The Collins Center - Formerly Citizens Against Sexual Assault of Harrisonburg and Rockingham

The Collins Center, originally known as Citizens Against Sexual Assault of
Harrisonburg and Rockingham, Inc. (CASA), is a grassroots organization that began
nearly twenty years ago.

In October, 1987, a well known community member, Shirley Collins, was sexually
assaulted in Harrisonburg. She died of the injuries she sustained during that assault.
The community was devastated by the news of this sexual violence and many people
moved to take action. In response, community leaders, allied professionals and
private citizens developed a task force to analyze how sexual violence was affecting
the community. A needs assessment indicated that many people were seeking
services for sexual assault and abuse, but few resources were available that could
address their widespread needs. As a result, CASA was incorporated in 1988 and
began providing services in October of 1989.

At the agency's outset, volunteers and two part-time employees provided a 24 hour
crisis hotline, accompaniment services, criminal justice advocacy, educational
programming to the schools and community, and training to allied professionals.
Over the past seventeen years, these services have expanded to include extensive
prevention and education efforts and specialized advocacy and support for victims of
sexual assault, harassment, and abuse.

As the services expanded, a new, more comprehensive need was recognized. More
specifically, while CASA was helping treat the trauma that sexual violence victims
faced, it was finding that those who faced most other mental health issues were
having a hard time finding services that were fully accessible. Consequently, in
January, 2007, CASA took on a new name, the Collins Center (intended to continue
honoring the memory of Shirley Collins), and expanded the organization to more fully
serve the community. As such, the organization continues to provide its
comprehensive services for victims and survivors of sexual assault, and in addition
offers professional therapy for all mental health issues.

Since its expansion, the agency has grown to include nine full time staff and a
volunteer staff of over 35 individuals. It provides direct services to nearly 600 victims
of sexual assault each year, reaches nearly 4,000 people through its prevention
outreach, and aims to serve 60 people a week through its therapy program.