34 U.S.C. § 40723 — Sexual assault forensic exam program grants

a State, Tribal, or local government or hospital;

a sexual assault examination program, including—

a State sexual assault coalition;

a health care facility, including a hospital that provides sexual assault forensic examinations by a qualified or certified SANE or SAFE;

a sexual assault examination program that provides SANE or SAFE training; and

a community-based program that provides sexual assault forensic examinations, including pediatric forensic exams in a multidisciplinary setting, by a qualified or certified SANE or SAFE outside of a traditional health care setting.

gathering information from the patient for the medical forensic history;

an examination;

coordinating treatment of injuries, documentation of biological and physical findings, and collection of evidence from the patient;

documentation of findings;

providing information, treatment, and referrals for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, suicidal ideation, alcohol and substance abuse, and other non-acute medical concerns; and

providing follow-up as needed to provide additional healing, treatment, or collection of evidence.

is qualified to prepare current and future sexual assault nurse examiners to be profession-ready and meet the applicable State and National certification and licensure requirements, through didactic, clinical, preceptor, or capstone programs that include longer-term training;

provides that preparation under a health care model that uses trauma-informed techniques; and

is approved as meeting the most recent National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners.

gathering information from the patient for the medical forensic history;

an examination;

coordinating treatment of injuries, documentation of biological and physical findings, and collection of evidence from the patient;

documentation of findings;

providing information, treatment, and referrals for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, suicidal ideation, alcohol and substance abuse, and other non-acute medical concerns; and

providing follow-up as needed to provide additional healing, treatment, or collection of evidence.

provides a specialized and immediate response to survivors of sexual assault; and

may include health care personnel, law enforcement representatives, community-based survivor advocates, prosecutors, and forensic scientists.

use a patient-centered approach to providing services or care;

promote the dignity, strength, and empowerment of patients who have experienced trauma; and

incorporate evidence-based practices based on knowledge about the impact of trauma on patients’ lives.

To establish qualified regional SANE training programs—

To provide full and part time salaries for SANEs and SAFEs, including pediatric SANEs and SAFEs.

To increase access to SANEs and SAFEs by otherwise providing training, education, or technical assistance relating to the collection, preservation, analysis, and use of DNA samples and DNA evidence by SANEs, SAFEs, and other qualified personnel.

establish qualified SANE training programs in localities with a high volume of forensic trauma cases, including adult and child sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse, sex trafficking, and strangulation cases;

increase the local and regional availability of full and part time sexual assault nurse examiners in a rural area, Tribal area, an area with a health professional shortage, or for an underserved population, including efforts to provide culturally competent services; or

establish or sustain sexual assault mobile teams or units or otherwise enhance SANE and SAFE access through telehealth.

the availability of grant funding under this section; and

the role of sexual assault nurse examiners, both adult and pediatric, and available resources of the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services to train or employ sexual assault nurses examiners to address the needs of communities dealing with sexual assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking, elder abuse, strangulation, and, in particular, the need for pediatric SANEs, including such nurse examiners working in the multidisciplinary setting, in responding to abuse of both children and adolescents.

funding opportunities for SANE training and continuing education; and

the availability of sexual assault advocates at locations providing sexual assault forensic exams.

the availability of, and patient access to, trained SANEs and other providers who perform MFEs or sexual assault forensic examinations;

the health care facilities, including hospitals or clinics, that offer SANEs and sexual assault forensic examinations and whether each health care facility, including a hospital or clinic, has full-time, part-time, or on-call coverage;

regional, provider, or other barriers to access for SANE care and services, including MFEs and sexual assault forensic examinations;

State requirements, minimum standards, and protocols for training SANEs, including trauma-informed and culturally competent training standards;

State requirements, minimum standards, and protocols for training emergency services personnel involved in MFEs and sexual assault forensic examinations;

the availability of sexual assault nurse examiner training, frequency of when training is convened, the providers of such training, the State’s role in such training, and what process or procedures are in place for continuing education of such examiners;

the dedicated Federal and State funding to support SANE training;

funding opportunities for SANE training and continuing education;

the availability of sexual assault advocates at locations providing MFEs and sexual assault forensic exams; and

the total annual cost of conducting sexual assault forensic exams described in section 10449(b) of this title.