Who Can Help Family Members?
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC)
Soldier or Civilian who oversees sexual assault awareness, prevention and response training; coordinates medical treatment, including emergency care, for victims of sexual assault; and tracks the services provided to a victim of sexual assault from the initial report through final disposition and resolution. Conversations with SARCs are privileged and confidential. SARCs can receive Restricted and Unrestricted Reports of sexual assault, as well as sexual harassment complaints.
Victim Advocate (VA)
Soldier or Civilian who provides crisis intervention, information on available options and resources, and ongoing nonclinical support to victims. Conversations with VAs are privileged and confidential. VAs can take Restricted and Unrestricted Reports of sexual assault.
Special Victims’ Counsel (SVC)
Military attorney who provides legal representation to eligible clients, including victims of sexual assault. The SVC’s duties include zealous representations of the client’s interest. Conversations with an SVC are confidential, and SVCs form an attorney-client relationship with victim-clients, whether a victim chooses to file a Restricted or Unrestricted Report. SVCs can’t take reports of sexual assault but will contact the SARC, with the victim’s consent.
Healthcare Provider
Those individuals who are employed or assigned as healthcare professionals, or are credentialed to provide healthcare services at a MTF, or who provide such care at a deployed location or otherwise in an official capacity. This also includes military personnel, DOD civilian employees, and DOD contractors who provide healthcare at an occupational health clinic for DOD civilian employees or DOD contractor personnel. Healthcare providers may include, but are not limited to: Licensed physicians practicing in the MHS with clinical privileges in obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, urology, general medical officer, undersea medical officer, flight surgeon, psychiatrists, or those having clinical privileges to perform pelvic examinations or treat mental health conditions. Licensed advanced practice registered nurses practicing in the MHS with clinical privileges in adult health, family health, midwifery, women’s health, mental health, or those having clinical privileges to perform pelvic examinations. Licensed physician assistants practicing in the MHS with clinical privileges in adult, family, women’s health, or those having clinical privileges to perform pelvic examinations. Licensed registered nurses practicing in the MHS who meet the requirements for performing a SAFE as determined by the local privileging authority. This additional capability shall be noted as a competency, not as a credential or privilege. A psychologist, social worker or psychotherapist licensed and privileged to provide mental health care or other counseling services in a DOD or DOD-sponsored facility.
Chaplain
Military officer who provides privileged and confidential spiritual advice and the opportunity for victims of sexual assault to discuss concerns privately, even if a victim isn’t religious. Conversations with a chaplain are confidential and protected by military law. Chaplains can’t take reports of sexual assault but will contact the SARC, with the victim’s consent.
Special Victim Liaison (SVL)
Special Victim Liaisons (SVLs) work with special trial counsel and Special Victim NCOs as a team to develop and litigate cases involving covered, known, and related offenses. SVLs provide victim-witness support to the special trial counsel team. Unlike VWLs, SVLs are not impartial actors in the prosecution process as SVLs work to ensure cases involving covered, known, and related offenses are properly investigated, and when warranted, properly charged and prosecuted. SVLs are assigned to the OSTC and are rated by a special trial counsel with oversight from the LSTC and SVL Program Manager. Conversations with SVLs aren’t confidential. SVLs can’t take reports of sexual assault.
DOD Safe Helpline
The DOD Safe Helpline is the sole secure, confidential, and anonymous crisis support service specially designed for members of the Department of Defense community affected by sexual assault. All Safe Helpline services are anonymous, confidential, and tailored to support members of the DOD community and their loved ones affected by sexual assault.
Safe Helpline is the Department of Defense’s sole hotline for members of the DOD community affected by sexual assault. Safe Helpline is a completely anonymous, confidential, 24/7, specialized service—providing help and information anytime, anywhere. A Safe Helpline user can access one-on-one support, peer-to-peer support, information, resources, and self-care exercises to aid in their recovery.
The DOD community is not just service members.
Contact the DOD Safe Helpline by: Telephone: (877) 995-5247, Text: 552-47 (inside the U.S.) or 571-470-5546 (outside the U.S.)
Online chat: SafeHelpline
Peer-to-peer support: SafeHelpRoom
Safe Helpline app: www.safehelpline.org/app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play
Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)