Sexual Assault Examiner Training

Upcoming SAE Trainings

Spring 2008 SAFE Training

About Sexual Assault Examiner Training

The Forensic Healthcare Program of the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault is pleased to sponsor New York City's core, five day sexual assault examiner training, "The Assessment and Evaluation of the Adult Sexual Assault Survivor". The course is offered several times a year. Course notification is posted on our website.

This continuing education program was developed by Donna Gaffney and Associates after extensive planning and consultation with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the New York and New Jersey State Coalitions Against Sexual Assault, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the International Association of Forensic Nursing, the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, as well as sexual assault examiner programs across the country. To date, over 600 professionals have participated in the training program in New York and New Jersey. The was the first SAFE course to earn NYSDOH certification in New York State.

This course is designed as the initial step for health professionals who want to provide comprehensive and immediate care to those who have been sexually assaulted by becoming a forensically trained sexual assault examiner. These professionals may be registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse-midwifes, physician assistants or physicians who function as part of a team offering the survivor a complete physical examination, collection of evidence, treatment of injury, crisis intervention and referrals for counseling and follow-up care. The complete program is open to the medical professionals listed above. The didactic sessions are available to all interested individuals, rape crisis advocates, attorneys, social workers, and mental health professionals.

The course includes the dynamics of rape and sexual assault; the psychological aspects of trauma including rape trauma syndrome and post traumatic stress disorder; physical assessment and evaluation of the sexual assault survivor and a demonstration of colposcopy equipment (including an expanded clinical day and pelvic tutorial session); cultural considerations; roles and responsibilities of the sexual assault examiner; HIV, pregnancy, and STDs; law enforcement, legal issues and providing testimony. The course is five days long; three of the days are taught “live” and two days are administered through an online course.

Upon completing the course, professionals are advised on how to establish their own precepted experience. All newly trained sexual assault examiners are required to participate in a preceptorship program, supervised by a forensically trained medical director until deemed competent, prior to performing independent sexual assault exams. This provides the opportunity for continued refinement of skills learned during the program to ensure readiness to provide services, as well as observational experiences in law enforcement and the court system. Demonstration of competency through an established Sexual Assault Examiner program is also necessary to ensure that all examiners have the required documentation of their expertise in the event that they have to testify in court.

For more information on how to become a NYSDOH Certified SAFE examiner, please see Appedix C, Attachment III, Protocol for the Acute Care of the Adult Patient Reporting Sexual Assault.

For more information about SAE trainings, please contact safe@nycagainstrape.org.