Spotlight: ACCESS open house for satellite office in Boone County

Pictured: ACCESS Male Outreach Prevention Education Coordinator Bobby, Rural Services Specialist for IowaCASA Charlie Chadwick, and ACCESS Assistant Director Virginia.

Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support (ACCESS) is one of IowaCASA's victim service programs providing support to survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse in central Iowa. Based in Ames, the agency began in 1974 with the help of the Iowa State University Government of the Student Body and has expanded significantly over time.

On Friday, August 24, 2018, ACCESS held an open house for their location in Boone County! The satellite office is a wonderful, warm, and welcoming space for survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse to receive free and confidential services. The Boone County office has two full-time advocates: one working with sexual assault survivors, the other working with domestic abuse survivors. This office has been a staple of the Boone community for many years, but ACCESS wanted a chance for folks to be able to meet their new leadership and get to know the staff who worked at this location.

ACCESS provides a variety of services for survivors, including:

24-hour crisis line: listening support, information, and advocacy - 1-800-203-3488 (for sexual assault services)
Housing: safe, temporary emergency sheltering and housing for victims and their children
Children's programs: counseling, advocacy, outings, and play groups
Individual counseling: short-term counseling to adult survivors of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, or dating violence
Support groups: for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and children who have experienced or witnessed family violence
Advocacy: Support, information, and referrals for clients working with the legal, medical, or social service systems
Community education: Educational programming for schools, community groups, organizations, and agencies
Story County Sexual Assault Response Team: for crisis support and ongoing advocacy
Crisis response services

IowaCASA's Rural Services Specialist Charlie Chadwick and Program Coordinator Ashley Taylor attended the open house for the office and had an amazing time visiting the facility. Thank you so much to ACCESS for their ongoing support of survivors.

ACCESS locations and contact information:

Story County Offices

1525 Airport Road

Suite 101

Ames, IA 50014

Phone: 515-292-0500

Hours: M - F 9:00am - 5:00pm

Downtown Business District

Phone: 515-292-9576

Hours: By appointment

Marshall County Office

16 E Main Street