Wellness and Forensic Center Receives Social Justice Award

​Jamestown, N.Y. – The vision of two board-certified forensic nurses, Drs. Jennifer Wilcox and Tammy Bimber, became reality a year ago with the opening of Jamestown’s Wellness and Forensic Center, a nonprofit medical clinic focused on services for survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, sex trafficking, dating violence, stalking, and domestic violence. 

The Center serves Chautauqua County and provides support to rural communities in New York’s Erie and Cattaraugus counties and Warren County, Pennsylvania. In its first six months, it assisted 95 survivors of abuse and their families, helping with housing, clothing, food and more, in addition to trauma-informed medical and forensic services. The Center also provides extensive training, education, and prevention services to law enforcement, advocacy, child protection, multi-disciplinary, medical providers and county employees. 

In recognition of this important work, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Jamestown honored the Center with the T. Richard Parker Award for Social Justice that included a $500 donation. At the presentation to Dr. Wilcox, committee chair Dr. Jeffrey Victor explained that the award was established in 1985 following the sudden death of Parker, a longtime leader of the congregation. It was created to memorialize his ideals in a way that would contribute to the local community. 

Responding to questions following her acceptance message, Wilcox said that the Center receives referrals from a wide range of sources including law enforcement, emergency rooms, private physicians and community members. Through generous community donations, it serves pediatrics, adolescents, and adults who require medical care at no cost. 

The Wellness and Forensic Center is located at 21 E. 3rd St. in downtown Jamestown. It is on Facebook and can be reached any time at (716) 488-7293. 

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Jamestown is a progressive, liberal religious community serving the southern tier of Western New York and Warren County, Pa.

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