A Message From Careteam Plus CEO, Johanna Haynes, on New Program for Sexual Assault Victims

We’ve teamed up with the SC Attorney General and his team, the Department of Crime Victim Compensation, Avita Pharmacy, LabCorp and the Rape Crisis Center to offer free HIV treatment for sexual assault victims. After a press conference announcing the new program, our CEO, Johanna Haynes, has a statement explaining why this is so important to Careteam Plus:

Statement From CEO Johanna Haynes on New Program for Sexual Assault Victims

“It is such a great honor to partner with Attorney General Wilson and his staff with the Department of Crime Victim Compensation. What an incredible team and we are so glad to be a part of it. As many of you know, Careteam Plus has been partnering with the local Rape Crisis program, providing post exposure prophylactic medications for the prevention of HIV, for assault victims in Horry County for more that 14 years. There is a very big difference in what we do now because of the DCVC program. The DCVC not only reimburses us for the cost of treatment and care while caring for people who have experienced such a devastating violation, they are doing it whether the victim has insurance or not. You do not have to use your own insurance. This hopefully will allow many younger people who through shame or fear do not want families to know, to get the help they need.

Sexual assault is the most under-reported crime. 63% of all sexual assaults go unreported. On college campuses, 90% are never reported. One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18. If you or someone you know is the victim of a sexual assault, please remember treatment is available without going to an ER or filing a report with the police department. Should you think that at a later date you may wish to file a report and seek prosecution, a rape examination must be completed at a local emergency department. That does not mean you must file a report now but the examination must be performed by a trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner right away.

Thank you again to Attorney General Wilson and the Department of Crime Victims Compensation led by Ms. Gail Washington and many thanks to our continued partnership with Joyce Hart and her staff at Rape Crisis.”

• Johanna Haynes, CEO of Careteam Plus