After the horrible experience of being raped there are still challenges to overcome. Centers like our own are here to help victims during these horrible times.
We do not promise to make your situation disappear or become less traumatic. However, we are here to ensure you have everything you need to recover and come out of this tragedy.
Here is our process on helping survivors:
1. We receive a call from either the victim or law enforcement letting us know that our services are needed. We gather information during this time about the attack, the victim, and what we need to do to help.
2. We then inform our Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner that she will need to be conducting a Forensic Medical Exam.
3. The victim, advocate, police officer (if the victim decides to report) and SANE nurse all meet at our office, which is at an undisclosed address that we will let the victim know ahead of time.
4. Once the victim arrives at our office we sit down and fill out paperwork and go through questions. This time can be especially hard on the victim, but we do our best to ensure that the victim is as comfortable as can be expected in this situation.
5. After the questions and forms are all answered and completed, we ask the victim if they want to report the assault/rape. Victims do not need to report to have an exam done or receive any of our services.
6. The SANE nurse will conduct the Forensic Medical Exam, also known as an FME, in which she will collect evidence, take pictures, and ensure that the survivor is generally okay.
7. After that we would assist the survivor in getting counseling or getting set up with one of our support groups if he or she desires.
8. If the survivor chooses to report the rape or assault the evidence would then be picked up the detectives and sent off to the crime lab for testing.
Throughout this whole process the advocates and staff at the Sexual Assault Center are here and available to the survivor to assist with whatever we can. We believe you, and we are here for you.
