Eastside Medical Center announced today a new partnership between local police and health care professionals that will mean more services for victims of sexual assault in Gwinnett County

The collaborative effort includes: Eastside Medical Center in Snellville, the Snellville Police Department, the Lawrenceville Police Department, Walton EMC and Covenant Counseling of Snellville.

Thanks to the their work the new sexual assault center, located in the Women’s Center of Eastside Medical Center, will provide victims a private and safe environment for medical and forensic treatment.

“Eastside Medical Center is providing a convenient, safe location to serve sexual assault victims," said Snellville Police Chief Roy Whitehead. "Kim Ryan, CEO of Eastside, Mark Adams, director of women’s health, and all staff have been extremely generous, gracious and helpful in making this center a reality for the benefit of the citizens of our community.”

Victims who arrive at the hospital or any law enforcement agency in Gwinnett County may seek services at the new center. There will be specially trained staff in sexual assault and victims' advocates through  Covenant Counseling Services.

A $5,000 grant through Walton EMC's Operation Round Up, along with funds from Lawrenceville PD, went toward the purchase of specialized equipment for identifying, collecting and documenting evidence used in the prosecution of sexual assaults.

Operation Round Up, a philanthropic program of Walton EMC, allows members to donate money to worthy indivuals or causes by rounding up to the next dollar on their payments.

Eastside Medical Center has provided a dedicated space and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (S.A.N.E.), who will care for the sexual assault victims. The staff is available around the clock. Victims' advocates provide counseling, clothing and toiletries at the center.

The county already has at least one center dedicated to serving sexual assault victims: the Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center & Children’s Advocacy Center (GSAC-CAC), located in Duluth. That center has served the community since 1986. Since its inception, more than 37,000 victims have come through their doors.