Formerly known as Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center and Children’s Advocacy Center, Mosaic Georgia is the only known free-standing sexual assault and children’s advocacy center to provide comprehensive forensic medical and interview services, advocacy support, legal assistance, and psychosocial support under one roof.

We provide free, confidential support and services to victims and survivors of rape, sexual assault, and child sexual molestation and abuse.

We provide sexual assault forensic medical exams and interviews, legal services, information about the criminal justice system, information about victim’s rights and referrals for other services like counseling. Support to children and their non-offending caregivers are offered with care.

Our name is new but we began services more than 30 years ago.  Community volunteers worked for two years to launch Gwinnett Rape Crisis in 1987 as a not-for-profit to offer 24-hour “on call” support services to rape victims who presented in the local hospital. By July, 1993, we began providing forensic medical care in our center — a quieter, more comfortable environment than the hospital emergency department.  We changed our name to Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center in 1997 to reflect the broader sexual harms we treat.

By 2001, work with allied partners began to create a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to respond to child sexual molestation and abuse in Gwinnett County.  In 2003, we became a Children’s Advocacy Center with comprehensive services outside the hospital setting.

Today, we serve children, adolescents, and adults who experienced sexual harm who come from many places across Georgia.  There is no charge or co-pay for our services.

We work with survivors of all genders regardless of when the violence occurred and whether they choose to report.

Call Mosaic Georgia’s 24-hour toll-free crisis line: 866-900-6019.

No. Our services are provided at no cost to clients and we are focused on ensuring all persons are treated with respect and dignity in a safe, caring environment.

As a Children’s Advocacy Center and Sexual Assault Center, our direct services include:

• 24/7 crisis line
• medical exams with evidence collection for children, adolescents and adults
• allied professional collaboration
• crisis intervention services
• child/ adolescent forensic-interviews
• personal/ family advocacy; medical advocacy
• legal assistance for victims
• access to licensed psycho-educational therapeutic support groups

For the community, services include:

• Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) coordination;
• Sexual Harm Prevention outreach and education;
• Student awareness and prevention of sexualized violence;
• Georgia SANE/ SAFE education and training programs; law enforcement training;
• Latin and Asian advocacy with outreach.

Confidential crisis intervention, support, information and referrals 24 hours per day, 365 days each year. This 24-hour line is also accessible to assist law enforcement and other professionals in need of services and information.

Behavioral Signs

• Sleep disturbances (such as nightmares, fear of the dark or trouble sleeping)
• Excessive or compulsive masturbation
• Fear or dislike of certain people or places
• Extreme changes in behavior
• Regression to infantile behavior (such as bedwetting or thumb sucking)
• Detachment from others, depression or withdrawal
• Age inappropriate interest in sexual matters, such as simulating sex with dolls or asking other children to behave sexually (What is age appropriate sexual development?)
• Sudden mood swings (such as rage, fear, anger or withdrawal)

Physical Signs

• Abdominal pain or unexplained stomach illness
• Loss of appetite or trouble eating or swallowing
• Unexplained bruises, pain, bleeding or redness on the child’s genitals or anus
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Frequent vaginal infections or irritations
• Difficulty with bowel movements or urination

If you have any questions about these signs, please contact Mosaic Georgia at 866-900-6019 to speak with a trained advocate.

If you know a child or have a suspicion that a child has been victimized by child sexual abuse, call your local law enforcement agency at 911 or local child protective services (in Gwinnett County, Georgia – Gwinnett County Department of Family and Children’s Services at 678-518-5500).

When we become parents, we see the world through the eyes of a protector.  While we can’t control the rest of the world, we can focus on developing open communication and trust with our children.

Children are exposed to much more visual stimulation and information at earlier ages through access to tablets, smart phones, computers, and video games. Even if your child has limited access to media, others may be exposed to explicit images including pornography.

1. Educate yourself.  Know the warning signs for child sexual abuse.
2. Speak up if you notice behavioral signals that an adult or older child may exhibit problematic sexual behavior.
3. Trust your instincts.  Gut feelings are easy to ignore, but if something doesn’t feel right, don’t put your child at risk.
4. Be comfortable talking with your child using proper anatomy terms like penis, breast, labia, and vagina.  It is easier for children to talk about an inappropriate and uncomfortable situation.
5. Teach your child to feel good about themselves just as they are.
6. Avoid secrets.  Teach your child that no one should tell them to keep a secret.  Secrets about touching are not okay. Let them know that even if someone says that telling a secret will get your child or parent in trouble or hurt, your child should tell you.
7. Teach your child the difference between “Ok” touch and “Not ok” touch. They have the right to say “no.”
8. Teach your child that their “No” will be respected.  If a child is uncomfortable with a relative’s kiss or hug, let them shake hands instead.
9. Build trust. Make sure your child knows that they can rely on you to believe them and protect them.
10. Develop a plan.  Make sure your child knows what to do and who to talk to if they are sexually touched or threatened. Who are trusted adults they can talk to?  Know how to report the abuse – call 911 for local law enforcement.