April 15, 2008
April: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Community Team counters sexual assault with caring and competence
By Colleen Palacios RN, SANE-A
Sexual assault should not happen at all. When it does, however, it is important that victims call for help and report what has happened. The Y-K Delta's Sexual Assault Response Team, or SART, is in place and always on call to provide immediate medical, advocacy, and legal services to all victims of sexual assault.
The SART is a coalition of many community-based organizations, people, and groups, including Bethel Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, the Tundra Women's Coalition, the Children's Advocacy Center, various social and criminal justice agencies, and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital's (YKDRH) Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners.
A law enforcement officer is normally first to respond to an assault call. After ensuring the victim's safety, the officer will notify the Emergency Room (ER) that a sexual assault patient will arrive soon and will request that a specially trained Advocate accompany the patient in the ER. The Advocate provides comprehensive support for the patient throughout the evaluation process.
YKHC's Forensic Examiners perform thorough and appropriate exams, collect, collate, and protect evidence, and ensure the safety of the patient. They also play a pivotal role in providing legal testimony in the courtroom.
All SART team members are trained to guide the patient in the most humane, careful, and compassionate way through the evaluation and legal process. The various members of the SART function together to provide consistent and unbiased care to victims.
We encourage patients to share concerns, to receive information on available resources and to know what their options are regarding their health, reporting and the judicial process.
On April 30th from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., a Sexual Assault Awareness table will be in the YKHC lobby. Please stop by to pick up your teal colored awareness ribbon to express support for victims of sexual violence. You can meet representatives from YKHC and TWC and educational materials will be available.