TW: Sexual assault, rape
Planned Parenthood stands with survivors of sexual assault. We are committed to providing compassionate care and providing safe, nonjudgmental spaces for our patients. With April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we dedicate time to uplift survivors’ lived experiences, resources, and support available for survivors.
If you or someone you know needs immediate support, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (available 24/7) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
Sexual assault affects everyone. Every 68 seconds, someone in the US is sexually assaulted. We know that 9 out of every 10 rape victims are female and that women of color and transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people are more likely to experience sexual assault and rape. Indigenous women, in particular, are twice as likely to experience sexual assault/rape compared to all other races. We share this data to show the scope of the issue and drive us to change this landscape.
Everyone deserves access to the care and support they need and to be safe from harassment, abuse, and assault. At Planned Parenthood, we strive to prevent sexual assault by providing education and advocating for policies that will prevent sexual assault and support survivors.
We are also here to provide trauma-informed, compassionate care to survivors of sexual assault. When a survivor of sexual assault comes to Planned Parenthood, their provider will discuss the option to complete a sexual assault forensic medical exam with SART through a local hospital. The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) can perform an exam up to 120 hours (5 days) after the assault. SART can also connect the patient with law enforcement if they wish to pursue criminal proceedings, but patients can contact their local SART for an exam if they do not want to contact law enforcement for the exam.
We also provide patients with options for STI testing, PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV), emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, and birth control. Our Care Coordination team follows up to provide additional emotional support and resources that go beyond medical care. Since 2020, Care Coordination has worked with 759 sexual assault survivors from across our 3-county region to provide emotional support and connect them with resources and services that made the most sense for them and their journey. Alyssa Dawson, interim manager of the Care Coordination program, shares that “Whether patients are interested in counseling, legal, or emergency housing resources or simply need someone to process with, our Care Coordination team is here to meet our patients where they are at.”
No judgment. Just care.
Additional Resources:
Local-
Please visit planned.org/communityresourcesfor local resources by county for San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial.
National-
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National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
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