Frequently Asked Questions
Click on any question below for more information. If you don’t see your question below, or haven’t found the information you want anywhere on our site, please contact us — we’re here to help.
Counseling
What type of counseling does NOVA provide?
NOVA also runs adult and teen groups throughout the year. Please contact the NOVA helpline at 1-800-675-6900 for more information about groups that are currently being offered. NOVA does not provide couples counseling, family counseling or play therapy, however NOVA counselors are happy to provide referrals within Bucks County for those and other services.
To get the counseling process started and determine if NOVA services are a good fit for you, contact the NOVA helpline at 1-800-675-6900.
Who is eligible for counseling services?
How much does it cost?
Do NOVA counselors make diagnoses or prescribe medication?
What should I expect at a counseling intake appointment?
- Intake appointments normally last from 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- During the appointment, the counselor will confidentially discuss NOVA’s policies and procedures, as well as the counseling process. Minimal consent paperwork and a short trauma symptom assessment will need to be completed at this time. The counselor will also request general information about the client’s needs and goals.
- If the appointment is for a child age 14 or older, the child must be present at the intake in order to consent to services. If the child is age 13 or under, the counselor will discuss with you in advance whether to bring the child to the intake appointment.
- When the intake involves a minor child for whom there is a custody agreement in place, the custody agreement must be brought to the intake appointment.
- You do not need to bring anything else to the intake except yourself, unless the counselor specifies otherwise.
Advocacy
How can a Victim Advocate help me?
Are NOVA's Advocates attorneys?
Do you have to be a Bucks County resident to receive advocacy services?
To which types of proceedings can an Advocate provide accompaniment?
Child Abuse
What is child abuse?
Child abuse also includes acts which place a child under 18 years of age in imminent risk of serious physical injury, sexual abuse or exploitation.
NOVA also runs adult and teen groups throughout the year. Please contact the NOVA helpline at 1-800-675-6900 for more information about groups that are currently being offered. NOVA does not provide couples counseling, family counseling or play therapy, however NOVA counselors are happy to provide referrals within Bucks County for those and other services.
To get the counseling process started and determine if NOVA services are a good fit for you, contact the NOVA helpline at 1-800-675-6900.
What are signs and symptoms of child abuse?
While in some children there may be no signs whatsoever, the following are the most common signs of child abuse:
Neglect:
- Obvious malnourishment
- Lack of personal cleanliness, torn/dirty clothes
- Obvious fatigue or listlessness
- A child unattended for long periods of time
- Stealing or begging for food
- Frequent absences or tardiness from school
- Need for eye glasses, dental care, or other medical attention
Physical Abuse:
- Frequent unexplained injuries (i.e. bruises, cuts, burns, black eyes)
- Frequent complaints of pain without any obvious injury
- Aggressive, disruptive behavior
- Lack of reaction to pain
- Passive, withdrawn, emotionless behavior
- Unseasonable clothing that hides arms and/or legs
Sexual Abuse:
- Evidence of injury to the genital area
- Difficulty sitting or walking
- Frequent expressions of sexual activity between adults and children
- Extreme fear of being alone with adults (especially of a particular gender)
- Sexually suggestive, age inappropriate or promiscuous behavior
- Sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy
- Sexual victimization to other children
- Relapse into bedwetting and/or frequent nightmares
- Complaints of painful urination
- Knowledge about sexual relations beyond what is age appropriate
What should I do if I suspect child abuse?
ChildLine is the 24-hour, toll-free telephone reporting system operated by the Department of Welfare to receive reports of suspected child abuse. ChildLine forwards reports of suspected child abuse to local county officials to investigate in order to prevent any further maltreatment of the child.
Who is a mandated reporter in Pennsylvania?
Sexual Assault Exam
What is a SANE?
- A SANE or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner is an RN who has been specifically trained to provide comprehensive, gender-sensitive care to individuals who have experienced sexual violence.
- A SANE helps to meet the emotional and medical needs of the patient, while also addressing the forensic requirements of the criminal justice system.
NOVA also runs adult and teen groups throughout the year. Please contact the NOVA helpline at 1-800-675-6900 for more information about groups that are currently being offered. NOVA does not provide couples counseling, family counseling or play therapy, however NOVA counselors are happy to provide referrals within Bucks County for those and other services.
To get the counseling process started and determine if NOVA services are a good fit for you, contact the NOVA helpline at 1-800-675-6900.
Who may request a sexual assault medical forensic exam and where can I go to get a medical forensic exam (rape kit)?
What if I want evidence gathered, but I don't want to make a police report or haven't yet decided if I want to report?
Who pays for the exam?
- The PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Victim’s Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) covers the cost of the exam.
- A victim of a sexual offense does not need to ‘report’ the sexual offense or ‘talk’ to law enforcement in order for the costs to be paid by VCAP.