Montgomery County Creates Guide on How to Access Sexual Assault Services During COVID-19 Pandemic

Montgomery County’s Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (VASAP), part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, and the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) have produced a guide on how to access sexual assault forensic exams (also known as SAFEs or “rape kits”), services, and counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sexual assault is a traumatic experience that can leave survivors concerned about what they should do next. The questions and fears that survivors have after an assault are often overwhelming and scary, and the additional stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic have created new barriers to getting help. Help for sexual assault survivors has continued, even in the face of stay at home orders.

The guide provides survivors with information on what to expect during a forensic exam and how services have been redesigned to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. The informational guide is available here.  

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