Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia may have shortened its name to simply Sexual Assault Center, but the services offered are still the same – and are still needed, according to Executive Director Kathie Logan.
“We’ve been here since 2008, but we just became independent and changed our name,” she said.
One in four women and one in 16 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime, said Logan.
“We average about 60 survivor victims per year,” she said. “We want to raise awareness about us being here, because 80 percent of the women sexually assaulted don’t report. You don’t have to go to the police or the ER, you can just come here for help. We take referrals from any source.
Staff photo by Katie Ward
The Sexual Assault Center on the Hutcheson Medical Center campus holds an open house and ribbon cutting with the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce. From left are SAC Executive Director Kathie Logan, board member Amber Regal, victim advocate Debbie Hensley, board member Terry Nida, Generation Rx Project administrative assistant Tracey Morrow, Catoosa County Family Collaborative Coordinator Phil Ledbetter and Generation Rx Project Coordinator Colleen Crawford.“If [the victim] wants to report it to the police, then we will help,” she added. “We have sexual assault nurse examiners that will conduct the forensic exam. We also offer preventative medication [for unwanted pregnancies].”
SAC offers its services free of charge and serves Catoosa, Walker and Dade counties. The center is funded through state of Georgia grants, private funding and donations. Also, people volunteer at SAC to help reduce operational costs.
“We provide follow-up counseling, legal advocacy and support groups,” said Logan. “Every victim, whatever they need, we provide it. We refer them to a shelter if they need it. We make sure the victim has a safety plan in place.”
For victims, an advocate will meet with them at the center and follow them through the process of restoration. SAC offers one-on-one crisis counseling in person or over the phone. One day the center might speak to a 14-year-old victim, but the next day it might be a 49-year-old, said Logan. Elderly victims are becoming more common at SAC, she added.
“We want them to feel comfortable getting help for it, because it’s happening,” Logan said. “We all know someone that this has happened to.
“It doesn’t matter if you are drinking or how you are dressed, there’s no excuse for rape. Drug-facilitated rapes are very common, so people should watch their drink.”
SAC can be reached by dialing its 24/7 hotline at either 800-274-2211 or 706-419-8775.