Lawton’s new SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Exam Center opened earlier this month.
The project was 18 months in the making and was made possible through the work of the HELP Advocacy Center Team, comprised of several community, county and city partners, city officials said in a news release.
Currently, victims of sexual assault must visit several facilities after an assault to seek medical, advocacy and law enforcement services, according to the news release. The new center encompasses all components under one roof.
The SANE Exam Center is equipped with a waiting area, an advocacy center, a kitchen, two full bathrooms and an exam room.
“If the victim wants to have a rape exam, they will come here,” said Ashley Chapman, sexual assault program coordinator for Marie Detty’s New Directions. “We have four SANEs who volunteer their time and provide that component to the post-assault examination.”
The center’s location is not being disclosed to the public. Not only will this protect the victim from the perpetrator, but it will also protect them from any guilt or shame they may feel.
“Sexual assault is never the answer,” Chapman said. “Unfortunately for victims, they second-guess themselves and may think it was their fault, so there is a lot of embarrassment there. We don’t want to broadcast that this is where someone is coming for something like this.”
The main components of the center are already in place, according to the news release. Now, the focus shifts to creating a peaceful, comforting environment for survivors.
The team is asking for donations for the center to bring peace and comfort to the survivors that come through the door.
The team has created an Amazon wish list with specific items for anyone wanting to donate items to the center. In addition to items on the list, donations of travel-sized toiletries or monetary donations are welcome. A link to the list can be found at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2Z7A7C6GYKO88?ref_=wl_fv_le.
For more details, contact a HELP Advocacy Center team member at helpadvocacycenterofSWOK@gmail.com.