Crisis Center Of Tampa Bay’s Rape Crisis Center exam room. Provided by CCTB 2023.
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The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has received $35,000 s to support the cost of youth sexual assault exams.
The crisis center says the funding from the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation will fill a gap that government funding doesn’t cover.
The funds will support the costs of forensic exams for individuals ages 13 to 17.
Each forensic exam costs the Crisis Center over $1,700 in total.
CEO Clara Reynolds says they get some government funding, but there is still a deficit for each exam.
“We’re fortunate we have funding from the county commission, we’re fortunate we have funding from the attorney general’s office at the state level. But again, we have to quilt all of this together to make it work for individuals.” Reynolds told WMNF.
The Center says there’s never any charge to the client for the exam.
“Nobody is ever charged. So, no matter who comes to us, no matter what time of day that is, there is no charge to the individual.” Reynolds said.
Last year, the Crisis Center provided sexual assault exams to 50 people between the ages of 13 and 17.