Published on January 2, 2025 at 4:29 pm
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A nonprofit organization that provides assistance to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault is teaming up with a north St. Johns County hospital to expand its services.
The Betty Griffin Center already offers services for victims of sexual assault from its office in St. Augustine as well as through a partnership with UF Health St. Johns. Now, the nonprofit is expanding its services to Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns hospital near Nocatee.
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Hospitals are required by law to conduct a health exam on victims of sexual assault to assess medical needs and preserve DNA evidence of a perpetrator. But not all hospitals are able to provide in-house counseling from trained advocates and transitional housing.
Betty Griffin Center CEO Kelly Franklin says residents of the rapidly growing north side of the county now have access to these services closer to home.
“Through this partnership with Ascension St. Vincent’s St. Johns,” Franklin said, “assault survivors in that area will no longer have to drive across the county to St. Augustine to obtain these services.”
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In 2023, the Betty Griffin Center provided services to more than 1,000 people in St. Johns County through its emergency shelter, 24-hour hotline and counseling services.
If someone you know has been the victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, they can contact the Betty Griffin Center’s 24-hour help line at 904-824-1555 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
