The Forensic Healthcare Program

• The Forensic Healthcare Program (FHP): the best care for New York City's survivors.
• Model programs provide the best medical care at a critical time.
• Equitable access to care.
• Ongoing quality assurance.
• Interagency coordination and citywide collaboration.

Hospital emergency rooms are the primary sites where victims of sexual assault, especially those who choose to report within 96 hours of a crime, come to be treated. The treatment concerns for this population are extensive, including internal injuries, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and psychological trauma. SAE programs protect survivors from further injury while providing care and ensuring proficient evidence collection. FHP technical assistance supports hospitals developing new programs; trains new examiners; increases the capacity of experienced professionals through seminars covering cutting-edge technology; and links health care providers with law enforcement, criminal justice and emergency response staff, to create a collaborative response to the needs of survivors. The FHP also sponsors the core, five-day SAE training course for new examiners, helping programs thrive by adding new examiners to their rosters.

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Model programs provide the best medical care at a critical time. The FHP leads the city as an expert in forensic healthcare and the development and maintenance of SAE programs. A basic description and developmental guide for model SAE programs is laid out in the FHP's two complementary documents: Creating an Environment of Care and Comprehensive Sexual Assault Treatment Programs: A Hospital-Based Model. Every hospital the FHP works with receives tailored, personalized support and assistance to reach their individual goals. The FHP's expertise has been recognized by city and state agencies committed to improving the healthcare response to rape victims. The FHP has participated in an advisory committee for the New York State Department of Health, developing SAE program standards for the state. The FHP has also worked with the New York State Department of Health to develop a proposed statewide credentialing examination for examiners that will be the first multidisciplinary exam in the country.

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By convening and facilitating forums open to all functioning New York City SAE programs, the FHP continues to gather statistical information and identify additional training needs to ensure successful program development.

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The Operations, Standards and Training Committee serves as a forum for all functioning SAE programs to network, exchange information, standardize policies and procedures and identify training needs.

The Criminal Justice Collaboration Project (CJCP) provides citywide support to borough-wide sexual assault task forces, which bring together the advocates, healthcare systems, law enforcement and criminal justice representatives to improve overall response to rape victims. In addition, the CJCP planning committee has convened it's first conference entitled "NYC's Response to Sexual Violence: Present and Future", which reviewed the city's overall response to sexual violence. This citywide project, while still in its beginning stages, includes representatives from all five borough-task forces to identify and address citywide needs.

The FHP also provides ongoing support to New York City Council members and staff, including local information, statistics and training on responding to victims. An Advisory Board comprised of representatives from rape crisis programs, hospitals, the New York Police Department, District Attorneys' offices, and the Fire Department informs these efforts.

Funding for the FHP is provided by the New York City Council and the NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services.