The Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act
On Wednesday October 28, 2009 State Representative Dan Stewart re-introduced the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act (HB 333). This bill will ensure that survivors of sexual assault receive comprehensive medical treatment following the assault in ALL hospital emergency rooms across the state. This comprehensive medical treatment includes: medically accurate counseling on emergency contraception and offering the medication to the survivor if she wishes to take it. an assessment of the risk of transmission of a sexually transmitted infection from the assault and offering any CDC recommended preventative treatments for these possible infections. counseling about the importance of follow-up care and referrals to any available community resources to help the survivor heal from the assault.
This bill is critical for survivors of sexual assault in Ohio. A 2007 survey showed that although most hospitals in Ohio are providing these services to sexual assault survivors, almost 20% of hospitals did not guarantee access to these services to survivors. This is unacceptable. Sexual assault happens all over our state, where a victim lives should not determine whether or not they will receive comprehensive treatment after the assault. For more information about the bill and legislative activities click on one of the links below. See video and read the written comments about the introduction of the bill from Representative Dan Stewart and Sondra Miller, Vice President of Community Engagement for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. Read supporter testimony delivered at the 2nd hearing for HB 333, from Sondra Miller, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Elizabeth Williams, Phyllis Carlsom-Riehm, ACTION OHIO Coalition for Battered Women, and Jennifer Yoder, The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Read opponent testimony delivered at the 3rd hearing for HB 333, from Mary Lally, Ohio Right to Life, Jim Tobin, Catholic Conference of Ohio, and Kristine Severyn, R.Ph., Ph.D. Read more supporter testimony from the 4th hearing for HB 333, from Becky Perkins, Butler County Rape Crisis Center, Kimberly Kroh, American Red Cross Rape Crisis Program from Stark County, Shelly Pinnell LISW-S, Katie Edwards M.S., Ohio Psychological Association, and Gary Dougherty, Planned Parenthood of Ohio. See the pictures from May 27th when we delivered more than 3100 postcards from all 99 State House districts across Ohio to members of the Ohio House of Representatives. Thank you to the more than 150 volunteers all across the state who helped make this possible! We need help now more than ever to put pressure on members of the Ohio House to pass this critical legislation, sign up to volunteer your time today.
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