Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner |
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Congressman Tom Reed made time in his busy schedule to tour the new sexual assault forensic examiner (SAFE Center) at WCA Hospital. The SAFE Center opened August 1, 2014. The center was created through a partnership between the Southern Tier Health Care System (STHCS) and WCA Hospital to bring SAFE services to Chautauqua County. It opened following more than a year of planning and development between STHCS and WCA Hospital. Shown from left to right are Mary Rappole, a Zonta of Jamestown member, SAFE Provider Julie Morton, STHCS CEO Donna Kahm, Congressman Reed, WCA Hospital CEO Betsy Wright and WCA Emergency Department Nurse Manager Emelia Lindquist. The SAFE Center provides services and counseling to sexual assault survivors and gathers the evidence needed to convict sexual predators.
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The Sexual Assault Reform Act (SARA) became effective in February 2001. The law requires the establishment of sexual assault forensic examiner (SAFE) programs in hospitals designated as 24 - hour centers of excellence.
As a result of this legislation, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) developed standards for approving SAFE hospital programs, approving programs that train individual SAFE examiners, and certifying individual SAFE examiners. DOH - approved SAFE programs and specifically trained health professionals will ensure that victims of sexual assault are provided with competent, compassionate and prompt care, while providing the most advances technology associated with DNA and other sexual assault forensic evidence collection and preservation. |
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The SAFE Program:
The DOH - approved SAFE program is an interdisciplinary collaborative effort involving hospital-based SAFE programs, rape crisis centers, law enforcement, prosecutors' offices and other appropriate service agencies. These organizations provide a coordinated response that not only effectively meets the needs of sexual assault survivors, but can also improve the overall community response to sexual assault.
The department is required to designate SAFE 24 hour Centers of Excellence in urban, suburban and rural areas of the state to give as many state residents as possible ready access to SAFE programs. Applications from any general hospital licensed under Article 28 with an emergency department are considered. Hospitals with existing programs must apply for Department of Health designation as a SAFE Center of Excellence. Hospitals are required to provide a private room in or near the emergency department with access to a shower and accessible for the disabled. There are reporting and equipment requirements for hospital programs.
Every DOH-approved SAFE program is required to have specially trained examiners who are certified by the Department of Health and credentialed according to the individual institutions procedures to provide forensic examination to sexual assault victims in accordance with Section 2805-I of Article 28 of Public Health Law. The individual sexual assault forensic examiners who meet these standards. Individuals who may seek certification include those with current licensure as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, or physician assistant. The Department will also re-certify sexual assault forensic examiners every three years. SARA requires that the SAFE meet the patient within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital.
In accordance with the SAFE standards established by the Department, a forty hour didactic and clinical training course must be provided to individual examiners through a training program approved by the New York State Department of Health. Only training programs which demonstrate to the Department the ability to provide training that meets the minimum standards and requirements and enter into a formal agreement with the Department can provide training related to the Department's issuance of certificates of qualifications. At least one faculty member must be an active DOH-certified SAFE examiner.
Remember, you are not alone. The SAFE program was created to help you.
Contact Information
SAFE Program Information: 716-372-0614
Victim Services Hotline: 1-888-945-3970
- Provides timely, compassionate, patient-centered care in private settings that provide emotional support and reduces further trauma to the patient.
- Provides quality care to patients who report sexual assault, including evaluation, treatment, referral and follow-up.
- Ensures the quality of collection, documentation, preservation and custody of physical evidence by utilizing a trained and New York State Department of Health (DOH) - certified sexual assault forensic examiner to perform exams.
- Utilizes an interdisciplinary approach by working with rape crisis centers and other service providers, law enforcement and prosecutors' offices to effectively meet the needs of sexual assault victims and the community.
- Provides expert testimony when needed if patients choose to report crimes to law enforcement; and
- Improves and standardizes data regarding the incidence of sexual assault victims seeking treatment in hospital emergency departments.
The DOH - approved SAFE program is an interdisciplinary collaborative effort involving hospital-based SAFE programs, rape crisis centers, law enforcement, prosecutors' offices and other appropriate service agencies. These organizations provide a coordinated response that not only effectively meets the needs of sexual assault survivors, but can also improve the overall community response to sexual assault.
The department is required to designate SAFE 24 hour Centers of Excellence in urban, suburban and rural areas of the state to give as many state residents as possible ready access to SAFE programs. Applications from any general hospital licensed under Article 28 with an emergency department are considered. Hospitals with existing programs must apply for Department of Health designation as a SAFE Center of Excellence. Hospitals are required to provide a private room in or near the emergency department with access to a shower and accessible for the disabled. There are reporting and equipment requirements for hospital programs.
Every DOH-approved SAFE program is required to have specially trained examiners who are certified by the Department of Health and credentialed according to the individual institutions procedures to provide forensic examination to sexual assault victims in accordance with Section 2805-I of Article 28 of Public Health Law. The individual sexual assault forensic examiners who meet these standards. Individuals who may seek certification include those with current licensure as a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, or physician assistant. The Department will also re-certify sexual assault forensic examiners every three years. SARA requires that the SAFE meet the patient within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital.
In accordance with the SAFE standards established by the Department, a forty hour didactic and clinical training course must be provided to individual examiners through a training program approved by the New York State Department of Health. Only training programs which demonstrate to the Department the ability to provide training that meets the minimum standards and requirements and enter into a formal agreement with the Department can provide training related to the Department's issuance of certificates of qualifications. At least one faculty member must be an active DOH-certified SAFE examiner.
Remember, you are not alone. The SAFE program was created to help you.
Contact Information
SAFE Program Information: 716-372-0614
Victim Services Hotline: 1-888-945-3970