Oct 12

Oct 12 Celebrating 50 Years Of Care Against Domestic Violence

Thoughts From Christine Cooley On The 50th Anniversary Of The Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Center

By Christine Cooley // Manager, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center

**Christine Cooley, MSN, RN, SANE-A, FNE-A/P**
**Manager, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center University of Maryland Capital Region Health**

We honored such a monumental milestone with great pride as the 50th anniversary of the Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Center. It was humbling to see all the community partners, survivors, volunteers, hospital and administrative staff, and elected officials who showed up not only that evening but have continuously shown up for the last 50 years. That evening far exceeded the expectation we envisioned as our targeted outcome which was to commemorate and rejuvenate the support for the center and ultimately our survivors.

What started as a small sexual assault center has grown into a place where not only victims of sexual assault can receive all the assistance they need to recover, overcome, and persevere from this level of trauma but victims of violence that can occur at any stage in life. Each year the center sees 1000’s of victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, strangulation, elder abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking and the list continues to grow as the need of the clients served continues to grow. The survivors range from several months to over 90 years old; no one is turned away, and everyone is believed.

This journey would have been impossible without the initial vision of staff and State Representative Steny Hoyer and the continued support of University of Maryland Capitol Region Health and multiple community partners and elected officials. With all of these multifaceted partnerships, the center will continue to expand over the next 10 years to not only help victims at our center but also become the model that centers across Maryland and the United States to serve and educate their communities.

Each year we see growth in the number of clients served during their crisis, but in the months and years following the initial encounter. In addition, we are gearing up to expand our hospital and community education program so that everyone knows what services are available and what rights they have as a victim and survivor. The goal is that when they are ready for assistance they know we are here and ready to help in a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment where they will be heard. We want to be the soft place they land when they feel life has pushed them down. Together WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, one victim, one person at a time. It takes the community working as a team to make the difference that will help those in need do more than just survive but heal.

More from the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center:

Q&A Session with Dr. Delaine Smith-Clark

Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault Center Celebrates 50th Anniversary