COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than 460,000 people in 13 Ohio counties now have increased access to sexual assault services, thanks to a program administered through Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office.
DeWine says 49 counties now provide all core sexual assault services, and 38 counties offer some. One county — Clinton, in southern Ohio — provides little or no core services, he said. Services include the availability of a 24-hour crisis hotline and advocates who could respond to victims at a hospital.
“Quite frankly, we wish no one would ever have to use these services, but when someone is sexually assaulted, it is critical that survivors can find help close to home,” DeWine said.
DeWine formed the sexual services program last year after a survey found that 52 of Ohio’s 88 counties do not offer such services.
Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Champaign, Crawford, Fulton, Harrison, Holmes, Meigs, Monroe, Noble, Perry and Wyandot counties expanded their services in the past year.
A survey conducted last year found that 36 counties offered full services, 44 counties offered some core services, and eight counties offered little to no core sexual assault services, according to DeWine’s office.
A $65,000 grant to Ohio University’s Women’s Center assisted with expanding services to Perry and Meigs counties and increasing services in Athens County. Another $65,000 grant to Helpline of Delaware and Morrow Counties helped expand services into Wyandot and Crawford counties, DeWine said.
DeWine says the Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund was added to the 2014-2015 state operating budget.