The Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force is working in partnership with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to provide culturally-relevant training in sexual assault response to the 43 tribes in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
Funded by the National Institute of Justice, this project is intended to “increase the number of no-cost education opportunities for … forensic science training to … criminal justice partners and professionals involved in treating victims of sexual assault.” The ORSATF and NPAIHB recognize that:
- Native American and Alaska Native women are 2.5 times more likely than non-Natives to be sexually assaulted.
- Sexual assault is notoriously underreported. Sexual assault in rural areas has been called a “hidden epidemic.”
- The primary strategy shown to be effective in addressing sexual assault is a coordinated, multidisciplinary response.
- Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) are a key part of a multidisciplinary response. SANE programs benefit rape survivors’ psychological well-being and improve overall prosecution rates for sexual assault.
- Tribal communities in the tri-state region have a total of about 77,000 members, but there are only a handful of SARTs and no certified SANEs working in tribal medical facilities.
- In fact, there are only 134 SANEs in the three states, or about 1 SANE every 1,816 miles and for every 89,552 people. Most of these SANEs (105) are in Oregon.
The specific goals of this project, which is funded through September of 2014, are:
- Train Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners from tribal communities in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. We will accomplish this by providing three in-person, 40-hour didactic SANE trainings.
- Focusing on the particular needs in tribal communities, assist trained SANEs to become certified. We will hold a total of nine Advanced SANE trainings, using a simulation mannequin to assist with learning proper examination and forensic evidence collection techniques. Additionally, we will provide ongoing technical assistance to trained SANEs to assist them in meeting the requirements for certification.
- Recognizing that successful forensic examiner programs do not operate in isolation, we will further provide a total of three two-day trainings to Sexual Assault Resource and Response Circles. Using a two-part training approach, we will demonstrate for SARTs the benefits of using a multidisciplinary approach, then assist them with development and sustainability of their programs. A primary focus of these trainings will be helping SART members to understand the proper identification, collection and use of DNA and other forensic evidence. Ongoing technical assistance will be offered via quarterly web-based meetings.
All training and technical assistance is provided free of charge to participants, and all travel expenses will be paid. Trainings will be held at the NPAIHB offices in Portland.
Tribal SANE Training
Our second training for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners will be coming up in 2013. Specific dates have yet to be determined.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training
September 30th-October 4th, 2013
REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and the Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force is accepting applications for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training on adult and adolescent sexual assault medical response for medical professionals who work with Native victims in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
The 40-hour training meets:
Oregon SANE Certification training requirements
and
International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) SANE certification training requirements
Eligible participants will:
- Have a current RN, NP, PA, MD or DO license
- Have two years of nursing or clinical experience Work with victims from at least one of the 43 federally recognized tribes in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho
- Be actively participating as a RN, NP, PA, MD or DO*
- Have support from their medical center to attend
*Active practicing RNs, NPs, Pas, MDs and DOs have an average of 20 hours per week of patient contact.Training Location
The 2012 SANE Training will be held at the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, 2121 SW Broadway, Suite 300, Portland, Oregon 97201.
Cost
This training is free of charge and all expenses paid including mileage, lodging, and per diem.
About the SANE Training
The 2012 Tribal SANE Training will be held September 24th-28th. Sessions will be from approximately 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. You must attend the entire training in order to receive credit.
The 40-hour training will provide instruction on how to:
- Obtain a relevant medical history from sexual assault victims
- Conduct a physical examination specific to the medical history
- Document injury using photography, bodygrams and charting
- Collect and preserve evidence
- Collect and document urine and blood samples when drug facilitated sexual assault is suspected
- Complete a Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence (SAFE) kit and maintain chain of evidence
- Provide the victim with prophylactic medications and/or emergency contraception for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy
- Treat and/or refer the victim for medical treatment
- Work as part of a victim-centered and multidisciplinary response
Application
Space in this training will be limited to a maximum of 20 participants. We will give priority to registrants who are the only medical professional in the tribal community in which they work. Please describe, in detail, the extent to which you work with tribal populations in your application.
Please contact Jenna Harper, Training Coordinator, with questions, via email here or 503-990-6541.
This project is supported by Award No 2011-NE-BX-K569, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Regional Sexual Assault Response
& Resource Circle(SARRC) Training
June 17th & 18th, 2013
Coeur d’Alene
The Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and the Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force are accepting applications from tribes in Northeastern Washington and Western Idaho for a Regional Sexual Assault Response & Resource Circle (SARRC) training. This training is part of the Northwest Collaboration Against Sexual Assault in Tribal Communities Project. Designed for teams that address sexual assault in Tribal communities, we will discuss development of a multi-disciplinary team to improve quality of care for victims and work toward violence free Tribal communities. We are looking for teams of 4-6 people (please see list of possible participants by discipline).
Possible participants include:
Current sexual assault response team members, sexual assault advocates, Tribal police officers/ detectives, medical responders (nurses, physicians), Tribal court representatives (prosecutors, judges), violence prevention educators, mental health professionals, elders, offender management professionals, Indian Child Welfare, and others involved with fighting sexual assault from tribes in Northeastern Washington and Western Idaho.
Training Description:
We will address steps in developing SARRCs, sexual assault dynamics, and group activities within your team.
Training Location
The training will be held at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation.
Cost
The registration is free of charge and all expenses are paid (lodging, travel, per diem).
Please contact Jenna Harper, Training Coordinator, for an application and with questions at
jennaharper@oregonsatf.org or 503-990-6541.
This project was supported by Award No 2011-NE-BX-K569, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.