More than 33% of all adult Texans have experienced some form of sexual assault in their lifetimes, according to the Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault at The University of Texas at Austin. Texas Health is committed to caring for those Texans and reducing that number.
Texas Health’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program features 22 certified nurses who play a vital role in providing compassionate, sensitive and comprehensive care to sexual assault victims who arrive at our hospitals across the region. SANE-certified nurses are trained in all aspects of forensic care and evidence collection; are familiar with the legal system; and are prepared to testify in court proceedings if needed. SANEs work closely with the courts, law enforcement and victim advocates. Since the implementation of SANE programs across the country, a Department of Justice report showed a 95% increase in successful prosecutions of cases where evidence was collected by a SANE-certified nurse.
In the community
Beyond helping victims, Texas Health’s SANE program is committed to addressing the issue of sexual violence before it occurs. SANEs serve the community by providing education on a number of topics, including:
- Bullying and cyberbullying
- Teen dating violence and prevention
- Bystander intervention training
- Human trafficking awareness
- Awareness training for parents
Texas Health and Tarrant County College (TCC) recently formalized a collaborative agreement to address sexual victimization by cultivating community resilience. Since 2016, Texas Health’s SANE program has offered workshops as part of TCC’s Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, Harassment and Hazing program, focusing on sexual violence prevention.
By educating, empowering and increasing the emotional health of the community, Texas Health hopes to decrease the number of sexual assaults in North Texas and the need for SANE services.
If your organization is interested in a presentation by a SANE nurse, please email SafetyWellBeingEducation@TexasHealth.org.