Contact Us:

Florida Department of Health
Sexual Violence Prevention Program
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin # A-13
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1723

Telephone: (850) 245-4455

Overview:

The Florida Department of Health Sexual Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is located in the Division of Community Health Promotion, Bureau of Family Health Services.

Preventing sexual violence is critical. Sexual Violence is a public health issue that affects the well being of the victim, family, friends, community and society. Researchers estimate that each rape cost approximately $151,423 (DeLisi, et al. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology Vol. 21, No. 4, August 2010, 501-513).

The SVPP is federally funded through grants from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control for Sexual Violence Prevention and Education, the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant for Sexual Assault Victim Services and the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women's Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program. State funding is provided to the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence through The Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund (RCPTF). Pursuant to a two-year general revenue appropriation by the Florida Legislature, the Sexual Violence Prevention Program also receives funding for the Palm Beach County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center to provide a centralized, coordinated crisis response, to improve medical and mental health treatment of rape victims and to enhance the evidence collection process.

The SVPP supports the following activities: primary prevention educational trainings to the general public; operation of hotlines; training programs for professionals; efforts to increase awareness in underserved communities, social norms marketing campaigns, special projects, and services to victims of sexual assault through contracted providers.

The Sexual Violence Prevention Program also maintains the Sexual Violence Data Registry (SVDR) which is a confidential Internet online data collection for: 1) services provided to primary and secondary victims, 2) primary prevention education and trainings, and 3) survey data.