LAWTON — City officials pledged recently to provide funds for a proposed center to help victims of sexual assault find the support they need.
The Lawton City Council voted unanimously July 25 to approve a limited support agreement with the H.E.L.P. Advocacy Center of Southwest Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization that focuses on helping victims of sexual assault but may expand its services to include victims of domestic violence. The organization is planning to open a safe, trauma-informed center where sexual assault victims may receive care and support from several different agencies.
“From my understanding, there’s been a bit of a sloppy history in Lawton of providing these services,” said Acting City Manager John Ratliff. “It’s very critical that we do.”
He said Comanche County will also provide financial assistance for the H.E.L.P. Center.
The city will allocate up to $15,000 from the city manager’s contingency fund to support the H.E.L.P. Center’s operations, including utilities, rent, stipends for volunteers serving as sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE), supplies and incidental expenses. The allocation will depend on how much money is available in the contingency fund.
The H.E.L.P. Center will offer services from several different agencies and work to ensure that victims are served promptly, compassionately and efficiently during a difficult time, according to the agreement. The organization will provide the council with an annual report including the number of people who were served during the reporting period, as well as other information that might interest the council.
The center will give SANE nurses a place to help victims who need it, Ratliff said.
“We’re trying to get this up and running as soon as possible, and this money goes a long way in making that happen,” he said.