Sexual Assault Center History

1976

The Sexual Assault Center was created in 1976, by a group of women from SUNA (Saginaw United Neighbors Association) who began awareness efforts to gain support for a 24 hour crisis-intervention center for female rape victims. Through start-up grants, community support and passion to make a difference, this grass roots effort resulted in the formation of the Rape Crisis Center. The Rape Crisis Center was the first organized assistance for victims of violence in Saginaw County.

The Red Shawl
A grassroots publication from the founders of the Rape Crisis Center

• Volume 1, Issue 1 - September 1976
• Volume 1, Issue 2 - October 1976
• Volume 1, Issue 3 - November, 1976
• Volume 1, Issue 4 - December 1976
• Volume 2, Issue 2 - February 1977

1980

The center provided female companionship to victims in hospital emergency rooms, counseling, and support to victims during police interrogations. During these early years, the Rape Crisis Center received overwhelming financial and community support from the Law Enforcement Assistance Act (LEA), Community Block Grants, and the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners.

1984

In 1984, with services in jeopardy due to funding shortages, the Rape Crisis Center merged with Child and Family Service. It was later briefly known as the Victim Assistance Program, Sexual Assault Program and now the Sexual Assault Center. The merger afforded stable funding, a receptive parent agency, and a compliment of services to victims/survivors and their family members.

1985

In 1985, the Sexual Assault Center began receiving funding from the United Way of Saginaw County and VOCA (Victims of Crime Act). These funds stabilized staffing, treatment for victims and created new programs, such as court advocates and increased prevention activities.

1997

In 1997, staff from the Sexual Assault Center, local law enforcement, and area nurses began to meet to address the forensic examination needs of acute victims of sexual assualt. These meetings lead to the creation of SART (Sexual Assault Response Team). SART was acquired by the Sexual Assault Program in 2001, and sexual assault nurse examiners began providing services on August 1st of that year.

2006

In an effort to celebrate 30 years of Service the Sexual Assault Center celebrated the courage of those who took the steps toward a community free of sexual violence. The celebration brought together many of the founding mothers of the Rape Crisis Center. What a journey!

Today

The Sexual Assault Center provides crisis intervention, outpatient therapy, legal advocacy, and sexual assault nurse examinations to those traumatized by sexual assault/abuse, as well as prevention services within the schools and to the community. Annually, the Sexual Assault Program serves over 5,000 community members.