Media Release

​ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Commission and UF Health Shands Hospital have established a private room for forensic services for victims of sexual assault. This room is scheduled to open in late 2016 and will be located in the same building as the UF Health Shands Emergency Room/Trauma Center (1515 S.W. Archer Rd, Gainesville).

The collaboration was spearheaded by the Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center Advisory Board, with Alachua County Commissioners agreeing to fund the $32,000 construction costs to renovate the room at Shands.

Alachua County Community Support Services Director Claudia Tuck said, “Commissioners, advocates, nurses and other community members who make up the Advisory Board felt it was time to make this issue a priority.”

Currently, adult victims of sexual assault use local emergency rooms for treatment and collection of forensic evidence. The new room is expected to significantly reduce the amount of time a victim will spend waiting to be seen. The collaboration also supports funding for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) nurses. SANE nurses are specially trained to create a supportive environment while providing high-quality forensic services.

The Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center Advisory Board has openings on the board. Those interested in applying for the Board should visit the Alachua County Advisory Board website and scroll to the Board application.

For more information, contact Claudia Tuck at 352-264-6704 or ctuck@alachuacounty.us.