BROWARD COUNTY, FL - April is National Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to speak out and support victims of sexual assault and child abuse. According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, every 92 seconds a person experiences sexual assault in the United States. One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. Here in Broward, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported 579 rapes in 2017. According to the National Children's Alliance, nearly 700,000 children are abused in the United States annually.
When it comes to sexual assault and child abuse, silence is not an option. Broward County’s Nancy J. Cotterman Center (NJCC) can provide services in a safe, non-threatening environment for victims of sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking and their supportive family members. The professionals at NJCC are specially trained to provide crisis intervention and counseling as well as forensic medical exams and child protection services. Services are available to adult and child victims and non-offending family members at no charge.
Services include:
- Crisis Support - 24/7 crisis services to victims of sexual violence, human trafficking, child sexual abuse and trauma, and family members who have been impacted by these crimes
- Child Protection Team - 24/7 services to victims of child abuse and multi-disciplinary collaboration to ensure child wellbeing and safety.
- Counseling - Trauma-focused mental health services to victims of child abuse, sexual violence and human trafficking and their non-offending family members.
- Medical - 24/7 forensic medical exams for victims of sexual violence, child abuse and human trafficking and medical consultations.
“As a community, we should support sexual assault and child abuse victims and understand that it's never their fault,” said Ana Ferrer, Human Services Administrator. “The Nancy J. Cotterman Center unconditionally supports survivors and helps them heal.” Last year, more than 4,000 victims came to NJCC for help.
Attached is an April Event Calendar of special programs and workshops that focus on sexual assault awareness and child abuse. For more information, contact the Nancy J. Cotterman Center at 954-357-5775 or the 24-Hour Sexual Assault Helpline at 954-761-RAPE.
