The History of the Clay County Victim Services Center
In the mid-nineties there were about 10 to 14 rapes per year in Clay County, and a Sexual Assault Task Force was formed. The Task Force was comprised of law enforcement, state attorney’s office, Quigley House, and a private practice therapist. At the time children were being seen by the Children’s Crisis Center in Green Cove Springs, and it was decided it would be cost-prohibitive to open a facility in Clay County exclusively for adult exams.
About 2004, Children’s Crisis Center had a cut in funding and had to give up their space in Green Cove Springs. As a result, the children and families referred for forensic interviews and exams were sent to the main office on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville. The Task Force was still in place, and they began to look at ways to bring these services back into Clay County. The building that was originally used by Children’s Crisis Center was vacant. Meanwhile, adult reported rape cases had doubled. Many problems resulted from adults having to go to the Victim Services Center in Jacksonville. The distance traveled and the delay in getting services created further trauma for victims. It also increased travel time and decreased availability of the law enforcement personnel that had to accompany the victims to North Jacksonville and to Beach Boulevard.
In 2006 Assistant State Attorney Sam Garrison led the Task Force in putting together a proposal and presenting it to the Clay County Commissioners. The proposal laid out a plan for the creation of the Clay County Victim Services Center and requested that the county fund the Center’s start up costs and operating costs for the first year. The Commissioners were unanimous in their vote to support this effort. The County Manager negotiated a lease of the building that had been used by the Children’s Crisis Center. A three year lease was signed.
In the spring of 2006 a steering committee was formed. The task was to apply for 501c3 status with the state and with IRS. The lengthy application was approved in record time due to the detailed information put together by Esther Nichols. The Steering Committee became the Board of Directors. The original Board hired a medical director and a program director. The work then turned to furnishing the building and setting up the protocol with all the agencies involved. The Board was responsible for the oversight of the project. By September of 2006, the opening of the Clay County Victim Services Center was a few weeks away. A tremendous setback occurred when Dr. Whitworth, the Medical Director, passed away unexpectedly. He had been such an essential piece of the project; everyone involved with the Center was shocked. Fortunately for the Center, Dr. Ian Caccam had worked with Dr. Whitworth for about 8 years and accepted the Board’s offer to become the new Medical Director. After years of consideration and planning, the opening of the Center was set for October 1, 2006.
The Center has been in continuous service since that date. The mission has been refined and streamlined. The Clay County Victim Services Center has developed as a unique place in this County. The multidisciplinary approach to services for adults and children has become a model for the State of Florida. Our Center provides the space and atmosphere to promote cooperation between all the providers of sexual assault services in Clay County. The collaboration helps to increase the quality of services, to decrease trauma to victims, to improve prosecution rates, and to save money for the County.
