Betty Griffin Center - Rape Care Unit is a service providing forensic exams, advocacy coordination, and crisis counseling. MCWA will provide funding for Recovery Bags and miscellaneous food items.
LIAISON: PAT LOPINTO
Betty Griffin Center's mission is to offer protection and quality services for victims of Domestic Violence and their minor children and/or victims of Sexual Assault and their families of St. Johns County, FL, through operation of a shelter offering assistance, counseling, and transitional support.
The Betty Griffin Center is the only Center in St. Johns County that has provided free services to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The Center offers protection and quality services to victims and their children through the operation of safe and secure shelter and outreach programs, offering assistance, counseling and transitional support.
The Rape Care Unit was formed in 2006 to meet a need in our community. For the 12 month period beginning July 2018, sexual advocacy was provided to 57 victims, ranging in age 18 to 81. Survivors of sexual abuse are provided emergency shelter, helpline support, injunctions for protection and counseling, which are all free.
Funding from the Marsh Creek Women’s Association will be utilized to assist with Betty Griffin Center’s Rape Care Unit and Sexual Assault Recovery Program. As a dual center, Betty Griffin Center serves both survivors and secondary victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Rape Care Unit is a significant component of their emergency services that provides critical, quality and life-saving services. Recovery bags include clothing items for the victim to wear after the evidence of their clothing is collected, undergarments, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues, shampoo/conditioner, and other soothing personal care items. MCWA has supported the Betty Griffin Rape Care Unit for more than 8 years.
When victims come to the Rape Care Unit often everything that they are wearing becomes evidence. The exam often lasts several hours depending on the emergency care the victim may need at the hospital and if they decide to immediately report to law enforcement or take time to go over their options with an advocate. The Rape Recovery Program preserves the victim’s dignity and reduces the psychological trauma by providing improved, quality medical services by trained professionals.
Additionally, funds will be spent on critical supplies including medical surgical swabs, face masks, disposable gloves, pregnancy tests, equipment to record evidence such as sim cards for cameras, alcohol antibacterial swabs, refreshments for the victim following the exam, paper rolls for the exam table, and paper bags to hold evidence.
Funds may also assist the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or the Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocate in their roles such as educational materials. Immediate medical needs as well as confidential counseling, advocacy, and forensic medical exams are provided to the survivor free of charge in a private and professional environment.
The Rape Care Unit of the Betty Griffin Center received $3000 from our annual fundraising efforts. The unit provides for the immediate medical and forensic needs of rape victims while ensuring their privacy and professional care. Our donation funds Recovery Bags, critical medical supplies such as latex gloves, masks, surgical swabs, and pregnancy tests and comfort items such as bottled water, soda and snacks.