Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA)

Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA), formerly the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) in Santa Barbara, California, that has offered confidential counseling and support to sexual assault survivors and their loved ones since 1974. It began as Santa Barbara's first crisis hotline for sexual assault and took its current name in 2018. Trained advocates answer a 24-hour hotline, and survivors can walk in for in-person crisis counseling on weekdays or join long-term individual and group counseling. Advocates also help with medical care, police reports, emergency protective orders and referrals. STESA runs prevention education and training across southern Santa Barbara County, from Carpinteria to the Santa Ynez Valley, from one downtown office.