UNION COUNTY, N.C. — An organization that provides services for victims of sexual assault, rape and domestic violence is pulling out of two local counties.
The center in Monroe run by Safe Alliance has provided services to victims for almost 40 years. It helps more than 3,000 people every year, but now Safe Alliance is pulling operations out of Union County and its center in Cabarrus County.
"Their services are critical to what we do," Richard Matens, director of human services for Union County, said. "They provide the forensic exams for the child abuse cases we have coming forth. They do counseling for kids who have been victims of abuse."
The decision doesn't have to do with money, officials said. Instead, the organization is focusing on and growing services for victims in Mecklenburg County, where the organization is based, Safe Alliance CEO Karen Parker said.
"We also want the communities to take more ownership of the programs, and we feel like if a community is locally running the program, they'll be able to secure more volunteers, better fundraising," Parker told Channel 9.
Channel 9 learned that Turning Point, a local organization in Monroe, is in talks to take over victims' services in Union County.
"Our hope is all the staff will transfer with the programs," Parker said.
Parker doesn't anticipate any lapse in services and insists that clients will remain the top priority throughout the transition.
"That's our goal, is to make sure that's it's really a seamless flow of services," Parker said.
The transition will happen over the next year. There is no word yet on what will happen to the building in Union County from which Safe Alliance currently operates.
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