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Medical

1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men have experienced contact sexual violence in their lifetime.

Women have a 50%-95% chance of developing post-traumatic stress disorder after being sexually assaulted.

An option for survivors following a sexual assault is to seek medical care for injuries sustained in the assault, concern for exposure of STIs, pregnancy, and/or evidence collection (Sexual Assault Forensic Exam). In our service area, emergency rooms at hospitals are the only location a survivor could have an evidence collection kit performed. The SAFE kit is free to the survivor through Kentucky Crime Victims Compensation Board. Hospitals in our area should call Hope Harbor immediately after a patient presents with sexual assault. For more information for medical professionals when working with survivors, check out the SAFE Tool Kit Guide.

 

  • KY Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Exam (SAFE) Act of 2016 Resources and Information 16 RS SB 63/GA
    • All sexual assault examination kits collected pursuant to KRS
      216B.400 prior to the effective date of this Act which have not been subjected to
      serological or deoxyribonucleic acid testing shall be submitted to the Department of
      Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory by January 1, 2017. The Department of
      Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory shall collaborate with every Kentucky law
      enforcement and prosecutorial agency responsible for the collection, storage, and
      maintenance of sexual assault examination kits to develop a plan for the submission and testing of all such kits.

 

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Law Enforcement

Majority of sexual assaults are NOT reported to law enforcement. 

Most survivors after a sexual assault have the choice to report to law enforcement. The exceptions where reporting is mandatory is when the survivor is under the age of 18 and if the survivor is a vulnerable adult with protective services. There are many reasons why survivors would not report their assault, some may be: relationship with abuser, fear of retaliation, job loss, housing loss, financial burden. While a crime has been committed, we recognize reporting is not right for everyone. If you work with a law enforcement agency interested in learning more information or hosting a training for staff, please CONTACT US. We would love to help your agency in working with survivors.

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Corrections

No matter where you lay your head at night, no one deserves to be sexually assaulted. -KASAP PREA Handbook.

Incarcerated survivors deserve protections and access to resources. Hope Harbor provides crisis counseling in our area jails and inmates are able to call our 24/7 crisis line for support. After an assault happens, a Hope Harbor advocate will respond to the hospital to provide support and information to the survivor. Incarcerated survivors can write Hope Harbor as well if talking on the phone is not safe for the survivor. Our staff works with corrections staff to ensure procedures and policies that benefit everyone. Contact us for more information and collaboration.

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Mental Health

Hope Harbor works closely with the mental health providers in our community and often exchange referrals to meet clients/survivors’ needs. Our referral form can be found here.

 

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Teachers

Teachers and educators play an important role in young people’s lives and development. Hope Harbor is here to support and provide additional information and resources to educators in the Barren River Area Development District. If you are interested in having Hope Harbor staff speak to your  students, check out our Community Programs we have available. We also provide professional training to school staff.

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Universities

Hope Harbor’s main office is located in Bowling Green, only minutes from Western Kentucky University and Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College. Our staff works closely with staff, faculty, and students from both and recognize the importance of our collaboration. Unfortunately, statistics show college aged people are at higher risk of sexual violence and less likely to report to law enforcement. Our colleges and universities provide different options for survivors on campus. Hope Harbor staff provides trainings to staff and faculty as well as informative programs for students. You can request a program for your staff or classroom here.

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Commonwealth Attorneys

  • KY Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Exam (SAFE) Act of 2016 Resources and Information 16 RS SB 63/GA
    • All sexual assault examination kits collected pursuant to KRS
      216B.400 prior to the effective date of this Act which have not been subjected to
      serological or deoxyribonucleic acid testing shall be submitted to the Department of
      Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory by January 1, 2017. The Department of
      Kentucky State Police forensic laboratory shall collaborate with every Kentucky law
      enforcement and prosecutorial agency responsible for the collection, storage, and
      maintenance of sexual assault examination kits to develop a plan for the submission and testing of all such kits.
  • Safe Act PDF
  • IPO Information Sheet
  • KRS 209A Referral Information for Prosecutors & Victim Advocates
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