Every contact to San Miguel Resource Center is personal. Some people who reach out to us identify as survivors of abuse, some as concerned friends or family members, some as abusive partners seeking to change themselves. While every contact is unique, our advocates are guided by SMRC’s in-depth training.
Information, Referrals, and Practical Assistance
After getting a sense of your situation, an advocate might provide information about the dynamics of domestic violence, the definition of sexual assault, or the impact of trauma on well-being. They might help you to prioritize your current needs and concerns. They will explain processes and procedures, such as reporting options for sexual assault and what might happen during a SAFE medical exam, or how to obtain a civil protection order or apply for Crime Victim’s Compensation. The advocate will describe SMRC’s services and which ones may benefit you and/or provide relevant contact information for other resources, based on your identified needs.
We might ask:
"Would you like me to call the medical center to schedule a SAFE exam for you?”
“Would you like to make a police report together?”
“Do you have the number for this resource in case you decide you want to call them?”
Advocate Follow-up
You can expect our helpline advocates to ask if you would be interested in meeting with a staff advocate in-person at one of our offices. This in-person meeting would involve further discussing your experiences and goals and completing our client intake paperwork to begin receiving services. Our helpline advocate might also ask if you would like a follow-up call to check in at a later date. It is your choice as to whether you would like to receive future communications from SMRC after you have reached out.
We will ask:
“Can we set up a time for you to come in to our office and talk?”
“Can I have an advocate call you back to check in?”
“Is it safe to leave a message on this phone number?”
Privacy & Confidentiality
All of our services are confidential, and helpline calls can be anonymous if you do not wish to provide your name. We cannot confirm or deny to anyone outside of our organization who our clients are. We recognize the importance of maintaining anonymity in a small town, and we want all clients to feel safe working with us.
We are, however, mandated reporters. This means if there is reason to believe that a child is being abused or neglected, and you have given us enough information to identify (full name, address, school, phone number, etc.) the potential victim or abuser, we might have to report it to authorities. We do this for the protection of children but also want you to be in control of what information you choose to share.
Please review our complete privacy policy.
Our 24-hour helpline offers confidential support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, call 1-844-816-3915 (or click the button below on mobile).
