In existence since the late 1990s, the Porter County Sexual Assault Task Force has been reinvigorated recently with the addition of more agencies participating as a collaboration.

SATF coordinates legal, medical, and support resources for sexual assault and rape victims. The agencies that now make up the SATF include the Porter County Prosecutor’s office and its Victims Assistance division, local law enforcement, Porter Health System, and The Caring Place. Previously, the task force mainly involved the prosecutor’s office.

At Porter Health System, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is in place to assist victims immediately after an assault. A SANE is a registered nurse who has successfully completed training to perform evidentiary exams. After all medical concerns are addressed, the SANE documents the injuries and collects and preserves all evidence.

“Being a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner is a wonderful opportunity for a nurse to provide one on one, compassionate and non-judgmental care to these patients. We are there to listen, and provide them with an opportunity to begin their healing process,” said Jan Ault, a emergency room nurse at Porter who became a SANE in 2002 and who received additional training in 2006 for pediatric patients.

At The Caring Place, Emergency Room Volunteers (ERV) are available to support the emotional needs of sexual assault victims. The Caring Place and an ERV will come to the hospital to be with patients to support them through the exam process. The ERV can also give support to family members, as well as clothing and personal hygiene items. The Caring Place’s emergency shelter is also offered if safety is an issue.

The prosecutor’s office also participates in the SATF through its Sexual Assault Recovery Project or Victims Assistance Unit and gives the organization updates on law changes. The Department of Children’s Services participates in cases involving children, determining safety issues and managing the forensic interview.

“We each play an important role in the Task Force,” said Lauren Logan, a Porter County Sexual Assault Advocate for The Caring Place and a member of SATF. “This group is incredibly valuable to The Caring Place program in that we have developed a partnership with each agency and can provide a wrap-around service to our clients. We are always making referrals to each other’s programs, confident in the fact that the client will be well taken care of.”

For more information about the SATF, contact Heather Klein at The Caring Place at 464-0840 ext. 108 or heatherk@thecaringplacenwi.org

Posted 4/20/2009