REAL Magazine

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC)

Saving Lives Today and Tomorrow…

By Tracy Eisnaugle

As the holiday season is upon us and we share past traditions and create new lasting memories with family and friends we must also be aware that the increased financial and emotional stresses of the season can lead to an increase in domestic and sexual violence. The Suncoast is fortunate to have the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, Inc. (SPARCC) whose mission is to provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, and to promote a violence free community through awareness and education.

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, Inc. was founded as a non-profit in 1979, and is celebrating thirty years of providing free and confidential services to Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to establish power and control over an intimate partner, often leading to the threat or use of violence. Domestic violence includes physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse and can occur in all socioeconomic classes, racial and ethnic backgrounds, age groups, religious affiliations, and sexual orientations. In the state of Florida 113,123 domestic violence cases were reported last year, including 180 deaths at the hands of an intimate partner or relative.

SPARCC offers a comprehensive list of programs and services focused on serving victims and breaking the cycle of violence. Their programs include an emergency shelter available for victims and their dependents, 24 hour crisis hotline, crisis counseling, safety planning, children services, transitional housing, hospital and court advocacy, case and service management, information and referral services, and professional training. Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center provides educational presentations free of charge to local schools and community youth programs. As well as providing professional education about both domestic and sexual violence to law enforcement agencies, health care staff, social services and human resource professionals. SPARCC is actively engaged in the primary prevention of domestic and sexual violence through goals and activities aimed at addressing and changing social norms that support violence against women in our community. SPARCC truly believes that a violence-free society is attainable and they are committed to breaking the cycle through awareness and education.

Holiday pressures combined with the current economic downturn can serve as triggers for domestic violence and there are often more people seeking shelter and services during this time of year. For more information about the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, Inc. and their three outreach facilities, the Treasure Chest resale shop, or to make a gracious donation please visit their website at sparcc.net.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship call the 24 hour crisis hotline at 941.365.1976.

SPARCC
2139 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34237
941.365.0208
www.sparcc.net
24-Hour Hotline:
941.365.1976

SPARCC STATISTICS
Fiscal Year 2007-2008

Emergency Shelter
SPARCC provided 5,005 shelter days to a total of 168 women and 120 children.

Counseling
10,055 hours of individual and group counseling were provided to 2,970 victims through SPARCC shelter and outreach offices.

Advocacy
SPARCC advocates and trained volunteers helped 341 survivors file petitions for protection orders and accompanied 363 survivors to injunction hearings.

Hotline
7,543 hotline callers were provided with crisis counseling and needs assessments. 9,512 referrals were made.

Hospital Team
Volunteers and staff responded to 85 emergency calls from area hospitals to meet with sexual and domestic violence victims in order to provide support and information regarding SPARCC services.

Children & Youth Program
275 children were provided with individual and group counseling, and more than 11,000 school children received violence prevention education.

Community Education
453 presentations were provided in the community to more than 12,000 people.