Ohio rape crisis centers kept services strong despite federal shutdown

By Farah Siddiqi

As Ohio continues to recover from the lengthy federal shutdown, sexual violence prevention leaders in the state say essential services never stopped, and local rape crisis centers remained a lifeline for survivors.

The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence is highlighting how training, community partnerships, and prevention strategies kept that work steady.

Caitlin Burke, senior director of prevention and impact at OAESV, said the most important message for Ohioans is that the alliance's statewide network remained active during the shutdown.

She noted that they support 32 accredited rape crisis centers – which often serve large or complex regions, and provide core services ranging from 24-hour crisis lines to hospital advocacy.

"Work has and will continue," said Burke. "We are strong in our efforts, we're sustainable in a way that we can continue to go regardless of what's happening at the federal level or what's happening with funding. So that if we are here, that means our local rape crisis centers can continue to do the good work that they're doing."

Burke said Ohio’s rape crisis centers serve every county in the state, offering crisis intervention, advocacy, and prevention education. The alliance also provides policy advocacy, technical assistance, and statewide training to maintain consistent standards of care.

Natasha Larson, director of training and member engagement for OAESV, said their recent training calendar reflects how they balanced ongoing community needs with uncertainty from the shutdown.

The organization moved forward with its Leading with Purpose leadership series, its statewide Training Institute, and specialized legal advocacy sessions – all designed to help new, inexperienced advocates navigate increasingly complex cases.

"We had trainings during that time where we were able to be in community with our members," said Larson. "The beautiful thing of coalition work is not only are we providing you the tools and knowledge to do your work, but also a comforting and knowledgeable space to process what's happening, and figure out next steps where we can help."

OAESV leaders say sustaining prevention programs and tailoring them to each community, whether rural or urban, will be key heading into next year.

The organization is also preparing for its annual membership campaign, aiming to broaden public engagement and strengthen statewide support for survivor services.