Child abuse, domestic/intimate partner abuse, and sexual violence have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic hit our nation. Victims of violence need timely, high-quality, evidence-based, specialized, medical-forensic care to facilitate proper healing and prevent long-term health complications. Many victims also desire evidence collection and preservation to aid in the prosecution of their alleged offenders.
Due to the high risk for infection, long wait times, and availability of staff to care for patients presenting for non-emergent complaints, the emergency department, is definitely not the place for victims without an immediate, life-threatening emergency. Further, the likelihood of evidence collection is extremely unlikely.
Our Team
Our highly specialized and experienced crisis, advocacy, mental health, and medical-forensic team at The Cottage in Richmond Hill are available and ready to respond to victims of violence 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. It is our goal to ensure you receive timely, specialized care and services delivered by highly trained and experienced professionals in a private, compassionate, and safe environment.
Click HERE to meet our team of professionals!
Our Response To COVID-19
To better serve victims of trauma and violence while also promoting social distancing to reduce the risk of infection to our patients, we have recently added teleadvocacy, telecounseling, and telemedicine services.
New Policies And Procedures
Teleadvocacy, telecounseling, and telemedicine services will be utilized to the fullest extent possible. Should there be a need to see you in-person, please note the following policies and procedures that we have implemented in an effort to protect our staff, patients, and their family members (please read these carefully prior to scheduling your appointment):
1. Appointments are scheduled so that only ONE patient/family will be on the premises at a time. Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes early for your appointment, and please do not arrive late so that appointments do not not overlap.
2. If your child(ren) has/have an appointment, only ONE parent/caregiver may be present inside the facility at one time. Anyone else who may have traveled with you will need to remain outside.
3. If your children have an appointment, only ONE child will be seen at a time. Please ensure you have a responsible adult with you to provide proper supervision of the other children while ONE parent attends to the child being seen.
4. Everyone entering the building must wear a mask, and a disposable mask will be provided to anyone who does not have one. The mask MUST cover your mouth AND your nose AND your child’s mouth AND nose at ALL times while you and your child are in the building. There are no exceptions to the mask rule. If you are unable to wear a mask, someone who can legally consent to treatment for your child who is able to wear a mask properly must accompany your child to the appointment.
5. Please adhere to the policy as detailed in the visual below:
Contact Us
We are available to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year!
Should you need our services, please call us: (912) 445-2517
OR
Chat with us via instant message through our WEBSITE or FACEBOOK PAGE