Violence Intervention and Prevention

Violence Intervention and Prevention Program  

Florida Department of Health in Putnam County is a Certified Sexual Violence Center and we are here to help you!

Our counselors/advocates assist with Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, and other victims of crime. Help is available to you 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. Contact us directly Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 386-326-3200. We are conveniently located at the Florida Department of Health in Putnam County, 2801 Kennedy Street, Palatka FL 32177.

For immediate assistance for sexual violence 24 hours a day 7 days per week, call the helpline number: 386-983-1358

It's about your safety! 

Your safety is important and making informed decisions about staying or leaving an abusive relationship is critical to your safety. You are the expert in your own life and the only one who knows what is right and safe for you. We have trained advocates who are dedicated to assisting you with finding options and developing your safety plan.

Services Provided: 

• 24 hour crisis intervention.
• Information, support, advocacy with law enforcement and the court system.
• Individual, Family, Group and Child therapy services.
• Victim advocacy within the legal, medical, social and economic systems.
• Assistance in obtaining injunctions for protection.
• Assistance with filing Crimes Compensation claims.

Sexual Battery Victims' Rights 

Anyone who has been the victim of a sexual crime needs compassion, sensitivity, and caring. Dealing with the feelings and issues resulting from the crime can be overwhelming and confusing. Services including hotline, crisis intervention and advocacy are available to you free of charge from your local certified rape crisis center.

• To have an advocate from a certified rape crisis center with you during the forensic examination.
• To be told of judicial proceedings and scheduling changes.
• To have information about the release of the offender from incarceration from a county or municipal jail, juvenile detention facility or residential commitment facility.
• To tell the prosecutor what you want to happen in the case.
• To request restitution.
• To give an oral or written impact statement.

Rape crisis centers are legally and ethically required to protect your confidentiality (Florida Statute 90.5035). Unless you specifically ask them in writing with your signature to release information about you, they will not.

Understanding Domestic Violence 

Domestic violence can affect anyone. If you are a victim of abuse, you are NEVER to blame - it is NOT your fault. The abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic or a combination of many types of abuse. Committing domestic violence is a choice made by the abuser!

What is Domestic Violence

It is a pattern of controlling behaviors - violence or threats of violence - that one person uses to establish power over an intimate partner in order to control that partner's actions and activities. Domestic violence is not a disagreement, a marital spat, or an anger management problem. Domestic violence is abusive, disrespectful, and hurtful behaviors that one intimate partner chooses to use against the other partner.

You may be experiencing domestic violence if your partner is doing any of these or other unwanted behaviors:

• Hurting you physically - slapping, hair pulling, strangling, hitting, kicking, grabbing, excessively squeezing or shaking, twisting your arms, burning you, or intentionally injuring you in any way
• Using your children against you
• Calling you names and hurting you emotionally
• Harming your pets
• Acting with extreme jealousy and possessiveness
• Isolating you from family and friends
• Threatening to commit suicide or to kill you
• Controlling your money
• Withholding medical help
• Stalking you
• Demanding sex or unwanted sex practices
• Hiding assistive devices
• Minimizing the destructive behavior
• Threatening to "out" you if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual or transgendered
• Controlling you with "that certain look in their eyes" or certain gestures

Resources 

Putnam County Sexual Violence Helpline: 386-983-1358

Florida Council Against Sexual Violence: 1-888-956-7273

Putnam County Sheriff's Office: 386-329-0800

Lee Conlee House Domestic Violence Center: 386-325-3141

Elder Helpline: 800-962-2873

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-784-2433

Florida Coalition Against Sexual Violence

Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

National Center on Elder Abuse

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network

National Institute for Mental Health