CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Foothills Child Advocacy Center and the Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA) have announced their plans to co-locate at a new shared space located at 154 Hansen Road, Unit 201 in Charlottesville. Moving to one shared location will allow both organizations “to better support survivors of abuse and sexual violence in Central Virginia,” the organizations said in a press release Wednesday.

Foothills will be moving from their location at 1106 E. High Street while SARA will be moving from Greenbrier Drive. 

The organizations already collaborate with one another to provide trauma-informed care and essential services for survivors of abuse in the Charlottesville community. Co-locating will streamline the process of assistance and eliminate the need for travel between the organizations. They hope sharing the space will also allow for more cost-effective operations so that more funding can be put directly into the services they offer.

They aim to create a central hub to access their services, “nationally recognized as a best practice for improving outcomes and providing efficient, survivor-centered care,” the press release states.

Foothills Child Advocacy Center aims to support investigations and begin the healing process of children and families who have been victims of abuse. Established in 2006, their goals are to minimize trauma and promote healing through their system of effective response and intervention. SARA offers support for survivors of sexual violence through therapy, prevention education, medical accompaniment and a 24/7 crisis hotline. They provide free confidential support services to all survivors.

In addition to streamlining services, both hope that a centralized location will allow for expanded programs in the future. Mental health services and potential on-site medical services were both listed as possibilities for the new location.

Foothills will move into the new shared location first on August 15 with SARA following on September 1.