Rape Response

Survivor services: we provide comprehensive services to survivors of sexual assault, ages 13 and older in dawson, forsyth, habersham, hall, lumpkin and white county. Services include a 24/7 crisis line, live chat on our website, 24/7 medical accompaniment, criminal justice support and accompaniment, counseling and support groups (tele-mental health options were provided), follow up, information and referrals, and assistance with victims' compensation. During the year ended september 30, 2024, we responded to 2,084 new crisis calls and staff made 4,048 follow-up calls; survivors of sexual assault received 2,115 individual counseling sessions. We provided 85 sessions of support and provided information and referrals 1,823 times, connecting individuals to community resources for continued support and healing. Our annual report provides additional statistical information.

Sexual assault kit initiative (saki) services: the national saki program was developed in 2015 to inventory, track and expeditiously test previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits (saks). The saki tagline is "reform, accountability, justice". In Georgia, more than 4,000 saks have been tested resulting in 503 codis hits. Another 6,000 saks from 1999 & earlier are being sent for testing over the next year. Trauma-informed therapy was also made available to saki survivors throughout the state via a secure tele-mental health platform. The task force includes a saki coordinator and data analyst, criminal profilers, investigators, prosecutors, and a statewide advocate. The only statewide saki advocate in Georgia works at Rape Response. The employee is specifically trained on trauma-informed, victim-centered best practices related to cold cases to provide effective direct victim advocacy to persons victimized by sexual assault cold cases.

Sexual assault nurse exams (sane) services: we have sane trained registered nurses available to perform private fmes. A sexual assault nurse examiner will collect evidence, examine and document any injuries and offer preventative treatment for possible pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. We provided 104 fmes during the year ended september 30, 2024.

Outreach and awareness programs: we provide let's talk programs to middle and high school students, at-risk youth and parents in our six-county service area. Central concepts of the curriculum include: understanding Georgia laws on sexual violence, lowering the risk of personal involvement with these crimes, consent, coercion, healthy and unhealthy relationships, boundaries, sexting and social media safety, and bystander intervention. During the year ended september 30, 2024, we provided let's talk programs to 10,256 middle school students and 3,194 high school, special education, and at-risk youth. Outreach and awareness programs were provided to 2,889 college students. Additionally, the copyright office of the united states warranted copyright protection for the let's talk programs created by Rape response,deeming the programs were informative and provided education, outreach and awareness to adolescents and adults. Let's talk consists of programs for middle and high school students, at-risk youth, parents & educators. The programs satisfy erin's law, passed july 1, 2018, requiring schools to provide age appropriate sexual violence education. The copyright extends back to the original program created in 1993.