Sexual Assault Response Team Protocol Signing - 1/30/12

For Immediate Release:

Contact:
Kay Durand
Executive Director, Troup County Center for Strategic Planning
706-298-3639
kdurand@troupco.org

On Monday, January 30, 2012, Law Enforcement Officials from LaGrange Police Department, the Troup County Sheriff's Office, West Point and Hogansville Police Departments, Representatives from Troup County E-911, along with Local, State, and Superior Court Judges, the District Attorney of the Coweta Judicial Circuit, Harmony House Domestic Violence Shelter Representatives, Officials from the local Child Advocacy Center and Twin Cedars, West Georgia Health System and Officials from the Troup County Health Department gathered to sign the first comprehensive Sexual Assault Response Team Protocol for Troup County at the Coleman Community Center in LaGrange.

The need for the protocol became apparent when Dr. Linda Buchanan, then LaGrange College Vice President and Dean for Student Life and Retention met with County Commission Chair Ricky Wolfe to describe her experience in assisting a victim of sexual abuse. In the process of trying to assist, Dr. Buchanan discovered that there was no coordinated means to respond to the situation especially in the area of the examination and victim support. The Troup County Rape Response Protocol Task Force was established at the Commission Chair’s request. The task force has been meeting regularly since October, 2010 and after protocol development and training, Troup County is ready to formally adopt and implement the protocol.

The essential partners in the Sexual Assault Response Team are Harmony House and the Child Advocacy Center. Harmony House already has a structure for responding to victims of violence and assault. The Child Advocacy Center currently has the facilities for meeting the needs for children’s sexual assault exams. Without these two agencies the community would have had to build an organization to meet the needs of adult sexual assault victims.

Commission Chair Ricky Wolfe said “This effort is a perfect example of how a community can bring its resources together to address a problem. What has been encouraging in this process has been the overwhelming participation of law enforcement from every jurisdiction, the District Attorney, 911, West Georgia Health emergency room and the Health Department and of course, Harmony House and Twin Cedars. All of these agencies have been eager, professional participants throughout this process.”

The first year costs are being funded through the generosity of a Junior Service League mini grant. Additionally, there is a need for more trained nurse examiners to participate in coordination with the Response Team. If you are a Registered Nurse who has interest in participating in this process, or for further information regarding the Protocol and on the Sexual Assault Response Team, please contact Kay Durand. Kay is the Executive Director of Troup County's Center for Strategic Planning. You may reach her at (706)298-3639, or by email at kdurand@troupco.org.