MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — Right now there is only one clinic in Middle Tennessee dedicated solely to sexual assault forensic exams, but that's about to change. The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Centeri n Murfreesboro is getting ready to open their SAFE clinic. They are having their ribbon cutting ceremony and open house Friday, February 22 at 11am.
Every 2 minutes another American is sexually assaulted and at a college level one in 5 women will experience sexual assault.
Sexual assault therapist Shelly Wright wants to combat those numbers.
"We need to focus on sexual assault as the problem that it is," said Shelly Wright, sexual assault therapist at the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center.
Through grants, they were able to expand their services. At this location, 1423 Kensington Square Court, there will now be an exam room, a sexual assault nurse examiner, advocates and therapists.
In Murfreesboro, survivors can go to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital to get sexual assault exams or next door to TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Symrna. This clinic's goal is to provide a more tranquil setting.
"We want this to be more trauma informed location for them," said Wright, "where they can get the care they need in environment that's more friendly to them."
The clinic should be fully up and running by the end of March, only during business hours. They plan to eventually be a 24/7 clinic within the next few months.
If you or someone you know needs assistance you can call the 24/7 hotline: Domestic Violence Crisis Line - (615) 896-2012 or Sexual Assault Crisis Line (615) 494-9262
