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Show Stressed rape crisis center qets funds from Lakeview By EDEN BODILY BOUNTIFUL-Lakeview Hospital officials announced Wednesday that they will donate payments received for examining rape victims to the Salt Lake Rape Crisis Center (SLRCC). Hospitals receive $ 1 00 per patient from law enforcement agencies agen-cies for gathering specimens to be used as evidence. "This is something our doctors and nurses wanted to do to support the Center, because they really believe the Center and its volunteers vol-unteers provide an invaluable service," ser-vice," said Ken Johnson, assistant administrator at Lakeview. Johnson acknowledged that the donation is "just a minimal amount. We see maybe 10 victims in a year, so it would amount to about $1,000 we're giving." To further fur-ther support SLRCC, he publicly encouraged other hospitals to donate do-nate as well. "I'd like to issue a challenge to other health care providers... to support the Rape Crisis Center... We hope they'll realize the importance impor-tance (of helping the center stay in business) and also provide the same support that we're giving," he said. SLRCC currently works with four other hospitals. Though Lakeview's approximately approx-imately $1,000 donation pales in comparison to the $25,000 in cuts SLRCC has taken this year from the Salt Lake County Department of Human Services, spokesmen were thrilled with the action. "We are extremely pleased with the gift and the challenge that Lakeview Hospital is making," said Christine Watters, director of SLRCC. "We're very pleased that the nurses and doctors felt strongly enough to do this," echoed Jamee Roberts, vice chair of the SLRCC Board of Directors. Meanwhile, while funds are being be-ing cut and gifts attempt to cover the loss, the number of local rapes is increasing dramatically. "In 1990, from January to June, my (rape) filings fil-ings are exactly the same as the entire en-tire case filings I made for all of 1989," said Bountiful Police Detective Detec-tive Paul Rapp, who handles only sex cases. Rapp attributed part of this increase in-crease to the success of SLRCC services. "A lot of (the increase in reported rapes) has to do with rape crisis's intervention... and their support of the victims, making it easier for them to report the crime," he said. A Lakeview press release said that so far, SLRCC has helped almost 50 percent more victims this year than in 1989. "The very service ser-vice being threatened (by funding cuts) is the one that's in increased demand," Watters said. Funds support a crisis line, 467-RAPE, 467-RAPE, and a mobile team that responds to the hospital within 20 minutes of notification to help rape victims "deal with the tremendous pain they're suffering and the trauma (they face)," Watters said. They also help the victim prepare for the ensuing medical exam, during dur-ing which 1 8 samples are collected from the victim's body to be used as evidence. Other SLRCC services, including prevention and education, were discontinued because of the funding cut Personnel were not cut, however. "We're all volunteer," Roberts said. "We have three paid staff members... it's an incredible bargain for the community to have non-paid people going into the hospitals and spending two and a half to five hours with a patient." Time requirements aren't quite so stringent for those manning the 24-hour 24-hour crisis line, because it can be connected to the volunteer's home phone. And Roberts said they're always open for volunteers. Community members interested in volunteering can contact Roberts or Watters at 467-7273. Training sessions will be held Aug. 17-19. |