Santa Fe Rape Crisis & Trauma Treatment Center : St. Vincent Hospital Forensic Nursing Services SANE Program

St. Vincent Hospital Forensic Nursing Services S.A.N.E. Program

The
Sexual
Assault
Nurse
Examiner
Program

What is the SANE Program?
The SANE Program is specially Forensic Nurse Examiners that provide evaluations and services to victims of sexual violence, sexual assault or abuse when needed. Services may need to be done immediately or may be scheduled at the Family Advocacy Center. The Forensic Nurse Examiner provides a medical screening exam along with a thorough evidentiary examination. The Forensic Nurse Examiner collects physical evidence during the exam. The Forensic Nurse Examiner makes a complete and detailed report of the assault or the abuse and any physical findings. The SANE Program aids with legal investigations, if necessary, by working with City, County, State and Tribal Police agencies. The Forensic Nurse Examiner provides impartial professional testimony to the courts when necessary.

What about Crisis Intervention?
The SANE Program activates the specially trained Santa Fe Rape Crisis Advocates to respond for victims cared for by the SANE Program. This collaboration ensures that immediate crisis intervention is provided for all victims of violence or abuse and their families. Follow-up counseling is available through the Santa Fe Rape Crisis & Trauma Treatment Center and other community agencies.

What is the Family Advocacy Center?
The SANE Program works with many agencies to address sexual abuse and sexual violence. The SANE Program is a member of the Santa Fe Family Advocacy Center. This is a multidisciplinary collaborative Center where victims of sexual violence and their families can come to one location and receive services from many different agencies. The Family Advocacy Center is the location for the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center's StrongHeart (forensic interviewing service), the juvenile investigations with the Santa Fe Police Department and the SANE Program. Many other agencies collaborate and support these investigative efforts such as Children, Youth and Families Department, the First Judicial District Attorney's Office, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, and the NM State Police and Tribal/BIA Police.

What services does the SANE Program offer?

Documentation of any physical findings or injuries
Colposcopic examination with state of the art equipment by experts in this field
History documentation of the assault, abuse or violence
Evaluation and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
Pregnancy risk evaluation and preventative medicines if appropriate
Crisis intervention and arrangement for follow-up counseling services
Medical, legal, and social services referrals as needed
Collection of medical and legal evidence for possible use by the judicial system
All services provided by the SANE Program are free to the victim and their families.

The SANE is now located within the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Facility

6601 Valentine Way
Santa Fe, NM 87507

Phone: 505-995-4999
Fax: 505-982-4917
Answering Service: 505-989-5952

How Can I Activate the SANE Program and the Response Team?

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner can be activated several ways...

Go directly to the Emergency Department at St. Vincent Hospital following a sexual assault that may require medical attention. They will contact the SANE Program.
Or arrange for SANE Program services by calling the answering service at 989-5952 and make an appointment at the Family Advocacy Center location.
Or contact the Santa Fe Rape Crisis & Trauma Treatment Center at 986-9111 and ask for SANE Program Services.
Or contact any law enforcement agency (city of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County Sheriff's, NM State or Tribal Police) and request SANE Program Services.

What do I do if I was assaulted or suspect child sexual abuse?

If you have been sexually assaulted, do not eat, drink, bathe or change clothing until contacting one of the SANE Program nurses, law enforcement or the rape crisis hotline. Valuable evidence can be saved. The evidence may be needed for an investigation.
If you are older than 18 and do not want the police notified, physical evidence should be collected and stored until you chose to make a police report. This evidence would otherwise be lost.
If you suspect child sexual abuse, contact the SANE Program, CYFD, or the police. A specially trained team works to investigate child sexual abuse. By acknowledging the child's and the family's special needs and concerns; the team works to minimize the trauma to all involved.