Lily Pad director Mary Martinez asks Rotary Club to help sexually exploted children

ALBANY — Lily Pad Center Executive Director Mary Martinez told the Rotary Club of Albany Thursday that the sexual assault of children “is something no one wants to talk about, but it happens every day.”

The Lily Pad SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner’s) Center is an umbrella organization that houses the Firefly House Children’s Advocacy Center, the Boren Center for Sexual Violence, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program, Parents Accessing Visitation and Education Services (PAVES), and System of Care Dougherty.

One of nine similar centers scattered throughout the state, the Lily Pad offers victims of sexual assault 24 hours a day, seven days a week services in 32 counties spread across six judicial circuits and 52 law enforcement agencies. And, the center does it with a staff of just 13 nurses and other care-givers.

“Basically we never close,” Martinez said. “We have a 24-hour crisis line and forensic interviewers and nurses for medical exams available 24/7.”

In nearly all cases of sexual abuse, the victim is familiar with the assailant.

“Almost 90 percent of the children know their abuser, but 80 percent of the children never tell anyone if they have been abused or raped,” Martinez said, noting the center also provides assistance assisted some adults. “So far this year we have conducted 135 sexual assault examinations, 93 were children and the rest were adults.

“Our youngest rape victim was 18 months old, the oldest was 71.”

Martinez, a former Albany Police Department and Dougherty County School System police officer, said 2015 has been a busy year.

“We’ve held 42 outreach/training events, set up 108 support groups and have conducted a child support symposium for the Dougherty and South Georgia Judicial Districts, and we are about to conduct another symposium,” she said.”

The Lily Pad is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Approximately 70 percent of the agency budget comes from state and federal grant sources, and in 2009, state funding for sexual assault centers decreased by 47 percent.

Martinez said the center depends on the assistance and generosity of the community, adding those interested in providing help may contact the Lily Pad’s office at 229-435-0074 to pledge their support.

“Please be assured that your contribution will be put to good use to provide help to individuals in need of assistance right here in our community,” she said.