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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, & community efforts.

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Violence Intervention and Prevention

Florida Coalition Against Sexual Violence Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Florida Department of Health in Putnam County

Victim Information and Prevention Program 

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

Our counselors/advocates assist with Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, victims of crime and Elder Abuse. 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

For immediate assistance after business hours call the after hours hotline 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 his eyes" or certain gestures

Elder Abuse 

Each year hundreds of thousands of older persons are abused, neglected, and exploited. Many victims are people who are older, frail, and vulnerable and cannot help themselves and depend on others to meet their most basic needs. Abusers of older adults are both women and men, and may be family members, friends, or "trusted others."

In general, elder abuse is a term referring to any knowing, intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult. Legislatures in all 50 states have passed some form of elder abuse prevention laws.

What defines elder abuse?

  • Physical Abuse-inflicting physical pain or injury on a senior, e.g. slapping, bruising, or restraining by physical or chemical means.
  • Sexual Abuse-non-consensual sexual contact of any kind.
  • Neglect-the failure by those responsible to provide food, shelter, health care, or protection for a vulnerable elder.
  • Exploitation-the illegal taking, misuse, or concealment of funds, property, or assets of a senior for someone else's benefit.
  • Emotional Abuse-inflicting mental pain, anguish, or distress on an elder person through verbal or nonverbal acts, e.g. humiliating, intimidating, or threatening.
  • Abandonment-desertion of a vulnerable elder by anyone who has assumed the responsibility for care or custody of that person.
  • Self-neglect-characterized as the failure of a person to perform essential, self-care tasks and that such failure threatens his/her own health or safety

Resources 

Florida Domestic Violence Hotline: 386-983-1358

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

Elder Helpline: 800-962-2873

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