Ohio Expands Program to Help Sexual Assault Victims
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says he plans to address gaps in sexual assault services after a survey found that 59% of Ohio's 88 counties lack comprehensive, direct sexual assault services. Trumbull and Mahoning counties have comprehensive services in place, while Columbiana County has "some," the survey found.
The sexual assault services expansion program is being formed to address the issue. "Months before the tragic sexual assault in Steubenville, I asked my crime victims section to undertake an analysis of all crime victim services in the state, and we found startling gaps in sexual assault services in Ohio," said DeWine. "It is our goal to ensure that a quick and compassionate emergency response is available to any victim of sexual assault at any time of the day, any day of the week, and in any area of the state."
The study found that only 36 counties offer comprehensive, direct sexual assault services. According to the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, a county with comprehensive, direct services offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, criminal justice advocacy, hospital advocacy, community outreach, crisis intervention services, referral services, and agency collaboration.
In addition, 44 counties were found to offer some of those sexual assault-specific services, and eight counties offer few or no sexual assault-specific services. Those eight are Fulton, Wyandot, Crawford, Clinton, Perry, Meigs, Harrison, and Monroe counties. Other counties near the Mahoning Valley that have comprehensive services are Geauga, Portage, Stark and Jefferson. Ashtabula County is in the "some" category.
The sexual assault services expansion program will provide grant funding for new regional coordinators who will oversee the implementation of comprehensive, direct sexual assault services in all Ohio counties over the next five years, DeWine said. The coordinators will recruit and train local volunteers, coordinate with local hospitals and criminal justice and mental health professionals, and provide training on how to meet the needs of survivors of sexual assault.
The first year of the project will focus on expanding direct sexual assault services to Perry, Meigs, Wyandot, and Crawford counties. Year Two will focus on Harrison and Monroe counties, and Year Three will focus on Fulton and Clinton counties. The coordinators will work toward bringing counties with some level of sexual assault services to the comprehensive level.
"It is crucial that adequate victim services are available to anyone who has been sexually assaulted," DeWine said. "We know that these counties are doing the best they can, but they are struggling. This is why we are going to help."
The attorney general's office also is working to determine what additional resources can be geared toward prevention of assault, including youth education programs and public awareness campaigns, DeWine said.
State Reps. Nan Baker and Kirk Schuring say they will introduce legislation to fund a rape crisis program. Money from the fund would be raised through sex offender registration fees of $100. The money would go toward providing services such as hotlines, victim advocacy and support services.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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