Responding to Sexual Assault

Goal - why is this important to us?

Dawn Farm cares about the safety and emotional well-being of our clients

Ingredients - what do I need to get started?

1. Empathy, patience, and compassion.
2. Access to transportation to the hospital.
3. Knowledge about sexual assault.
4. Phone number to Safe House - 734-995-5444.
5. Phone number to SAPAC (if the survivor is a student at University of Michigan!) - 734-764-7771.

Timeframe - about how long will this take?

If the client chooses to have an exam, the process can take several hours. The exam itself typically takes about 2 – 3 hours, but it’s difficult to know how long any trip to the emergency room will take.

Contacts - who do I need to let know?

Contact a supervisor to let them know about the client’s disclosure.

You may offer to contact Safehouse Center, the emergency room, or the police. (If the client chooses to go to the emergency room, the medical staff will contact Safehouse Center and the police!)

Steps - what do I do?

1. Tell the client you believe her/him. Assert that the assault was not their fault and that you’ll support whatever decision they make to press charges or pursue a medical exam.
2. Don’t require the survivor to tell you every detail of what happened. Remind the survivor that, if they choose to file a report or get an exam, they’ll have to tell their story several times. It can be hard to share these details over and over again and your goal is to be a safe, comforting person not an investigator.
3. Give the client information about their options.
   • They can choose to have a forensic exam. This is basically a head to toe physical where a S.A.N.E. Nurse (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) will check them over, document any injuries and swab for DNA samples. The nurse may also offer antibiotics to prevent certain STIs, Plan B to prevent unwanted pregnancy, and antivirals to protect against HIV transmission. It is encouraged that the survivor not shower prior to the exam, but they can still complete the exam even if he/she has showered. The survivor may be asked to provide the clothing she/he was wearing at the time of the assault or even the bedsheets (if applicable). The survivor will not get these items back. *NOTE: Evidence from a forensic exam can only be collected within 120 hours (5 days) of an assault. Certain medications are more effective within a short timeframe. The survivor can opt out of any part of the exam.
   • The survivor can choose to file a report with the police. This will involve an officer reporting to the hospital and taking information from the survivor. *NOTE: Getting a medical exam does not require a survivor to file a police report. The survivor can choose to release the evidence collected in the exam to the police OR she/he can ask that the SANE nurse hold the evidence until she/he is ready to release. The SANE nurse will hold the evidence for up to one year.
4. If the client chooses to get the exam, they need to be transported to University of Michigan Emergency Room or St. Joe’s Emergency Room.
   • A staff person who can provide emotional support should stay with the survivor. Staff should consult with their supervisors prior to the client being transported to the ER. When it is possible, the staff person should transfer the client themselves and stay with them for the exam. Staff should communicate with their supervisors to determine when this is feasible.
   • When they arrive at the hospital, the medical staff will contact an advocate from Safehouse Center and the police. The advocate is there to provide resources and emotional support. *NOTE: The survivor can choose not to talk to the advocate or the officer.
5. After the exam and/or police report, provide continual support to the survivor. Let him/her know you are available if they want to talk or need support, but don’t push them to talk.
6. Documentation in case file.
7. Complete an incident report in Apricot.

Loose-ends?

1. The most important thing you can do for a survivor of sexual assault is to start by believing them. Avoid questions that start with “why”—they can come across as victim-blaming. Instead of asking “why” questions, try reminding the survivor that you care.
2. When survivors disclose an assault, they’re often in crisis. They may present with a wide range of emotions. There is no “right” way for survivors to respond. Keep this in mind, validate their feelings and normalize their experience. They might not understand why they are responding a certain way either, and your support and validation is crucial to their healing.
3. Safety planning is key. This can happen at any stage of your interaction with the survivor. Safety planning helps the survivor think about ways he/she can stay safe in the future and planning for safety can be very empowering for the survivor. It can help remind them of the control that they do have. Consider asking questions like, “Do you see this person at meetings? Are there other meetings you might be able to attend instead of the meetings where you see him/her?” “If you live alone, can a trusted support stay with you for a few nights?” “Does this person know where you live? Would it be helpful to change your locks?” The survivor may be thinking about filing for a personal protection order (PPO). If this is an interest, encourage them to call Safehouse for support and information about legal options. Organizations like Safehouse Center are a great resource for helping survivors think about safety!
4. Seek care for yourself. This work is hard and can be triggering for some. Process your feelings with your supervisor and practice self-care.

Additional Resources:

Safehouse Center Ann Arbor

https://www.safehousecenter.org/

734-995-5444

Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center (SAPAC)

https://sapac.umich.edu/

734-764-7771

RAINN – How to Respond to a Survivor

https://www.rainn.org/articles/how-respond-survivor