The Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire Board of Directors announced that they have recently closed on a new building in midtown Savannah to help support their growing organization.

According to Board Chairman Heather Booth, “For over 40 years our RCC has provided crisis support, prevention education, and counseling to thousands of survivors and their family members. Through tireless efforts to implement creative and innovative programs and services, RCC of the Coastal Empire is regarded as one of the strongest RCC's in Georgia and has now engaged in an opportunity to expand even further. Current office space is pushed beyond capacity. The Center needs small, private rooms for confidential counseling, a large space for support groups, trainings, and meetings plus additional space for staff and volunteers. A larger office will allow them to better serve clients as well as meet expected growth.”

RCC currently owns a modest building which has quickly become inadequate to accommodate survivors for initial disclosures, follow-up contact, counseling and support groups. In addition, the working staff who respond to victims and provide community outreach has grown from 10 to 27 over the past 5 years.
 
A recent survey revealed survivors feel most comfortable in a location they deem safe with adequate parking and privacy. RCC’s new location will be better equipped for outreach and providing services to the 6 counties it serves (Bryan, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long & Tattnall.) This allows for an increase in support services to underserved communities, for expansion of support groups, additional counseling and therapy, and innovative solutions such as web-based hotlines.

Prevention Education staff receive regular requests support & programming from public & private schools, colleges and universities, local businesses, private organizations, and out-of-county groups and expansion to the new site will allow for responsiveness to these needs.
 
RCC plans to put the current office building up for sale while transitioning into the new space.