Hotline

Available 24/7

205-860-SAFE (7233)

Administrative Hours

Monday-Friday

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Address

1601 University Blvd. East, Suite 150

Tuscaloosa, AL, 3504

Welcome to The Tuscaloosa SAFE Center

We are committed to serving survivors of sexual assault through wrap around services!

forensic

examination

medical

advocacy

follow-up

care

counseling &

support group

outreach &

education

There is no charge for any of our services at the SAFE Center!

About Us

We are a community based, collaborative agency designed to meet the emotional, medical, and forensic needs of sexual assault survivors by providing quality medical care including assessment, treatment, forensic examination and follow-up. We work with community resource advocates, law enforcement, and other service providers

to meet the needs of survivors.

Our Mission

The mission of The Tuscaloosa SAFE Center is to provide 24-hour compassionate, patient-centered healthcare, advocacy and counseling services to those who have experienced sexual assault so that each person is empowered to begin the healing journey. Through community outreach and education programs, the SAFE Center promotes social change in West Alabama to end sexual violence.

Who We Serve

The Tuscaloosa SAFE Center serves individuals ages 14 and older. Pediatric cases under the age of 14 are encouraged to go to Children's Hospital at The University of Alabama at Birmingham to receive a forensic medical examination.

Age

Forensic exams can be performed up to 72 hours after an assault has occurred.

TSC serves a nine-county region of West Alabama including: Bibb, Fayette, Greene,

County

Timing

Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Tuscaloosa and Sumter.

If you do not meet this criteria, please call and let us help assist you in finding your next step

Meet The Team

Brenda Maddox

MSN/ED, SANE-A

Executive Director

Brenda Maddox has been a driving force behind the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center. As founding Program Director, she built and launched the Center’s clinical program, establishing a strong foundation of trauma-informed care, and later transitioned to Executive Director, leading its strategic growth and community partnerships over the past seven years. With a background in nursing, education, and healthcare administration, Brenda has guided the Center’s expansion and strengthened its role as a vital resource in West Alabama. Over the next year and a half, she will thoughtfully transition leadership to Melissa Hanks as she begins to slow down and spend more time with family.

Brenda@tuscaloosasafecenter.com

Melissa Hanks

MSN, RN, SANE-A

Associate Executive Director

Melissa recently assumed the role of Associate Executive Director while continuing to serve as Program Director at the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center. A nurse by training, she brings 12 years of experience, including time on a medical-surgical unit and 5.5 years in the Emergency Department.

Melissa joined the SAFE Center in the summer of 2019—just nine months after it opened—starting as an on-call Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Since then, she has steadily advanced within the organization.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, twin boys, and their friendly Great Dane.

Melissa@tuscaloosasafecenter.com

205-539-3102 Direct Dial

Shannon Swatloski

LICSW, CTP

Sexual Assault Therapist & Advocate Coordinator

Shannon earned her Master’s in Social Work from Arizona State University in 2005 and has been working in the field ever since. She joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center in 2022 as a full-time therapist. In 2024, she became a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and plans to continue offering individual and group therapy at TSC for the foreseeable future.

Outside of work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her many pets, unintentionally killing houseplants, and relaxing with friends.

Shannon@tuscaloosasafecenter.com

205-737-5113 Cell (Text Only)

Sara Morace

BSW

Outreach & Education Coordinator

Sara recently graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama with her Bachelor’s in Social Work and is already continuing her academic journey by beginning her graduate studies in social work. Passionate about supporting survivors of sexual assault, she hopes to continue this work long term and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she serves. Outside of work and school, Sara enjoys unwinding with yoga, binge-watching her favorite TV shows, and diving into anything crafty she can get her hands on.

Sara@tuscaloosasafecenter.com

Alexus Edwards

BSN, RN, SANE-A

Clinical Coordinator

lexus Edwards began her nursing career in a trauma-surgical ICU and started working part-time as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in October 2022. She has since transitioned into a full-time role at the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center, where she now serves as Clinical Coordinator. At home, Alexus lives with her two cats, Frank and Tootsie, who keep her on her toes—and motivated to keep the food bowls full.

Alexus@tuscaloosasafecenter.com

205-539-3101 Direct Dial

Samantha Gimbalvo

BSN, RN, SANE

Full-Time Clinical SANE

Samantha Giambalvo began her nursing career in 2007, with experience ranging from oncology and hospice to pediatric emergencies—essentially, if it’s high-intensity, she’s been there. Today, she serves as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, blending clinical expertise with deep compassion and advocacy.

She’s also a mom of seven (yes, seven) and married to her longtime partner-in-chaos, Josh—making her a seasoned pro in multitasking, crisis management, and snack distribution. After living all over the country, Samantha has happily settled in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she continues the hard, meaningful work of showing up for people when they need it most.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)

At the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center, our SANE's are specially-trained, registered nurses who work with sexual assault patients to begin the healing process from the moment they step into the center.

Darby Wheat

RN, SANE

Darby Wheat began her nursing career in the Surgical ICU and started working part-time as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in August 2022. She enjoys traveling and spending time with friends. Darby lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with her cat, Kitty, and her dog, Moose.

Emma Baldwin

BSN, RN, CCM, SANE

Emma is a graduate student in public health and currently works as a clinical liaison in healthcare. She joined the SAFE Center in 2023 and took a brief hiatus after the birth of her fifth child. Her areas of focus include environmental health, trauma-informed care, and the intersection of policy and population well-being. With a background in nursing, Emma brings both professional expertise and a strong personal commitment to advocacy and equity.

Amber Strickland

BSN, RN, SANE

Amber began her nursing career working in the emergency department and joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center in May 2024 as a part-time Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her family.

Dee Cole

RNC-OB, BSN, SANE

Dee Cole began her nursing career in obstetrics in 1990 and has worked across a range of specialties, including labor and delivery, high-risk antepartum, postpartum, gynecology, and

Kimberly Weeks

BSN, RN, SANE

Kim first began nursing in 1992 and worked in several different positions before spending 11 years as a critical care nurse. She then spent over a decade working in mental health and infection control. She has been at the SAFE center since June 2025 in a prn/part-time position.

She loves spending her free time tending her plants, loving on her dogs or learning something new to craft, paint or DIY.

Ashleigh Morris

MSN, APRN, FNP-C, SANE

Ashleigh Morris began her nursing career in 2012 as an LPN and became a Registered Nurse in 2015. She has experience in skilled nursing facilities, medical-surgical units, and the obstetrics/postpartum unit at DCH Regional Medical Center. Since 2019, Ashleigh has been credentialed as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and currently serves as a clinical instructor at the University of Alabama. She joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center in 2024 in a PRN capacity. In her free time, Ashleigh enjoys traveling to Disney World with her family every other year.

Britnee White

BSN, RN, SANE

Britnee

Abbey Bonnes

BSN, RN, SANE

Abbey Bonnes earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Shelton State in 2020 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama in 2024. Her professional background is primarily in psychiatric and mental health nursing. She joined the Tuscaloosa SAFE Center as a part-time Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) in June 2024. A devoted animal lover, Abbey enjoys spending her free time with her two dogs, Peanut and Chief, and her two cats, Ollie and Tuna.

Advocates

Abby Galatro

Amanda Phillips

Dallas Lampkins

Elizabeth Weiss

Emery Lee

Grace Shaughnessy

Hallie Chojnacki

Hannah Valette

Jaycee Esters

Karsen Mumm

Kate Raborn

Lee Burnett

Lexi Alcott

Lucy Rumbley

Mae Hudson

Megan Copeland

Meg Hoggle

Nick Nobile

Riley McGrath

Sophia Disimone

Sophia Haley

Teagan Freeman

Victoria Del Cid

Board of Directors

Andy Hamlin

Brandi Lester

Byron Thetford

Chad Tindol

Terri Tompkins

(President)

Ray Hayes

(Past President)

Carl Jamison

(Vice President)

Jonathan Koh

(Secretary/Treasurer)

Dawn Alexander

Julie Aldridge

Karen Jones

Karen Thompson-Jackson

Nikki Calloway

Rodney Clark

Steven Hood

Tammy Farmer