Employment

In the 1970’s several movements were occurring across the country such as the Women’s movement (equal rights, feminist movement), Rape Crisis Awareness, Civil Rights Movement, and Domestic Violence Awareness. In SC, we were on board and in pace with those efforts. The first rape crisis centers in SC were formed in Greenville and Charleston.

In 1977 People Against Sexual Assault (PASA) was created by a grass roots movement that began with people at Richland Memorial, USC and other groups. PASA was comprised of a group of concerned Columbia men and women who met regularly and discussed existing services for victims of sexual assault, identified gaps in the system and advocated for the needs of the victims. Several major accomplishments were achieved through PASA. One of its members worked successfully to develop a systematic procedure for handling sexual assault victims in Richland Memorial Hospital. Another major concern of the group was to increase the level of community awareness about the large numbers of people hurt by the crime of sexual assault in Columbia each year, its devastating psychological impact upon victims and their families, and the importance of a compassionate community response. A Rape Awareness Week and a public speakers bureau were two efforts organized by the group to improve community awareness.

In 1983 a group of women from PASA began actively meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a rape crisis center. The group applied for and received grant funding from the state health department, Richland County Council and funds generated from a USC theatre performance to start the center. They chose the name, Rape Crisis Network, to emphasize the network of services needed by victims of sexual assault.

In 1984 the Rape Crisis Network organized a board of directors, hired a part-time director and a Volunteer Coordinator.  Policies were established to prepare for service delivery and in August of 1984 the first volunteer training was offered. RCN was loaned beepers from Richland Memorial Hospital for the volunteers to use. In September RCN volunteers began providing hospital accompaniment to adult victims of sexual assault in Richland County.

•  1985        Expansion of services to Lexington County.

•  1987        Expansion of services to children and adolescents.

•  1989        Grant funding received to establish follow-up services. Expansion to Newberry Co

•  1991        Grant funding received to expand services for children and adolescents.

•  1993        Survivor Group Program established.

•  1997        Preventive Education Program for Adolescents implemented.

Volunteers have been the heart of the program ever since and although our mission has expanded we still, at our core, are here to provide crisis intervention 24-7 to sexual assault survivors 365 days a year. Our cadre of volunteers also includes a Board of Directors who gives of their time. They represent various corporate, legal, law enforcement, business, and educational entities from the community. The time of our volunteers along with in-kind donations from community partners allows the agency to continue its vital work.

The agency grew from simply being a network of sexual assault providers into a comprehensive sexual trauma service agency. However, the agency name did not appear to reach out to the many survivors of child sexual abuse or suggest educational and ongoing recovery services. In April of 2000, Rape Crisis Network changed its name to Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands to more accurately reflect our service arena and provide a clearer description of the mode of delivery of those services.