AEquitas - Champions for Justice

There are many clinical facilities that do not have access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) or trained sexual assault examiners to provide expert care to patients across the life span following sexual assault or abuse. As a result, clinicians are often inadequately prepared to address the healthcare and evidentiary needs of this patient population, leading to less effective care being provided to the patient. For some patients, there may be no care provided at all, as they may be turned away.

AEquitas collaborated with the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) on its project entitled the Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Exam Training Curriculum Initiative (SAMFE), funded in 2018 by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

IAFN and its project partners, including AEquitas, the Arkansas Crime Lab, End Violence Against Women International, FORGE, National Children’s Alliance, National Sexual Violence Resource Center, and the National Sheriff’s Association collaborated on the development of an online learning program for non-SANE trained healthcare clinicians responsible for providing medical forensic examinations to sexual assault victims. The training is intended to fill the education gap for all clinicians about sexual assault and the unique needs of this complex patient population.

The two-hour training, Caring for the Sexually Assaulted Patient When There is No SANE in Sight: A Training for ALL Healthcare Providers allows clinicians to have a greater understanding of the needs of patients that have been sexually assaulted or abused while improving the overall care and exam process for these patients. With the guidance conducted within this training, clinicians are more equipped to provide their patients with trauma-informed, patient-centered approach. Affording the clinician an increased level of comfort with caring for this patient population. 

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