
Hardwick, VT 05843
(802) 472-6463
E-mail: aware@vtlink.net 

AWARE offers direct services for survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones in Hardwick County. Trained advocates are available 24 hours a day to assist with a crisis, legal and medical  support are available, support groups for survivors of sexual violence are ongoing, and ongoing emotional support for questions and concerns is provided as well. All services are free and confidential. Information and referrals are also available to help individuals make informed decisions about the choices that they have.

Battered Women's Services and Shelter (BWSS)

1(877) 543-9498 *24-hour toll-free hotline*
E-mail: bwss@sover.net

BWSS is a community-based organization dedicated to ending domestic abuse and sexual violence. BWSS services include: 24-hour hotline; shelter for women and children; court education program; emergency, civil, and criminal court advocacy; and 24-hour access to information and referrals.

New Beginnings

12 Valley Street
Springfield, VT 05156
(802)885-2386
(802) 885-2050 *24-hour hotline*
E-mail: newbeg@vermontel.net

New Beginnings provides services to men, women, and children who have been victims of violence, no matter the circumstances. Services offered include: a 24 hour hotline that is available for crisis intervention; peer counseling; support groups; court and hospital accompaniment; and information and referrals. Services are free and confidential.

Rutland County Women's Network and Shelter

P.O. Box 313
Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 775-6788
(802) 775-3232 *crisis hotline*
Website: www.angelfire.com/vt/rcwn/
E-mail: rcwns@juno.com

The Rutland County Women's Network and Shelter, Inc. is a non-profit, community-based organization serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in the Rutland County area. Offered services include: crisis line and response for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault 24 hours a day by trained volunteers via telephone or in person at the hospital, police station or shelter, advocacy and referrals in legal and welfare matters to put victims in touch with local service providers, attorneys, welfare specialists, job training and adult education programs, and counseling and support, individually or in groups, for victims and their children, as well as a number of support groups that meet weekly.

Safeline

P.O. Box 446
Randolph, VT 05060
(802) 728-5647
(800) 639-7233 *24-hour hotline*
Website: www.orgsites.com/vt/safeline1
E-mail: safeline@valley.net

Safeline is both a domestic violence and sexual assault agency that serves 17 towns throughout Orange and Upper Windsor Counties. Safeline services include: legal advocacy, court and hospital accompaniment, 24-hour crisis hotline, ongoing emotional support by trained counselors and staff, and information and referrals. All services are confidential and are available to men, women, and children.

SafeSpace

P.O. Box 158
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 863-0003
(866) 869-7341 *toll-free*
Website: www.safespacevt.org
E-mail: info@safespacevt.org

SafeSpace is a social change and social service organization working to end physical, sexual, and emotional violence in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) people. SafeSpace provides information, support, referrals, and advocacy to LGBTQQ survivors of violence and offers education and outreach programs in the wider community. Services offered include: SafeSpace support line for emotional support, referrals, and advocacy to LGBTQQ survivors of violence, direct advocacy and accompaniment to court, hospital, police station, or other agencies and assistance in obtaining the services needed, one-on-one support, support groups, and education and outreach programs designed to educate people about violence in the LGBTQQ community.

Sexual Assault Crisis Team

4 Cottage Street
Barre, VT 05641
(802) 476-1388
(802) 479-5577 *hotline*
E-mail: gagnepad@aol.com 

The Sexual Assault Crisis Team is a nonprofit volunteer organization serving the needs of sexual violence victims in Washington County through crisis support and advocacy services.  The Sexual Assault Crisis Team offers: 24-hour crisis hotline available to all victims of sexual violence, emergency shelter for male and female victims of sexual violence,  medical, legal, and support advocacy, one-on-one peer support for male and female victims of sexual violence, support groups, and information and referrals to other resources. All services are provided with complete confidentiality.

Umbrella, Inc.

970 Memorial Drive
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
(802) 748-8645
(800) 916-8645 *toll-free*
(802) 748-8141 *24-hour crisis line*
Website: www.umbrellavt.org
E-mail: umbrelladvsv@charter.net 

Umbrella, Inc. is a private, non-profit progressive resource organization that serves the residents of Caledonia and Southern Essex counties in northeastern Vermont.  Umbrella offers advocacy, crisis counseling, information and referral, eligibility determinations for child care subsidies, and support groups through two core programs, the Domestic & Sexual Violence Program and Child Care Support Services. The main office is in St. Johnsbury, and the organization maintains a satellite office in Guildhall to work with victims of domestic and sexual violence in southern Essex County. The following services are provided: 24-hour crisis hotline (for both domestic and sexual violence), a safe-house network, assistance in housing issues for victims of abuse, support groups for women and children, and assistance accessing area resources. 

Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

P.O. Box 405
Montpelier, VT 05601
(802) 223-1302
(800) 489-7273 *24-hour sexual violence hotline*
Website: www.vtnetwork.org
E-mail: vtnetwork@vtnetwork.org

The Vermont Network Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is a feminist organization committed to eradicating domestic and sexual violence through advocacy, empowerment, and social change. The Network does not provide any direct services to victims, rather the Network coordinates 16 member programs throughout the state who all offer direct services to victims. The Network is able to connect victims/survivors with an appropriate service provider in their local county so that they can get the services and support that they need.

Voices Against Violence

P.O. Box 72
St. Albans, VT 05478
(802) 524-8538
(802) 524-6575 *24-hour hotline*
E-mail: voices@cvoeo.org

Voices Against Violence provides free and confidential services to victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. The 24-hour hotline is answered by trained staff and volunteers. Additional services include: shelter, crisis intervention, information and referrals, support groups, and an advocacy program with ongoing support through legal, social, and medical systems.

WomenSafe

P.O. Box 67
Middlebury, VT 05753
(802) 388-9180
(802) 388-4205 *24-hour hotline*
(800) 388-4205 *toll-free 24-hour hotline*
(802) 388-9181 *TTY*
Website: www.womensafe.net
E-mail: info@womensafe.net

WomenSafe works toward the elimination of physical, sexual, and emotional violence against women and their children through direct service, education, and social change.  Through their 24-hour hotline, WomenSafe provides crisis intervention, problem-solving assistance, safety planning, and emotional support to victims who have been physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused. Additional services include: community advocacy, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, ongoing support groups, and information and referrals. Services are confidential and are available to all regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, class, or physical ability.

Women's Crisis Center

P.O. Box 933
Brattleboro, VT 05302
(802) 257-7364
(802) 254-6954 *24-hour crisis line*
(800) 228-7395 *toll-free in Windham County*
(800) 773-0689 *toll-free in Vermont*
Website: www.womenscrisiscenter.net
E-mail: wmnscc@together.net

The mission of the Women's Crisis Center is to work toward ending physical, sexual, and emotional violence against women and children. The Women's Crisis Center is committed to offering support to survivors of these crimes, as well as prevention and educational activities to help create a community in which violence will not be tolerated. Services offered include: shelter for women and children who are survivors of sexual and domestic violence, 24-hour crisis line,
emotional support, advocacy, information and referrals, legal and welfare advocacy, and individual and group support.

Women Helping Battered Women

P.O. Box 1535
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 658-1996 *24-hour hotline*
Website: www.whbw.org
E-mail: whbw@whbw.org

Women Helping Battered Women (WHBW) is a feminist community of women and men from a wide variety of backgrounds who are dedicated to addressing the problems of battering in Chittenden County, to ending violence against all women and children, and to challenging all forms of oppression. WHBW provides the following services: 24-hour crisis hotline, safety planning and shelter screening, emotional support and options counseling, crisis intervention, housing, welfare, legal and social service referrals and advocacy, referrals to other services available within WHBW, and follow-up services. Additionally, WHBW offers weekly support groups for women seeking emotional support and information. Support groups are usually held on weekday evenings and free childcare is offered. All of WHBW's services are free, confidential, and open to all.

Women's Rape Crisis Center (WRCC)

P.O. Box 92
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 864-0555
(802) 863-1236 *24-hour hotline*
(800) 489-7273 *24-hour toll-free hotline*
Website: www.stoprapevermont.org
E-mail: stoprape@sover.net

The Women's Rape Crisis Center serves women, men, and teens in Chittenden County, Vermont.  WRCC advocates are available 24 hours a day to offer emotional support, information about resources and options, and referrals for survivors of sexual violence and their loved ones.  Advocates are also available to: meet survivors at the hospital or their health care provider's office to seek medical care after a sexual assault, assist survivors in reporting to police and provide support through the legal process, meet with survivors in person at their office, and help survivors connect with resources to meet their needs (including safety planning, medical care, legal advice and representation, counseling, and shelter). The WRCC periodically offers free support groups for women who are survivors of sexual assault. All services are free and confidential and are available to survivors whether their assault was hours, days, months or years ago.

LEGAL SERVICES

Lambda Legal: National Headquarters

120 Wall street, Suite 1500
New York, NY 10005
(212) 809-8585
Website: www.lambdalegal.org
E-mail: legalhelpdesk@lambdalegal.org

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

National Headquarters provides services for those who are located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington D.C and accepts Legal Help Desk calls at any time during regular business hours (9 am-5 :30 pm) and also Monday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. If Help Desk staff are busy helping other callers, your call will be routed to the Legal Help Desk voicemail. Please leave the following information: name, state, contact info, best time to reach you, and a brief message outlining your legal inquiry. A Help Desk staff person will return your call. It is usually most efficient for Help Desk callers to contact us by phone. If you are in a place where you are not able to make long distance calls, we can make an appointment to call you. If you are absolutely unable to call us, you may e-mail us at legalhelpdesk@lambdalegal.org or write to the addresses above.

Vermont Bar Association: Vermont Lawyer Referral Service

35-37 Court Street
P.O. Box 100
Montpelier, VT 05601-0100
(802) 223-2020
(800) 639-7036
Website: www.vtbar.org/static/vtbar/lawyer_referral/information.php
E-mail: nredington@vtbar.org

The Vermont Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service can direct you to a lawyer in Vermont.
When you call the Lawyer Referral Service, you will be asked to state your problem briefly. After listening to your problem, and based on the information you provide, the Lawyer Referral Service will give you the name and telephone number of an attorney who concentrates in that area of law. There will be a consultation fee that should not exceed $25 for the first half hour. The Lawyer Referral Service operates Monday - Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Persons who have a legal problem and cannot afford a lawyer will be directed, if possible, to another public service program or human service agency for assistance.