Community collaboration transforms support for sexual assault survivors

The Help Advocacy Center in Lawton, established through the collaboration of Fort Sill's SHARP program and Marie Detty's New Directions, provides immediate and comprehensive support for sexual assault survivors. The center addresses previous accessibility issues by offering state-of-the-art forensic exams conducted by highly trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) and ensuring victim privacy and comfort. With a streamlined process that includes a single hotline number and an on-call schedule for SANE nurses, the center reduces the need for victims to repeatedly recount their experiences. The partnership also involves coordinated efforts in advocacy, donations, and training, benefiting both military and civilian communities. Efforts are ongoing to recruit and train more forensic nurses, enhancing the center’s capacity. Community involvement, including volunteer victim advocates, is encouraged to further support and improve the response to sexual violence.