April 14, 2004

PRESS RELEASE            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 CONTACT:                 Linda M. Cody
                                    Director Public Relations/Marketing
                                    724-656-4238
                                    FAX:  724-656-4190
                                    lcody@jamesonhealthsystem.com
 

Jameson Health System - SAFE in Lawrence County

New Castle, PA - April has been designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  We are SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner) in Lawrence County as a result of a grant received from the Caroline Knox Foundation.  This grant provides children (ages 3-12), who represent 50% of the sexual assault victims in Lawrence County with specially trained nurse practitioners that conduct sexual assault exams, collect forensic evidence, provide victim-sensitive support and testify in court proceedings.  The SAFE nurse does not work alone, but works with a team of professionals from the following groups:  law enforcement, District Attorney’s office, Crisis Shelter of Lawrence County, Children and Youth Services, mental health and the hospital staff.

Previous funding for the SAFE Program was exhausted resulting in the discontinuation of the SAFE Program last year.  Since then, the Caroline Knox Foundation awarded a grant to the Children’s Advocacy Center, a subsidiary of Jameson Health System, to bring this service back to the children of our community.  Monies from the grant will also be used for educational/training activities for the SAFE nurses and developing informational material for the public.

 We are continuing our efforts to secure additional funding which will assist in continuing to meet the needs of adult sexual assault victims in the county.

SAFE Nurses are faced with one of the more difficult types of cases that the
medical profession as well as the criminal justice system must deal with.  Sexual assaults of children and adults are among the toughest cases to prosecute but the special skills and knowledge of the SAFE nurse can help prosecutors and juries with critical medical evidence that may help decide a case.
       Currently, Children’s Advocacy Center/Jameson Health System employs three specially trained SAFE nurses who provide these sexual assault services to both children and adults in Lawrence County.  The nurses are on-call 24 hours a day, 7days a week. 
     The Jameson Health System continues the tradition of providing quality health care to the people of our community.

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