Victim Intervention Program/Rape Crisis Center focuses on sexual assault awareness

Published: 4/14/2014

This April, to coincide with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the VIP/Rape Crisis Center staff is focusing on education and increasing awareness about sexual assault.

The current process for medical forensic exams for Dallas County sexual assault victims originated at Parkland in 1973 and has functioned continuously for 40 years. The program began under the Dallas County Medical Examiner and was later transferred to Parkland.

Parkland is one of the three hospitals in Dallas County for sexual assault examinations for male and female victims, age 13 and older. Female sexual assault exams are provided in the OB/Gyn Intermediate Care Center (OB ICC) and male sexual assault exams are done in the main Emergency Department.

Responding to cases of alleged sexual assault in a timely manner is particularly important because of the associated time frame for collecting evidence. According to the law, rape kit evidence must be collected within 96 hours of the assault. When sexual assault victims are identified by staff, they are immediately taken to an exam room where the sexual assault exam process is initiated and the advocates are paged.

“Coming to the hospital can be emotionally challenging for victims after an assault. Our nurses, doctors and the advocates work together to address the victim’s emotional and physical needs,” said Melissa Reilly, Director of the VIP/Rape Crisis Center. “It truly is a team effort to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible for the victims. The excellent patient care provided at Parkland aids in the victim’s recovery.”

Advocates are on call around the clock to respond to sexual assault and family violence victims who are seen at Parkland. They can provide emotional support and help victims with shelter placements, protective orders, community resources and counseling.

The VIP/Rape Crisis Center staff also operates a crisis line and provides counseling services to victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse as well as secondary victims including non-offending parents, siblings and partners. Services are free and available to women, men, teens and children 4 years and older who live in Dallas County as well as Parkland employees.

For more information, contact the Victim Intervention Program/Rape Crisis Center at 214.590.2926. Back