The Center for Hope and Healing (operating the Rape Crisis Center and Battered Women’s Shelter), is very pleased to announce that Sandy Parker has joined the Rape Crisis Center as the new Director.
Sandy began her journey with the RCC on Monday, May 6, 2019. Sandy replaces Cindy Bloom, who left the organization in 2018 so that she could spend more time at home with her family. The organizations leaders went through multiple postings and interviews until it found a candidate that best matched the agencies current needs. As Rape Crisis Director, Sandy will be responsible for the leadership, program direction, strategic plan implementation, service evaluation and community outreach for all Rape Crisis services in Summit and Medina Counties.
Sandy comes to us with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master’s of Science in Forensic Nursing. Sandy began her career at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. In 2004, Sandy changed careers when she became a Police Officer for the City of Fayetteville, NC. A few years later, when her family moved to Northeast Ohio, Sandy returned to nursing at Akron General Medical Center and then Wooster Community Hospital, where she completed the requirements for becoming a SANE Nurse (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner). Always feeling a passion for survivors of crime, Sandy responded to the open position at the Rape Crisis Center, believing she could use her experience and skills to help advance the comprehensive sexual assault services currently being provided by the organization.
CEO, Terri Heckman stated; “As the only organization in both Summit or Medina Counties, focusing specifically on the crisis intervention needs and prevention of sexual assault, we took our time searching for the best match for the Director position. Sandy brings 21 years of experience to the challenging responsibilities. We look forward to supporting Sandy as she takes on this critical leadership role in our community”.
Sandy will soon be traveling throughout the service area, meeting with other professionals to introduce herself and to explore ways that the Rape Crisis Center might be able to better respond to the needs of all sexual assault survivors.
