Sexual Assault Support Services Of Midcoast Maine

Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine (SASSMM) is an agency of professionals and trained volunteers dedicated to providing advocacy and support to survivors, families and concerned others affected by sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment. SASSMM offers services to improve community awareness and response by providing prevention, education, and risk reduction programs throughout Eastern Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties.

For immediate assistance or support, please call our 24-hour Crisis & Support Line: 1-800-822-5999 or from a cell phone: 207-725-1500 TTY: 1-888-458-5599

Rape Crisis Centers were grassroots efforts and started when individuals, primarily women, combined their voices and energies to create a center. Trauma was not recognized as a diagnosis until 1980 (PTSD) and it took a tremendous amount of work and time to increase community awareness about the need for services that focus on sexual violence. Centers really weren't "built" they were created in response to an unmet need and much of the work, which continues, is to validate and legitimize that sexual violence is a crime and does occur. For SASSMM, the ground work began in 1982 and in 1983 the agency opened its doors. A woman in the area was sexually assaulted and had nowhere in the Midcoast region to turn for support, assistance and information. This woman, along with two female friends took it upon themselves to change that. They received $500 from the Department of Human Services (now the Department of Health and Human Services) to buy two pagers and to recruit a team of volunteers. The volunteers were trained in the Portland area and came back to the Midcoast region to start up a 24-hour hotline. This was the first service of its kind in the Midcoast Maine area and continues today. In 2010 SASSMM made the decision to begin using the term 24-hour support line in place of hotline. This decision was made to more accurately reflect the intent and purpose of the service. In 2013 we celebrated our 30th anniversary serving the midcoast community!