KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 30, 2024

Within Kennesaw State University’s Department of Public Safety is a resource that is one of a kind in Georgia.

The Safety, Advocacy, Forensics, Empowerment (SAFE) Center provides comprehensive services to students and employees who are victims of crime on or off campus. What sets the SAFE Center apart from other campus-based sexual assault and domestic violence centers in the state is KSU’s law enforcement-based, collaborative approach to providing services.

In partnership with the Wellstar School of Nursing, the SAFE Center engages in interdisciplinary treatment strategies to effectively provide trauma-informed and victim-centered care and assist with restoring the victim’s well-being. The center’s team believes in a holistic approach to help people cope with the negative effects of victimization such as PTSD, poor academic performance, depression, anxiety, and substance use.

“The SAFE Center places a high priority in meeting the needs of our students and staff in a way that empowers them to take control of their own healing process,” said Nwakaego Nkumeh Walker, vice president and chief legal affairs officer. “With more than 47,000 students and 5,000 faculty and staff, KSU is essentially the size of a city. Support services such as those in the SAFE Center are essential in our efforts to keep our large campus community safe.”

The SAFE Center’s staff are highly trained in providing trauma-informed advocacy support, medical care, counseling, support groups, and workshops. The staff is supported by two Wellstar School of Nursing faculty members who are certified as sexual assault nurse examiners.

That team of trained professionals understands the unique needs and challenges that student survivors of sexual assault and interpersonal violence face. Also, the centralizing of resources within one comprehensive center means that crime victims don’t have to visit multiple locations while enduring trauma.

“By offering a comprehensive range of services under one roof, we aim to make it easier for our students to seek help and find healing in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Tanya Smith, SAFE Center executive director. “We understand the impact that trauma can have on a student’s ability to focus on their studies, which is why we strive to provide support that not only addresses their emotional and physical needs but also helps them stay on track academically.”

Available 365 days a year to support students, faculty and staff in the aftermath of a crime, the SAFE Center is supported largely through grant funding. The center has secured more than $1 million in grants for victim advocacy since being established at KSU in 2014, Smith said.

The SAFE Center provides outreach education and prevention training on campus with an emphasis on sexual assault and domestic/dating violence. In addition, Smith has given presentations at several events off campus, including a National Police Week seminar on the opioid crisis in the United States and a roundtable in Washington, D.C., on preventing overdoses on college campuses.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.