Project Grant T9653178

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION - SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS PROGRAM - RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL (RIH) PROPOSES TO IMPLEMENT THE RHODE ISLAND SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS (RI SANE) ENHANCED TRAINING PROJECT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TRAINED SANES, ESTABLISH A SANE PRECEPTOR PROGRAM, AND LAUNCH AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) LIAISON INITIATIVE AND COLLABORATIONS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CENTERS TO FURTHER FOSTER A CULTURE OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS, RECRUIT A DIVERSE GROUP OF SANES, AND EXPAND ACCESS TO SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IN 2022, RIH IMPLEMENTED THE STATE'S FIRST SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINERS PROGRAM. THROUGH THE PROPOSED PROJECT, RIH WILL FURTHER ENHANCE ITS TRAINING PROGRAM, DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM AND SANE CERTIFICATION, AND ESTABLISH CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION MODELED AFTER OTHER STATES THAT FOLLOW NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES. THE PROJECT INCLUDES A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM FOR EXPERTISE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING FROM WOMEN & INFANTS HOSPITAL, SANE PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND MAINE, COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUPS, AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. DESPITE INCREASES IN SERVICES, SUBSTANTIAL GAPS BETWEEN THOSE SEEKING ASSISTANCE AND MEDICAL CARE CONTINUE TO EXIST: IN 2022 ONLY 63 OF THE 451 (14%) CALLERS SOUGHT FORENSIC CARE AND IN 2023 ONLY 89 OF THE 456 (20%) CALLERS DID (BLACKSTONE VALLEY ADVOCACY CENTER CRIME VICTIM HELPLINE DATA). WHILE 40% OF ALL 2023 CALLS CAME FROM PROVIDENCE, VICTIMS FROM 30 COMMUNITIES REACHED OUT AND 13% DID NOT DISCLOSE THEIR LOCATION. RIH RECOGNIZES THAT EXISTING SERVICES DO NOT YET MEET STATEWIDE NEEDS. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOUR HRSA GOALS WITH SPECIFIC PROJECT OBJECTIVES TO: -STANDARDIZE, FORMALIZE, AND IMPLEMENT AN ACCESSIBLE STATEWIDE SANE TRAINING CURRICULUM THAT BECOMES A STATE-CERTIFIED SANE MODEL PROGRAM BASED ON NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE -RECRUIT NURSES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MIRROR THE SURVIVOR POPULATION AND FROM HEALTHCARE SETTINGS WHERE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, TO INCREASE THE N UMBER OF SANES WORKING IN RHODE ISLAND AND IMPROVE ED PREPAREDNESS AND SUPPORT TO CARE FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE -DEVELOP A SANE PRECEPTOR TRAINING PROGRAM TO DEVELOP A GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF MENTORS THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO SANES, ASSURE ADHERENCE TO BEST PRACTICE CARE, AND HELP PROMOTE SANE SUPPORT AND WELLNESS -DEVELOP A COMMUNITY SANE ECHO FACILITATED BY EXPERTS IN TRAUMA CARE TO SUPPORT SANE EXPERIENCES AND PROMOTE SUSTAINMENT AND WELLNESS -INCREASE ACCESS TO SERVICES FOR PATIENTS BY ESTABLISHING SANE PRESENCES IN LIAISON ROLES IN EDS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE SETTINGS (E.G. FQHCS, COLLEGE CAMPUSES, TRIBAL HEALTH CENTERS, AND URGENT CARES) ACROSS THE STATE THE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS WHO FACE DISPARITIES IN CARE BY RECRUITING NURSES AS SANES WHO WORK AND LIVE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OR PROVIDE CARE IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS THAT SERVE POPULATIONS WITH IDENTIFIED RISKS FOR VICTIMIZATION FROM SEXUAL VIOLENCE, INCLUDING THOSE WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES, CHRONIC MEDICAL PROBLEMS, HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, IMMIGRATION AND LEGAL STATUS, GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES, COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS. INTENDED TRAINING NUMBERS ARE: 30 SANES AND 6 PRECEPTORS (Y1); 15 SANES, 30 SANE RECERTIFICATIONS, AND 8 PRECEPTORS (Y2); AND 20 SANES, 45 SANE RECERTIFICATIONS, AND 12 PRECEPTORS (Y3). ADDITIONALLY, RIH WILL SEEK TO ESTABLISH AT LEAST 10 SANE LIAISONS AND CHAMPIONS DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD, AS WELL AS PROVIDE MATERIALS AND TRAINING, IN EVERY ED IN THE STATE TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.