The community was invited to the atrium of the Hamilton County Courts Building on Tuesday for the reading of the Proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and to honor those who work to end sexual violence in our community.
The Sexual Assault Response Team was recognized for its ongoing efforts to stop sexual assault and to provide crucial services to survivors. Sponsors of the event were Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, the City of Chattanooga, and Hamilton County.
Mayor Jim Coppinger read the proclamation, and Dr. Paul Smith, public safety coordinator of Mayor Berke’s office, discussed the history of the Hamilton County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
“Chattanooga and the Hamilton County Sexual Assault Response Team work hard every day to make our community a safer place to live. We are so appreciative of their efforts to protect victims of sexual violence and their extra efforts to work with Partnership’s Rape Crisis Center to help these victims through a very traumatic time in their lives,” said Regina McDevitt, senior director of the Partnership.
The presentation was part of a community effort during Sexual Assault Awareness month to support survivors and to recognize those who advocate to end sexual violence. SART, formed in July of 2012, is a core group of law enforcement officers, advocates, DA’s office representatives, and nurses who work together to implement the mechanisms necessary for a coordinated community response including a Memorandum of Understanding, case review processes, and the necessary forms pertaining to confidentiality and releases of information for victims of sexual assault.
The Partnership’s Rape Crisis Center provides an emergency hotline, medical exams, counseling and court advocacy to more than 10,000 individuals affected by sexual assault and domestic violence each year. These services are available 24 hours a day with the goal to assist a victim in a moment’s notice. For victims seeking services, help is available by calling the Crisis Hotline at (423) 755-2700.