Indiana

AIDS Ministries/AIDS Assistance of North Indiana (AM/AA) offers comprehensive services to individuals infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS in North Central Indiana. AM/AA offers the following free services: AIDS education; individual guidance and support to clients, friends, relatives, companions, and children; assistance with applications for federal, state, and local programs; housing program referrals; emergency financial assistance; rural outreach; Spanish/English translation of all services; and testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Syphilis. AM/AA also provides specialized services to HIV+ detainees and former prisoners including testing, prevention, and care coordination at the St. Joseph and Elkart County Jails, at juvenile justice and juvenile detention facilities, and through work release programs. All services are free and confidential.

The Damien Center is the largest HIV service organization in Indiana and provides a range of comprehensive services in Indianapolis and ten surrounding counties. The Damien Center offers free services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, including prevention and education as well as housing assistance, emergency funds, food, transportation, care coordination, mental health services, and testing. The Damien Center also provides limited testing and outreach in certain Indiana prisons and is willing to work with any HIV+ individual regardless of a history of incarceration.

The Fort Wayne Women’s Bureau Rape Awareness Program is the only multi-service program in northeast Indiana offering a continuum of services to survivors of sexual violence and their families. The program includes a rape crisis hotline, providing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Crisis intervention services are also available for survivors, their family members, and friends. The Counseling Center offers free counseling, information, and referrals. Other services include support groups, advocacy, follow-up services, and a speakers’ bureau. All services are free and confidential.

The Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault (INCASA) is a statewide coalition of rape crisis centers and prevention programs providing resources, leadership, and training to rape crisis centers, sexual assault nurses, advocates, and other entities committed to the eradication of sexual assault in the state of Indiana. INCASA offers a 40-hour advocacy training for rape crisis centers, as well as a wide array of other trainings and resources related to sexual assault. With 32 rape crisis centers throughout the state of Indiana, INCASA assists survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones by connecting them with one of the rape crisis centers located throughout the state of Indiana.

Legacy House provides comprehensive services to adults and children who have been affected by violence, including sexual assault. Services include: crisis intervention, individual counseling, advocacy, support groups, emergency protective orders, and information and referrals for survivors of violence. Legacy House also provides counseling and education about healthy relationships through the Transition Program at the Indiana Women’s Prison. All services are free and confidential.

Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis operates the Crisis and Suicide Intervention Hotline, which offers crisis intervention, suicide prevention, information, and referral services for individuals in crisis and their family and friends throughout Greater Indianapolis. Survivors of sexual assault in jail or prison can contact Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis for direct assistance, as well as for referrals to other support services, including counseling and legal assistance. All services are free and confidential.

The mission of Middle Way House, Inc. is to end violence in the lives of women and children by implementing or sponsoring activities and programs aimed at achieving individual and social change. Middle Way offers many programs and services to women, men, and child survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault including: 24-hour hotline, crisis intervention, housing, case management, support services, and legal advocacy. All services are free and confidential.

The Caring Place Sexual Assault Advocate offers support and advocacy to female and male survivors of sexual assault in Lake, Porter, and Starke Counties. Services include: 24-hour hotline and emergency shelter; crisis intervention; hospital accompaniment, legal advocacy and personal advocacy; needs assessment and goal planning; support groups; safety planning; and referrals. The Caring Place also offers a weekly support group for women who are survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault at the local jail. All services are free and confidential.

The Center for Women and Families is a non-profit organization that serves and advocates for women and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and economic hardship in a 14 county area in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The Center’s Rape Crisis Program provides counseling and support groups not only to rape survivors, but also to their friends and families. Services include: emergency shelter, therapy and counseling, support groups, walk-in crisis counseling, economic success programming, hospital advocacy, and court advocacy. All services are free of charge.

Up The Stairs Community Center was established in 1982 to meet the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people (GLBT) in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area. The Gay/Lesbian Hotline is a telephone crisis intervention, information, and referral service for the GLBT community. Reports of violence or harassment against people in the GLBT community can be registered through the Hotline to be shared with the local Metro Commission and the state organization Justice, Inc., who in turn forwards them to the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. The Hotline is staffed during the hours listed above. Callers may leave a message at other times. The Hotline can respond to callers from throughout Indiana, but specializes in referrals for GLBT residents of Fort Wayne and the surrounding area. All services are free and confidential.

The Indiana Ombudsman Bureau receives, investigates, and attempts to resolve offender complaints regarding the policies and procedures of the Department of Correction. The Bureau operates independently of the Department of Correction and is housed in the Department of Administration.

The Indianapolis Bar Association provides information on lawyers or legal service providers based on the particular area of law that the lawyer practices. Referrals are made for Indianapolis and the immediate surrounding area. There is a referral fee and prices for initial consultations are determined by the attorney’s office. The Indianapolis Bar Association can also provide numbers and referrals to other lawyer referral services around the state in conjunction with local bar associations.