The Rising Center

"Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise." from "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
606-373-6145

She asked for it.

Boys will be boys!

You could have fought him off.

Men can't be sexually assaulted.

She shouldn't have been there in the first place.

We've all heard statements like that, but let's get one thing straight: the only person responsible for a rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse is the perpetrator. 

It's a difficult subject and one that can be suffered in silence for years and years. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. KRCC's rape crisis center, The Rising Center, is a safe place you can go to be heard and believed, to get the support and care you need, and to try to heal from this awful and heartbreaking experience.

Did you know that almost 1 in 2 women (47%) and 19.6% of men in Kentucky are sexually victimized at some point in their lives (CDC, 2010)? In fact, nearly a million women, men, and children in Kentucky will experience violence or sexual assault this year.

Often, people who have survived rape or another act of sexual or intimate violence feel overwhelmed or scared or don't know whom to talk to or how to get the help they need. Sometimes, people don't know what sexual assault is, or they're trying to help someone else who has been assaulted. That's why we're here. The Rising Center is here to assist survivors, their friends, and family members in getting the resources they need to reclaim their lives following sexual violence.

Did You Know?

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about rape and sexual violence. Here are some facts you should remember.

You Are Not Alone.
  • 1 out of 4 women will be raped in their lifetime.
  • 1 out of 8 men will be raped in their lifetime.
  • 1 out of 4 girls will be sexually abused by the age of 18.
  • 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18.  
It Wasn't Your Fault.
  • Rape and sexual abuse are acts of violence and control, using sex as a weapon. It is not motivated by sexual desire. 
It Can Happen To Anyone.
  • Rape and sexual abuse affect people from every class, age group, and race. Rape has no socioeconomic limits. 
It Happens to Kids, Too.
  • 67% of all child sexual abuse or rapes occur to children under the age of 18.
Just Because You Know Him/Her Doesn't Make It Okay.
  • Over 60% of all rape victims know the perpetrator.
  • 85-90% of child sexual abuse occurs when the perpetrator is known to the child.
It's Never Too Late To Seek Help!
  • 50% of rape and sexual abuse survivors still feel the traumatic effects years later. 

We're Here For You

Kentucky River Community Care (KRCC) created The Rising Center to serve anyone in our community who are survivors of sexual assault, and sexual abuse. It was the first center of its kind in the Hazard, KY area. Our Center serves the people of the entire Kentucky River region, which includes Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry, and Wolfe counties. 

As a visitor to this page, you may already be painfully aware of the physical, emotional, and psychological wounds that are created by rape and sexual abuse. At The Rising Center, we are committed to giving survivors and their loved ones the medical, legal, advocacy, and mental health services needed to begin the healing process. We are available to provide counseling, crisis, and on-site hospital services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When you need a safe place to turn, we'll be there.

If you or someone you care about has experienced sexual violence, you are not alone. You may have many questions, but are unsure where to find answers. KRCC's The Rising Center is here to help.

What We Offer



If You Are Raped:


  • Get to a safe place.

    If you are raped, go to a safe place immediately and get help.

  • Call the Police

    Call 911, the police, or our 24-Hour Rape Crisis Line (1-800-375-7273) or TDD/TTY: 1-800-787-5043.

  • Seek Medical Attention

    Get medical attention immediately at a hospital emergency room. If you think you've been drugged, ask the hospital to take a urine sample so the police can analyze it for any substance used to incapacitate you. You can also come to The Rising Center, and we will help you get the medical attention you need.

  • Preserve Evidence

    Do not destroy evidence of the rape by bathing, douching, changing clothes, or rearranging the scene of the rape. This also includes eating, chewing gum, smoking, drinking, brushing teeth, and gargling. These activities can destroy valuable evidence such as semen, saliva, hairs, and blood. If you have to urinate, collect the urine in a clean jar with a lid and refrigerate the specimen until you can give it to a medical professional. If the evidence is preserved, it can be used in the prosecution of the rapist. However, even if you have not preserved evidence, you should see a doctor and/or call The Rising Center for help.

Even if you choose not to have a forensic sexual assault examination, you should see a doctor to be treated for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. 

If the report is delayed, evidence may still be available. Do not wash your clothes, sheets, or bedding or dispose of any items associated with the sexual assault. And, again, even if you haven't or can't preserve evidence, you should seek the help and support you need. The Rising Center is here to help and support any and all victims of sexual assault - we do not need proof that a person has been raped in order to provide that assistance.

How Can You Help?

The Rising Center relies on volunteers to staff all programs. After completing the 40-hour training, you will become a Sexual Assault Counselor, which qualifies you to counsel survivors on the Crisis Line, accompany survivors to the hospital, assist survivors through the legal process, and participate in community education.

Call Us at (606) 373-6145.

Volunteering at KRCC's The Rising Center


"There are two ways of spreading light - to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."Edith Wharton

There are different types of volunteer opportunities within The Rising Center's Victim Services Program: 



Volunteers Can Also Help By:

  • Being there to talk to the victims and their families.
  • Counsel survivors on the Crisis Line.
  • Accompany survivors to the hospital.
  • Participate in community action.
  • Assist in clerical work.
  • Help support victims through his/her legal process.

And much more!

How to Become a Victim Services Volunteer


You must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Complete a volunteer application with KRCC and become an approved KRCC volunteer worker.
  • Receive three satisfactory reference checks.
  • Agree to and pass a criminal records check.
  • Take and pass a TB skin test and drug screening.
  • Be approved for volunteer work by the agency (KRCC).
  • Complete a 40-hour Sexual Assault Counselor Training Program.
  • Complete eight hours of continuing education yearly.

Volunteer Program Trainings
Trainings are held at various times throughout the year. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, call the Volunteer Coordinator to receive a volunteer application packet at 606-435-6145 ext 7809.

For More Information, Visit Our Website:

The Rising Center Website

Contact Us


We're here anytime you need us! Call our 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-375-RAPE (7273) or TDD/TTY 1-800-787-5043, or drop in or contact us during our business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Address 637 Morton Blvd., Hazard, KY

Phone  606.373.6145   

Email [email protected]




Location