PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced they have assumed management of the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC). PSARC provides free, confidential, 24/7 access to specially trained and experienced Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) who provide forensic sexual assault examinations and evidence collection. The Health Department has hired all paid PSARC staff and will maintain current operations, to ensure a smooth transition from Drexel University, which has successfully managed the Center since 2011.
“As part of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s vision of making Philadelphia the safest big city in America, we are committed to investing in PSARC to ensure that our most vulnerable residents are served with urgency in the most compassionate way possible in times of crisis,” said Crystal Yates-Gale, Deputy Managing Director, Health and Human Services. “We are thankful to Drexel for supporting PSARC since its founding and for making this transition seamless so there is no pause in operations.”
“The mission of the Department of Public Health is to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians and to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable,” said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Commissioner, Department of Public Health. “By stepping up to ensure that PSARC continues to have the resources needed to operate and grow, we are ensuring that everyone who needs compassionate care in their most vulnerable time can get it, confidentially and free. We are proud to work with the staff and volunteers at PSARC, who do so much to help survivors start on their journey towards healing.”
“The City of Philadelphia’s investment in the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center (PSARC) represents a significant step forward in our commitment to supporting survivors of sexual violence,” said Adara Combs, Victim Advocate, Office of Public Safety. For too long, this critical work has gone without dedicated local funding. OVA is proud to have advocated for this investment and remains committed to ensuring survivors have access to compassionate, trauma-informed services when they need them most. We are most thankful to Drexel University, as well as our city partners, including the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the Office of Domestic Violence Strategies, and the Office of Councilmember Nina Ahmad for their collaboration and support in this effort,”
“After nearly 15 years of operating the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Resource Center (PSARC) as a centralized resource for hospitals across Philadelphia, Drexel University is proud to transition this vital program to the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health,” said Emily Roper, PhD, dean of Drexel’s College of Nursing and Health Professions — which has operated the Center since the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital in 2019. “For more than a decade, PSARC has provided compassionate, expert care to survivors of sexual assault, and we are deeply grateful to the dedicated clinicians and staff whose unwavering commitment has made that possible. This transition has been thoughtfully planned in close collaboration with the City of Philadelphia to ensure continuity of services for survivors while positioning PSARC for continued growth and long-term sustainability as a critical resource for the Philadelphia community.
Drexel will continue to support PSARC through this transition and will remain an engaged partner with the Department of Public Health to support the Center’s ongoing mission and provide SANE nursing training for its staff.
PSARC is located at 300 E. Hunting Park Avenue in the Philadelphia Safety Collaborative Building with other public safety and human service organizations, including the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit and Philadelphia Department of Human Services Children’s Health Alliance. Although PSARC is co-located with the Philadelphia Police Department, survivors are not required to report the assault to law enforcement. For those who choose to do so, the co-location helps to facilitate the reporting process. For those who choose not to report, PSARC does not share any information about their visit with PPD.
PSARC provides forensic medical examinations, collects sexual assault evidence kits, and offers medications for pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections following a sexual assault — all in a private, medical setting. Trained volunteers are available to provide support and accompany survivors throughout the examination process.
PSARC is staffed by contracted nurses and physicians, as well as volunteers from the Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence (formerly WOAR). Nurses and staff at PSARC have access to language assistance to assist survivors with limited English proficiency.
With this transition to City oversight, PSARC will be managed within the Health Department’s Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health (ReACH). Dr. Aasta Mehta, ReACH Director, will be assuming the role of medical director at PSARC.
For more information about PSARC, residents are encouraged to call 215-800-1589. Individuals seeking immediate assistance can call the 24/7 emergency line at 215-425-1625 to speak with a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, who can provide immediate support and answer questions. For basic information, the Health Department has set up a webpage about PSARC at www.phila.gov/PSARC.