SEXUAL ABUSE COUNSELING NETWORK NOW OPEN 24 HOURS

The Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence (SEMO-NASV) will achieve its goal of providing round-the-clock service to victims of sexual assault when it officially opens its new center at 63 Doctors Park Sunday.

An open house will be held from 2-4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The new facility was the result of hard work by a group of dedicated volunteers said Tammy Gwaltney, president of SEMO-NASV. Many of the volunteers were from medical, law enforcement and social service fields.

Volunteers acquired donations from individuals and groups who recognized the need for a sexual assault advocacy group to serve victims in Cape Girardeau County, A major donation came from Dr. Jonathan Thomas, who has worked with the group since its inception nearly a year ago. Thomas donated over half his clinic so that victims of sexual violence can get counseling and exams.

"It has been a dream of a lot of people in this area that there would be a center dedicated to helping children who have been sexually molested and adults who have been sexually assaulted," Gwaltney said. "With the help of numerous people throughout Southeast Missouri we now have that center."

The network will coordinate services ranging from crisis intervention to advocacy to forensic exams to follow-up counseling for victims of sexual crimes. A team of specialists which includes nurses and physicians, counselors and law enforcement, will be available 24 hours, seven day a week to assist victims.

For information about the network write the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, P.O. Box 1341, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63701, or call (573) 334-8802.