Sexual Assault
Rape Crisis Center
Crisis Hotline 1 (800) 684- 3802
Free Individual and Group Therapy
Professional counselors for sexual assault and domestic violence available. Counselors are also available to assist family or significant others to understand and deal with the impact of sexual assault.
Our services are confidential.
Call us at 985-732-4961 to learn what we can do for you.
Staff
Terri McMillan, SSC, Social Services Counselor
(985) 735-0160
Dana Walker, RPE Coordinator
(985) 735-0160
Leslie Holmes, Victim Services Coordinator
(985) 322-2085
Bobbie Kimbrell, Victim Services Coordinator
(985) 735-0160
Terri Brignac, LPC
(985) 735-0160
Vicki Taylor, Office Assistant
(985) 322-2085
What to do after a sexual assault:
Get to a place where you feel safe.
Preserve Evidence
AVOID bathing, showering, douching or changing clothes.
AVOID disturbing the crime scene; save all clothing and items involved.
AVOID drinking anything or smoking cigarettes until after you have been examined.
Even if you have done these things, you could still have an exam and evidence may be found up to 96 hours after an assault.
Get Help
Seek medical attention for all injuries at an emergency room.
Call the Washington Parish Sexual Assault Center Line at (985) 732-4961
A volunteer rape escort will:
Meet you at the hospital
Stay with you throughout the medical examination
Stay with you during your conversation with the police
Provide support to ease your pain
Bring a change of clothing if possible. Law enforcement may ask to use the clothes you are wearing for evidence.
Call 911 if you want Police involvement - even if you don’t want to file charges, evidence can be collected and held for a year. You can file an informational report that may help police locate your attacker.
Emotional Recovery
Each person responds differently to a sexual assault; yet there are many common reactions. If you have been assaulted, you are likely to be highly emotional and experience shock. You may experience guilt, shame or embarrassment. As a rape victim, you need a sympathetic person to help you express your fears and mixed emotions. Therapy with a trained counselor can hasten your full recovery. Like many victims, you may go through the following phases:
First Phase: shock, disbelief, incoherence, helplessness, fear,
Second Phase: withdrawal, indifference, denial, false appearance of recovery
Third Phase: depression, bitterness, a return to emotional feelings felt in the first phase, possible abuse of drugs and alcohol, suicidal thoughts and feelings
Fourth Phase: feelings of self-worth and control of one’s life return
What you need to know
Sexual assault is any type of unwanted sexual contact.
Sexual assault is an act of anger/aggression- not one of passion. You did not turn him on.
You are not to blame. If your family and friends do not believe and support you, call someone who will. Crisis Hotline (985) 732-4961.
Sexual assault is an extremely traumatic experience. You may experience severe mood swings from anger to depression. You may feel “dirty”, guilty or afraid.
Give yourself permission to grieve. Something horrible has happened to you. Do not expect to be back to normal or forget about the rape within a couple of days. It takes time. Give yourself that time.
Although you had no control over being sexually assaulted, you do have control over your recovery and life. Get help!
We Care About You
People who suffer from rape or sexual assault often feel alone and that no one really understands or can help them.
The Washington Parish Sexual Assault Crisis Center has, however, helped many people overcome the pain and trauma associated with sexual assault.
Our services are confidential. Call us at (985) 732-4961 to learn what we can do for you. We know you are faced with a lot of hard work in pulling your life together. Please let us help.
Whether the assault is done by a stranger, friend, or relative makes no difference. No one has the right to rape or molest you.
Counseling Services
You may receive free individual and group therapy by professional counselors trained specifically to help you recover your confidence, feelings of self-worth and sense of control of your life. Counselors are also available to assist family or friends to understand and deal with the impact of your sexual assault.
Professional staff and trained volunteers are available to:
Provide information and answer questions about the legal process.
Monitor your case’s progress through the court system and let you know at regular intervals what is happening.
Explain and help you apply for financial assistance from the Louisiana Crime Victim’s Reparation Fund to reimburse you for lost wages, counseling, or medical bills caused by your assault.
Provide information programs for community organizations, schools, clubs, churches, and groups.
Resources for Survivors and Families
ADAPT, INC 216 Memphis St., Bogalusa, LA 70427 Phone: 985-732-4961
STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness & Response) 24/7 Hotline: 855-435-STAR (7827) www.star.ngo
Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault 24/7 Hotline: 888-995-7273 https://lafasa.org
Metro Centers for Community Advocacy 24/7 Hotline: 504-837-5400 www.mccagno.org
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) 24/7 Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673) www.rainn.org
211 or VIALINK VIALINK provides information & referrals for help locating resources & services. 24/7 Phone: 2-1-1 or 504 -269-2673 TEEN TEXTLINE : 504-777-EASE (3272) www.vialink.org
Louisiana Domestic Violence 24/7 Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Stalking 24/7 Hotline: 800-621-HOPE (4673)
Rafael de Castro, Executive Director for LAFASA, presents Rusty Fornea, ADAPT Executive Director, with the Program of the Year Award.
ADAPT, Inc. Receives Program of the Year Award
ADAPT, Inc. received the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LAFASA) Program of the Year Award for its work as the Washington Parish Sexual Assault Center (WPSAC). This award recognizes a center that has done excellent work in the field of sexual violence prevention and response. Rusty Fornea, Executive Director, along with Dana Walker, RPE Coordinator, and Victim Services Coordinators Leslie Holmes and Bobbie Kimbrell were on hand to accept the award at a ceremony held in Baton Rouge, LA.
WPSAC’s fully accredited center provides a wide array of services in Washington Parish. A 24/7 Crisis Hotline is manned to provide immediate services for victims of sexual assault and/or domestic violence. The phone number for the hotline is (985) 732-24961. Additional services include individual and group counseling, hospital escort, law enforcement accompaniment, judicial accompaniment, victim advocacy, victim reparations, emotional support, and prevention education. All services are provided free of charge. For more information contact ADAPT at (985) 735-0160.
ADAPT, Inc. Partners with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS)
SLLS has joined the team at ADAPT in Franklinton. L-R Paula Charles, Managing Attorney; Tiffany Whitley, Attorney; Casey Hardaway, Summer Intern; Emma Dixon, SLLS Board Member; Rusty Fornea, ADAPT Executive Director and WP Council.
ADAPT, Inc./Washington Parish Sexual Assault Center (WPSAC) is working in partnership with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS) to provide free services to residents in Washington Parish. ADAPT maintains an office in Bogalusa which is located at 216 Memphis Street, with a satellite office located at 1007 Cleveland Street in Franklinton. ADAPT provides a comprehensive center that offers advocacy, prevention and intervention services in the areas of sexual violence, substance abuse, and other problem behaviors of children and adults. SLLS maintains office hours at ADAPT’s Franklinton Office every Monday - Wednesday from 9:00-Noon. SLLS fights for fairness for vulnerable people. They provide free, civil legal aid to low-income people in six offices, across 22 parishes throughout southeast Louisiana.
Sexual Assault Center Opens New Location in Franklinton
Rusty Fornea, Executive Director at ADAPT, Inc., cuts the ribbon signifying the opening of the ADAPT satellite office in Franklinton. Partners gathered to show support.
ADAPT, Inc./Washington Parish Sexual Assault Center (WPSAC) is excited to announce the opening of it’s new location at 1007 Cleveland Street in Franklinton. WPSAC has serviced the needs of victims and their families of sexual assault and domestic violence in Washington Parish since 1990. The addition of the Franklinton location will enhance the availability of services throughout our parish.
Services offered to victims of sexual assault include but are not limited to: 24/7 crisis hotline, victim advocacy, law enforcement and hospital accompaniment, criminal justice accompaniment, assistance with protective orders, individual and group counseling, assistance with victim reparations, and more. Counseling and referral services are offered to victims of domestic violence. All services are provided FREE of charge.
ADAPT partners with many agencies to offer the very best services. Some partners who were present at the grand opening of the Franklinton Office include: Warren Montgomery, District Attorney; Shea Penton, Assistant District Attorney; Tommie Sorrell, District Attorney’s Office; Brent Jones, WPSO Chief Civil Deputy; Mitchell Murphy, WPSO; Geoff Crowe, WPSO; Paula Charles, Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (SLLS); Theresa Robertson, SLLS; Camille Kinsey, SLLS; Rafael Castro, LAFASA; Peter Sullivan, Riverside Medical Center; Jimmy Seibert, Riverside Medical Center; Tren Garbo, Our Lady of Angels Hospital; Linda Mizell, Representative Malinda White’s Office; Penny Jones, Senator Beth Mizell’s Office; Dawn Hawkins, Capital District Law Enforcement Planning Council; Johnny D. Crain, Clerk of Court; Richard Thomas, Jr., Parish President; Donna Graham, Parish Government; Terry Morgan, Parish Government; Ken Wheat, Parish Government; Jimbo Stevenson, Washington Parish Assessor; Sherry Martin, Assessor’s Office; Chase Anderson, Anderson’s Law Firm; Sheila Palmisano, Anderson’s Law Firm. Representatives from ADAPT that were present include: Rusty Fornea, Leslie Holmes, Pam Helton, Tracy Gill, Dana Walker, Suzette Nielson, Tiffany Crain, and Terri McMillan.
The Washington Parish Sexual Assault Center has helped many people overcome the pain and trauma associated with sexual assault. Our services are confidential, call us at 985-732-4961 to learn what we can do to help. Whether the assault is done by a stranger, friend, or relative makes no difference. No one has the right to sexually assault you.
If you have questions or would like to set up an appointment please contact us: Franklinton - 1007 Cleveland Street, (985) 322-2085; Bogalusa - 216 Memphis Street, (985) 735-0160; 24/7 Crisis Hotline – (985) 732-4961; visit us on the web at www.adaptwp.org then click on sexual assault link or email us at info@adaptwp.org.