44 Gift of Giving
Ponte Vedra Recorder ·September 24, 2015
Non-profit spotlight: Betty Griffin House
Betty Griffin House is the only
center in St. Johns County that has
been providing free services to
all victims of domestic and sexual
abuse for the past 25 years. Betty
Griffin House currently provides a
wide range of services within St.
Johns County that includes Safe &
Secure Shelter, 24-Hour Hotline,
Sexual Assault Recovery Services,
Rape Crisis Unit, Confidential Counseling, Transitional Housing, Support
Groups, Peace Club, Legal Assistance, Court/Individual Advocacy,
Community Education/Training and
Thrift Shoppes which are used as
a resource for participants and a
source of funds from community
donations.
The primary purpose of the
agency is to provide holistic services
that directly relate to the victims’
experience of abuse which will
increase safety and security for both
the victim and the family. As a full
service domestic and sexual abuse
center, Betty Griffin House provides
information and referral, a 24-hour
crisis hotline, court advocacy, civil
legal representation, free HIV testing
and other support services to shelter and outreach participants. Betty
Griffin House also provides a Sexual
Assault Recovery Program for advocacy, service management, legal representation, rape crisis unit forensic
exams, advocacy coordination, and
crisis counseling services. In addition, Betty Griffin House community
educators provide primary prevention education on domestic abuse
and sexual assault in the community
and St. Johns County School District
K-12, and local colleges.
Betty Griffin House is a dual
domestic violence and rape crisis
center with 24 hour sexual assault
hotline, crisis intervention and medical and criminal justice accompaniment. The Rape Crisis Unit provides
for the needs of rape victims in an
area separate from the Emergency
Room. Betty Griffin House’s crisis
hotline advocates call a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) whenever there is a request for a rape
exam. Exams are performed by a
SANE that specializes in the delicate
task of collecting forensic evidence
while maintaining the dignity of the
victim.
As part of its sexual assault program, Betty Griffin House maintains
a Rape Crisis Hotline and Sexual Assault Response Advocates. When an
advocate meets a victim at the unit,
she offers crisis counseling and referrals, which can make a huge difference to a woman in understanding her rights. Then an advocate
follows up with the victim within
24-48 hours to offer emotional support and/or supportive services to
the victim or the victim’s family.
The Betty Griffin House Thrift
Shoppes in Julington Creek and
on Anastasia Island help provide
ongoing support to our mission and
allow us to provide services for free
to all victims of domestic and sexual
abuse. Additionally, donated items
help support victims rebuilding their
lives.
For more information visit www.
bettygriffinhouse.org. If you or
someone you know is being abused,
call our 24-hour crisis hotline at
(904) 824-1555.
New PVB event benefits Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
Baptist Health and Borland Groover Clinic announced this month that they will be serving as
Platinum Sponsors of our First Annual Bottoms
Up for CCFA to raise money for the Crohn’s &
Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). The event
will take place Weds., Oct. 7, at Pusser’s Bar &
Grille, 816 A1A N., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Joining
them in sponsoring the event are Entera Health
and Smart Pharmacy.
Bottoms Up is an event tied to Take Steps Jacksonville which occurred last May 16 at Riverside
Park. Take Steps walks are held in 145 communities nationwide and have succeeded in bringing
together over 100,000 people and raised close to
$32 million to help further the mission of CCFA.
Jacksonville’s goal was to raise just under $45,000
and Bottoms Up will help the organization to
meet that commitment.
Tickets to Bottoms Up are $25 in advance and
$30 at the door and include hors d’oeuvres and
adult beverages plus music by Ryan Creary. Tickets are available in advance at http://online.ccfa.
org/jaxbottom