30 Years of Healing: Bronson Sexual Assault Services Reflects a Legacy of Survivor-Centered Care
In 2026, Bronson celebrates 125 years of caring for our community — a legacy built on Health in Harmony. Inside that legacy lives another milestone worth marking: 30 years of Bronson Sexual Assault Services (SAS).
Since 1996, Bronson Sexual Assault Services (SAS) has walked alongside survivors of sexual violence in southwest Michigan, providing compassionate, trauma-informed care. Today, the program serves between 1,200 and 1,500 people each year through 24/7 victim advocacy, a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, counseling, prevention education and community awareness, a crisis line and the Child Advocacy Center.
“Health in Harmony guides our work with survivors by recognizing the importance of treating the whole person, including the mind, body and spirit,” said Amber Goodlock, system manager for Bronson Sexual Assault Services. “Sexual violence has psychological consequences, but it also can have long-term physiological consequences. Health in Harmony occurs when the physical, emotional, psychological and social needs of the survivor are all acknowledged and supported through a coordinated, trauma-informed approach throughout a survivor’s lifespan.”
To mark the anniversary, here is a look back at how SAS grew from a single employee and community vision into a comprehensive program that today employs 22 people, partners with 10 volunteers and serves three counties.
A timeline of Bronson Sexual Assault Services
1996 — A community responds
Bronson Sexual Assault Services began when community stakeholders came together in 1996, recognizing an urgent need for survivor-centered care in response to sexual violence. The group identified five priorities: 24/7 victim advocacy, a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) program, counseling services, a crisis line and a child advocacy center.
That same year, Battle Creek Health System agreed to serve as fiduciary, and SAS became a department of the health system. SAS hired its first Program Coordinator and opened its doors with one employee and a small group of dedicated volunteers.
1997 — The team begins to grow
In its second year, SAS added a part-time community educator, a part-time counselor and a part-time SANE program coordinator, building the foundation for more comprehensive services to come.
1998 — 24/7 SANE care
A defining moment happened in March 1998 when SAS began providing sexual assault nurse examiner care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
2000 — Victim advocacy expands
SAS hired its first victim advocacy coordinator, creating dedicated leadership for 24/7 advocacy services in Calhoun County. The position helped strengthen one of SAS's most important services, making sure survivors had access to trained advocates whenever they needed support.
This year also marked the launch of the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) program. Working with local law enforcement and the Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office, trained staff at SAS began providing specialized forensic interviews for children under new Michigan requirements.
The program later expanded with dedicated staff, permanent locations as well as national accreditation.
2013 — A new kind of support
Recognizing that survivors, especially children, needed additional support during difficult moments like court proceedings, SAS launched its facility dog program. The first facility dog, Matty, was donated by Canine Companions and joined the team during a national movement to bring trained dogs into criminal justice settings.
2014-2020 — Expansion into Van Buren County
Through a partnership with the Domestic Violence Coalition and Bronson LakeView Hospital, SAS expanded services for sexual assault survivors in Van Buren County. In 2016, the collaboration launched Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and advocacy services at Bronson LakeView Hospital, increasing local access to specialized care and support.
To prepare for the program, SAS and community partners provided training for advocates, medical staff, law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the county.
Around 2018, SAS added an Outreach Counselor position to expand counseling services in Van Buren County and other underserved communities.
2021-Present — Chewy and Bruno join SAS
After the first facility dog passed away in 2021, SAS welcomed Chewy. Today, Chewy supports children during forensic interviews, sits with survivors in the courtroom and provides quiet comfort at the center. Because Chewy cannot be everywhere at once, SAS added a second facility dog, Bruno, expanding the program’s reach and making sure more survivors have a calming presence beside them when it matters most.
A multidisciplinary team takes shape
Alongside the timeline of new programs, SAS has built a multidisciplinary team that includes a close partnership with Bronson’s child abuse pediatrician, who also serves as the SANE program director. This relationship allows the Child Advocacy Center to refer children for non-acute sexual assault examinations. These take place when a child needs follow-up care after an injury or simply has concerns about their body after experiencing assault.
Sometimes after an assault, children worry that something is wrong with their body. SAS nurses can offer reassurance that their body is healthy and that the abuse will not have a lasting physical impact.
Harmony, in practice
When asked what harmony looks like for the SAS team, Amber describes it as a survivor feeling seen and believed.
“Harmony happens when the survivor can seek support at any critical point in their healing process,” she said. “It’s the SANE exam addressing immediate medical needs with dignity and choice. It’s the victim advocate offering support, crisis counseling, information, referrals and follow-up. It’s the forensic interview creating space for a child’s voice to be heard safely and without re-traumatization. It’s the family advocate supporting a grieving caregiver overwhelmed by a child’s disclosure. It’s counseling, supporting a survivor’s resilience and healing of the mind, body and spirit. It’s prevention work shifting the culture so fewer people are harmed in the first place. It is all these programs working together.”
Where SAS stands today
Thirty years after the initial summit in 1996, SAS employs 22 people and is supported by 10 volunteers and two on-call staff. The program serves Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Calhoun counties through three clinics, with volunteers and SANE program nurses dispatched together to hospitals, private clinics and police departments, ensuring no survivor walks alone.
Volunteers remain the backbone of the program’s 24/7/365 coverage, and many SAS employees began their journeys as volunteers. Without them, SAS could not provide the around-the-clock care survivors deserve.
All services are provided free of charge.
Looking ahead
Bronson’s 125 years and SAS’s 30 years share something deeper than a calendar coincidence. Together, they reflect a long-standing commitment to Health in Harmony, caring for individuals with compassion and a whole-person approach.
“I see a shared story of compassion, growth and a deep commitment to showing up for people in their most vulnerable moments,” Amber says. “SAS began with just one staff member and many committed volunteers who believed that survivors deserved better. Over time, we have grown into a comprehensive program, and that growth has been possible because of the unwavering support of Bronson and our community partners as well as a shared belief in the importance of this work and Health in Harmony.”
“In many ways, SAS reflects Bronson’s legacy. Listening to the needs of the community and continuing to evolve with excellence and compassion. As we look ahead, I feel incredibly grateful knowing that this partnership will continue, allowing us to provide the highest-quality, trauma-informed care that survivors deserve for many years to come.”
If you or someone you know needs support
Bronson Sexual Assault Services are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For non-emergencies, reach Sexual Assault Services by calling (269) 245-3925. If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or vide?
SAS provides 24/7 advocacy, SANE exams, counseling, prevention education, crisis support and Child Advocacy Center services.
Are services free and confidential?
Yes. All Bronson Sexual Assault Services are completely free and confidential for survivors.
Who does SAS serve?
SAS serves survivors of sexual violence across Kalamazoo, Van Buren and Calhoun counties, including both adults and children.
What is a SANE exam?
A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam is a specialized medical exam that provides care, support and evidence collection in a trauma-informed way.
