In 1984, the local child abuse and neglect council (Androscoggin County Coordinating Committee, now known as Advocates for Children) sponsored a Sexual Abuse Task Force to study the services available to victims of rape and sexual abuse. While rape crisis services had been available “in house” at Central Maine Medical Center, there seemed to be a need for more comprehensive services. There was also an identified need for services for families whose child(ren) had been abused by someone outside of their families. These families did not come under the auspices of the Department of Human Services, and therefore did not have easy access to services which could help them cope with the effects of abuse. The idea was born to create a community-based organization, which could address both of these needs.

In may of 1984, a group of dedicated community persons formed a Board of Directors for the Sexual Assault Crisis Center. Funding was secured through the Bureau of Social Services (DHS) and a Coordinator of Volunteers was hired. Training for hotline Advocates began immediately, with S.A.C.C assuming responsibility for coverage of hotline services December 1, 1984.

In 1985, SACC began responding to requests for presentations in schools about sexual assault and sexual abuse. At that time, SACC worked collaboratively with the Androscoggin County Coordination Committee to provide those presentations, and also offered educational presentations to community groups. Over the years, SACC’s education and outreach efforts have expanded and now require a full time Community Education Coordinator, Youth Services Provider, and a group of Volunteer Peer Educators from Bates College.

In 1986, SACC recognized the need for a system in which to provide more ongoing support to survivors. The first group of volunteer support group facilitators received an extensive 6 week (40 hour) training, and the first support group for adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse began in Fall of 1986. Since that time, SACC has continued to expand its support group program, and now offers groups for

• Adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse
• Adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse
• Rape survivors
• Parents whose children have been sexually abused
• Teen survivors of sexual assault/sexual abuse.

In 1993, SACC expanded its outreach to include people affected by sexual harassment. Not only were these victims calling our hotline and receiving support information, but SACC also developed a training about sexual harassment for area business, organizations and schools.

These programs–24 hour hotline response, Support groups, Community education–continue to form the basis of our services for people affected by sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment and through the generous support of state and local resources as well as those community members who choose to remember us with their donations. If you would like to make a private donation, please click on our Donations page.