“I Believe You.”

The Solace Center at InterAct is the only free-standing community-based sexual assault center in Wake County.  Compassionate care of sexual assault victims and survivors is its forensic exam sole focus.  The setting is safe, calm and supportive with quiet spaces to ask questions, grieve, receive care and start the process of healing.

Compassionate care in this setting means, “I believe you and I am here to help you in any way that feels right and appropriate.”

The Solace Center is staffed by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  They are assisted by Sexual Assault Response Advocates (SARAs) who volunteer in their role as an advocate in support of the client, reflecting their feelings without judgement.

Clients come to the Solace Center through many different avenues. A friend or family member may bring them.  Law enforcement officers bring many victims to be examined and counseled.  Some clients arrive via the bus or driving their own car.  Many are referred from area emergency departments. Everyone arrives feeling anxious—an appropriate and expected response to a traumatic event.  The Solace Center staff is first and foremost available to provide counseling and support for whatever next step a survivor might need to take.

“I like the definition of compassionate care as ‘suffering together’ and harnessing that feeling to relieve that suffering,” said one nurse examiner.

“I cannot undo the trauma and harm that has happened, but I can create an environment where control can be given back to the survivor and where the survivor’s courage and dignity can be reestablished and reinforced.”

InterAct’s Solace Center is exclusively designed for forensic care with specialized staff including crisis workers, advocates, and forensic nurses. Thanks to the support of the Wake County community, InterAct is able to supply the full scope of equipment for performing forensic exams, including technologically advanced photography equipment for documenting injuries.

A SANE recalled a time a survivor came in on her birthday. She was no longer safe at home. She was exhausted and traumatized but wanted to go through with the exam and courageously did so. Afterwards she was able to shower with beautiful donated personal products and change into new clothes donated by Layers of Dignity. She felt cared for and empowered by her decision to report the assault. At the end she accepted cupcakes for her birthday and safely spent the night in the InterAct shelter.

“It was powerful to offer these services seamlessly to a survivor all in one place, to see someone come in at their lowest point and leave with dignity restored. It was a tangible act of healing.”

Likewise, InterAct’s SARAs remain with the client throughout the exam, offering comfort, helping them feel safe and protected.

“I like to imagine they are coming into my living room, and I am offering them hospitality,” said a SARA.  “Most are happily surprised that it doesn’t feel like a hospital.”

The SARA remembered the mother of a young survivor who needed to be shown the best ways she could support her child.  Another survivor was homeless and was brought to InterAct by a good Samaritan who saw their distress.

“Hopefully, you will never need this service, but it’s important to know it’s there.”

The Solace Center is just one part of the services InterAct supplies.  We operate a crisis line 24/7.  InterAct offers emergency shelter, crisis intervention, housing case management, clothing from its thrift store, and food from its pantry.  InterAct provides civil and criminal court advocates, and personal economic empowerment services.  InterAct support groups assist clients with coping strategies and development of safety plans.

All that InterAct offers is made possible by supporters and donors who give generously.  Your charitable giving at any level enables us to provide a place where survivors are believed without judgement and where control can be given back to the survivor, where courage and dignity can be reestablished and reinforced.

A generous donor has offered to match all end-of-year gifts up to $25,000.  Return your gift in the enclosed envelope, donate online at InterActofwake.org or text CARE to 366283.

You may want to give as part of the national GivingTuesday movement on December 3.

Whatever way you choose to donate, please remember to return your gift by December 31.

— Walker Mabe, InterAct Director of Operations