Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Victims of sexual assault will soon have specialized help available at Kosciusko Community Hospital.
The "Center of Hope," a sexual assault response team, will be made up of four individuals: a nurse with special training in dealing with sexual assault victims; a police officer, usually the officer who responds to the call; a therapist; and a victim's advocate.
Deb Pennington, coordinator for the center, said they will need 15 to 20 volunteers to serve as advocates but believes that number is optimistic.
"I'll take whatever I can get," she said.
Pennington will provide the 16 hours of training necessary for volunteers.
The victim's advocate will act as the victim's personal assistant and make sure all of the victim's rights are upheld.
Normally a victim is taken to the emergency room, but with the Center of Hope, she will be taken to the second floor of KCH.
Once there, the victim will receive specialized treatment and have the advantage of being away from the rest of the hospital patients.
"Everyone there is just for her," said Pennington.
Although no date has been set for the opening of the center, Pennington expects it is a few months away.
Lisa Eckert, former victim's advocate with the Kosciusko County prosecutor's office, began the project before accepting a job in Indianapolis. Eckert wanted to start the center because she believed there was a need for it in the county.
In 1996, when Eckert was still acting as victim's advocate, there were at least 13 cases of sexual violence, including battery and assault. Kim Finch, nursing supervisor at KCH, said that statistics often show that many victims of sexual crimes do not report them.
With Finch's help, Eckert wrote two grants - one for the operation of the center and one for purchasing equipment.
The grants were awarded by the state and federal governments.
The new equipment in the center, called a colposcope, analyzes wounds and assists in gathering a forensic study. The study can then be used by the prosecution to obtain a conviction.
One of the main reasons for organizing the program, according to Finch, was the lack of a county facility or program which could treat emotional as well as the physical needs of a sexual assault victim.
Anyone interested in becoming a victim's advocate should contact Kathy Hamman at 269-5531.
