SARA Roanoke COVID-19 Operational Update
(6/23/2020)
As Virginia continues to reopen and navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, SARA will slowly and carefully begin to re-implement in-person response for survivors of sexual violence as well as their loved ones. And while many of our operational protocols will be the same as before, things will still look a little different.
SARA Roanoke will begin seeing clients, by appointment only, in the office beginning this week. Clients scheduling counseling appointments should call 540-345-7273 to schedule an appointment. Clients seeking advocacy services can call the SARA 24-hour crisis hotline to speak with a trained advocate, OR, if they prefer an in-person appointment, should call 540-345-7273 to schedule an appointment. For more information on what to expect, please click here.
In-person clients will be screened for COVID-19 at each visit and SARA staff will be taking clients’ temperatures at the door. Staff, volunteers, and clients will be asked to wear masks during appointments. SARA’s waiting room remains closed; therefore, anyone coming with a client will be asked to remain in their vehicle.
If clients are not ready to meet with SARA staff in person, phone counseling appointments are still available. Additionally, crisis advocates remain available 24-hours a day through our crisis hotline (540-981-9352). Our advocates are not yet providing in-person response to hospitals and law enforcement agencies; however, we can still be contacted through the hotline for support during hospital exams and police interviews.
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SARA Roanoke COVID-19 Operational Update
(3/30/2020)
In accordance with Governor Northam’s Executive Order #53, SARA Roanoke will remain closed to the public until further notice.
The office will only be staffed by essential personnel and will not open to the public. Staff are being encouraged to work from home. The temporary closure will cause a disruption to our services, specifically those individuals seeking in-person counseling and advocacy services. We will be offering tele-counseling sessions in lieu of meeting in-person. We have temporarily suspended our ER accompaniment services until Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital lifts their visitor restrictions and it is deemed safe to dispatch staff and volunteers to the Emergency Room. Our 24-hour sexual assault crisis hotline remains operational, available and accessible. We will not hold any face-to-face meetings during this time.
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SARA Roanoke COVID-19 Operational Update
(3/17/2020)
Effective March 18, SARA Roanoke will be following Governor Northam’s request of social distancing and teleworking through March 29.
With the safety and wellbeing of our community, clients, volunteers and employees in mind, we have made the difficult decision to modify our delivery of services and temporarily close the SARA office to the public. The office will only be staffed by essential personnel and will not open to the public. Staff are being encouraged to work from home. The temporary closure will cause a disruption to our services, specifically those individuals seeking in-person counseling and advocacy services. We will be offering tele-counseling sessions in lieu of meeting in-person. We have temporarily suspended our ER accompaniment services until Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital lifts their visitor restrictions and it is deemed safe to dispatch staff and volunteers to the Emergency Room. Our 24-hour sexual assault crisis hotline remains operational, available and accessible.
We will not hold any face-to-face meetings during this time. We are reviewing our planned Sexual Assault Awareness Month community outreach events and activities scheduled for April and will update plans as the situation progresses and evolves.
The coronavirus will continue to have a significant impact on our communities; therefore, we are taking these precautions in an effort to help keep everyone safe and healthy.
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SARA Roanoke’s Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, SARA Roanoke will be temporarily suspending emergency accompaniment to hospitals until such time that it is deemed safe to resume hospital accompaniment services.
Crisis services will remain operational and accessible through the SARA 24-Hour Crisis Hotline (540-981-9352). All other SARA services (i.e. counseling, court/legal advocacy, and education & outreach) remain operational at this time.
We ask that if clients are sick to please contact our office by calling 540-345-7273 so that we can determine the best course of action in order to keep our staff, volunteers, and clients safe and healthy. Our 24-hour crisis hotline also remains available to current clients.
SARA will continue to follow the guidelines and information provided by local and state public health officials and continue to follow the news and utilize the resources available to us via the Virginia Department of Health.