The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) of Lifelines/Family Counseling Center of Mobile, Inc. provides direct services to sexual assault victims and their families 24/7 using staff and trained volunteers to deliver counseling, support groups, hospital and court presence, advocacy, community education, training for law enforcement medical and social service personnel.

History

The Rape Crisis Center of Mobile began in 1976 when a group of Mobile Mental Health Center employees saw the need to provide services to sexual assault survivors. They wrote grants, developed protocol, organized training and recruited volunteers. Originally, the counselors were married couples who took calls together for a week at a time. They responded to area emergency rooms to be with rape victims and their families.

As times changed, the Rape Crisis Center no longer fit the mission of Mobile Mental Health Center. However, The United Way of Southwest Alabama saw the benefit for the community in Helpline and Rape Crisis partnering with each other. In this way, both programs could continue to serve the needs of the community and be more cost effective as well.

Volunteers are required to complete an intensive, 20-hour training program, and take call at least twice a month.

In September 2002, Helpline and Rape Crisis Center merged again, and became programs of the Family Counseling Center of Mobile, Inc.(FCC), another United Way Agency.