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Refuge House, Inc. Administration Phone Email |
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Rape crisis survivors have some of the most complicated systems of needs of all trauma survivors. After making a very difficult and brave choice to report their assault to the local law enforcement, these victims need the assistance and compassion from a host of professionals. To provide this vast and varied care, Refuge House has created the Sexual Battery Task Force. This Task Force made up of law enforcement officials, victim advocates, medical professionals and university representatives that have dedicated their energies to implementing the Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) program at Tallahassee Medical Hospital. The Forensic and medical care that rape survivors require is administered by Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners. By implementing this SANE program, our community has come together and made the decision that rape survivors deserve the coordinated care that is nationally proven to help reduce the traumatic impact of entering the criminal justice program. In a special unit at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital-Emergency Department, a room has been renovated to provide a more comfortable space for the survivors of this crime. The Tallahassee Junior League transformed the original somewhat plain hospital room into a bright, comforting room filled with decor and personality. There is a private bathroom and shower within the room for the survivor to use after the ordeal of their trauma and invasive medical exam is completed. The room is also equipped with a sitting area and telephone. Services Breakdown Hospital Outreach/ Accompaniment: 24-hour crisis intervention services are provided to victims of sexual battery and their significant others at Tallahassee Memorial Health Care Center and other area hospitals and healthcare centers by Sexual Violence staff or trained volunteers. Hospital Outreach may include survivor support during a forensic evidence collection examination, advocacy, and information and referral. Brief Supportive Counseling: Individual counseling is provided by a sexual violence counselor for up to 12 sessions for survivors and/or significant others to process issues surrounding sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. Due to the brief nature of counseling, long term counseling resources are identified prior to termination of the 12 session period. Support counseling services are generally available after crisis intervention and should not be construed as “therapy”. Support Group: Support groups are facilitated by paid staff and in some cases co-facilitated by interns and are generally closed groups consisting of 2-10 survivors or significant others impacted by sexual violence. Groups are regularly scheduled for the purpose of education, support, and validation. Topics include but are not limited to: Sexual Violence Defined, Myths and Realities, The After Affects, Coping Skills, Stress Identification & Management, and Relaxation Techniques. Advocacy: Advocacy involves a Sexual Violence Counselor providing personal support and/or assistance in accessing sexual violence related services, acting on behalf of and in support of survivors of sexual violence on a 24-hour basis to ensure that their interests are represented and their rights upheld. Advocacy also includes accompanying a victim to court, medical services, or other locations related to the sexual battery and speaking to another member of the community or victim service provider on the survivor’s behalf with that survivor’s expressed and written permission. Information and Referral: Sexual Violence staff may provide clients with information on or assistance in accessing various community programs and services. Information and referral may be in response to a request or presenting need for specific, documented information about sexual violence and trauma reactions and also involves referring victims to appropriate social service agencies for needs that the program cannot meet. Information and referral services are available and accessible 24 hours a day in person or by phone. Emergency Shelter: Survivors of sexual violence have access to general Refuge House shelter services. They may be offered a space at the Refuge House Shelter if they do not have a safe place to return to. Systems Coordination: Sexual Violence staff provides systems coordination by developing and maintaining working relationships and agreements (formal and informal) among community programs and victim service providers in order to ensure that survivor’s have access to the full array of services. Refuge House coordinates a Sexual Battery Task Force in Leon County that meets monthly to ensure smooth cooperative working relationships among the programs and providers that are involved in sexual violence service provision. Therapy: Therapeutic services are provided by paid staff, consultants, and volunteers possessing a Florida license and consist of individual psychotherapy/ counseling, therapeutic group counseling, and family therapy. Individual treatment planning and treatment plan reviews are included in this service, however, educational, recreational, vocational, rehabilitative, medical, psychological, and psychiatric services are provided through affiliations with community based therapists and service providers. Dear Community Health Care Professionals: I am sure that you are aware of the impressive history Refuge House has in the Big Bend region for offering services to survivors of Sexual and Domestic Violence. As our programs continue to expand, we are pleased to announce that we are now in a position to offer psychotherapy to survivors of sexual violence. We are accepting referrals for therapeutic services from health care professionals for adult survivors of sexual violence. This would include any act of sexual assault or coercion experience by the individual at any age. Please see the attached referral form which may be faxed to Linda Wheatley at (850) 414-6709. Additionally, do not hesitate calling me at (850) 922-6062 if you have any questions. |
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