ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Editor's note: This article contains information on sexual assault/violence.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and a regional health organization is finding a way to honor survivors.
On Tuesday, April 2, UnityPoint Health placed almost 150 flags on the lawns of its Quad Cities campuses to honor sexual assault survivors. 119 flags were placed at the Rock Island hospital campus with 29 at Bettendorf. The flags represent survivors who sought help and treatment at UnityPoint in 2023.
"We've slowly been increasing every year, and we just want people to know that we're here for them, we're here to take care of them," UnityPoint sexual assault coordinator Jennifer Green said.
According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), over 433,000 people in the United States are sexually assaulted every year. One out of every six women in America has experienced either an attempted or completed rape. For men, one out of every 33 are impacted.
Green hopes the flags not only honor the survivors but also raise awareness about the resources available at UnityPoint.
"Some people don't have a lot of support in their life," she said. "When something tragic like sexual assault happens, we want them to know that we are here for them, we can help them. We want to make sure that they are able to start on their healing journey."
UnityPoint Health has a team of trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) who help survivors of all ages seeking treatment at its facilities. SANE nurses receive additional training on trauma-informed care and medical-forensic examination, helping survivors have a safe experience while receiving care. In addition, they coordinate regular meetings with all disciplines at UnityPoint (i.e. medical, legal, advocacy) to discuss survivor response services.
SANE nurses provide the following care for survivors:
- Emotional support
- Physical examination and wellness check
- Collection of medical-forensic evidence
- Assistance with reporting the crime to police, when requested (mandatory reporting for children)
- Assistance with concerns about sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy
- Assistance with safety planning
- Development of a medical follow-up plan
SANE nurses will also help survivors with follow-up care and come up with a plan after the initial visit. They can also provide testimony in court.
If you have experienced sexual assault or violence, resources are available. RAINN offers 24/7 support online at online.rainn.org or by calling (800) 656-4673. Other crisis services from RAINN can be found here. UnityPoint Health also has a list of resources available for those who have experienced sexual assault/violence.
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