In 1977, two survivors of sexual assault recognized an unmet need in Washington County and established the Rape Crisis Center (RCC), run solely by volunteers with no budget. They offered 24-hour in-person advocacy for victims who were filing police reports and undergoing medical attention. In 1998 RCC received its first grant to hire an Executive Director, a Volunteer Coordinator and part-time Case Manager. In 2000 the agency acquired its first permanent home and began offering psycho-educational support groups. In 2001 the name was changed to the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) to reflect a broader scope of crime victims who could be served. In 2004 SARC implemented a free mental health program for adolescent and adult survivors of sexual assault with no health insurance as well as our school-based prevention curriculum. The final achievements for the Center were the recent development of programs that are designed to meet the specific needs of Spanish speaking survivors as well as child victims of human trafficking.
The Center, located in Washington County, remains a unique fixture today in Oregon as one of only two remaining stand-alone non-profits dedicated to serving survivors of sexual assault. Washington County is a study in contrasts. The affluence of many hides the poverty of others. The county covers the extremes from the high tech corridor to migrant labor camps within 724 square miles with a population reaching 500,000 residents.
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