Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA), is pleased to announce that the organization is the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Windmill Foundation, which will be used to fund outreach, education and training to the public health, medical communities, and first responders on the medical needs of sexual assault and interpersonal violence victims. This outreach will support the activities of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) by working to advocate for assault victims’ medical rights.
Data gathered by NOVA over a four-year period revealed that only 23 percent of patients seen by a forensic nurse sought post-assault counseling services and only 26 percent sought out a legal advocate. It is NOVA’s hope that direct outreach and increased awareness education will lead to the early identification of survivors in a variety of care settings, increase the likelihood of earlier treatment and subsequently prevent chronic health issues that may arise after a sexual assault takes place.
NOVA
will provide training to a wide array of healthcare professionals and first
responders, since they are often the first point of contact a victim of sexual
assault or interpersonal violence will have prior to disclosing the abuse they have suffered. Outreach efforts will target urgent care facilities, pediatric, obstetrics and gynecology practices, drug, alcohol and mental health providers, EMS paraprofessionals and members of law enforcement, with a focus on providing trauma-informed, victim-sensitive responses.
“For nearly 40 years, NOVA has provided high quality, victim-centered services and prevention programs in schools and the community, as well as training for professionals,” said Tarah Sellers, Director of
Client Services, NOVA. “This grant will allow us to build upon our work to assist and counsel victims of sexual assault.”
About NOVA:
Network of Victim
Assistance (NOVA) supports, counsels and empowers victims of sexual assault and
other serious crimes in Bucks County and works to prevent and eliminate
violence in society through advocacy, training, community education and
prevention programs. Founded in 1974, NOVA is a non-profit 501(c)(3),
community-based organization operating out of three offices in Fairless Hills,
Jamison and Perkasie. Services are made possible through the financial support
of federal, state and local government grants and contracts, corporations,
foundations and private donations. All contributions are tax deductible to the
extent provided by law. For more information, go to www.NOVABucks.org.
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