Hays Medical Center

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Kansas. Every community is affected by sexual assault as seen by statistics indicating that one in five women and one in 71 men will be a victim of sexual assault at some point during their lifetime.

The Ellis County community has shown a strong and continuing commitment to victims of sexual assault, and has been instrumental in the expansion of sexual assault services in Hays. In 2010, community supporters and victims of sexual assault collaborated with the HaysMed administrative team, who made the commitment to start a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program.

In the summer of 2010, HaysMed began offering SANE services for victims of sexual assault. During a SANE examination, victims of sexual assault work one-on-one with a specially trained nurse who provides a physical examination, collection of forensic evidence, addresses concerns regarding sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy, and assists the victim with safety planning and community resources. Research has shown that victims, who are treated by SANE nurses’ experience less assault related anxiety, feel they were treated with respect and dignity, and feel they were informed, believed and were in control during the exam. HaysMed has the most northwest SANE program in the state, and receive victims from all over the northwest region of Kansas.

According to Jessica Albers, SANE Team Leader, “Each year, we see an increase in the number of victims reaching out and receiving services for sexual assault.”

In addition, the Ellis County Sexual Assault Response Team was formed to enable a coordinated community response to adult and child victims. The Ellis County SANE/SART Advisory Board is comprised of multiple agencies including the Ellis County Attorney’s Office, Hays Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, FHSU Police Department, Ellis Police Department, Hays Department for Children and Families, Options: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services and HaysMed. SART members work together to provide interagency, coordinated responses that make victims’ needs a priority, hold offenders accountable, and promote public safety.

Options Outreach Services Coordinator, Jennifer Badesire, relays that “the SANE/SART board meetings provide an opportunity for professionals who are working directly with sexual assault victims the chance to evaluate services and implement changes in protocol that are more victim centered.”     

National statistics indicate that 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls will be sexually assaulted by the age of 18. Part of the mission of the Kansas Department for Children and Families is to protect children, by working closely with the child victim and local law enforcement to ensure the safety of the child. DCF also works with the appropriate adults to see that the child receives the necessary supports and services to avoid further victimization and to give the child the best opportunity possible to overcome the trauma involved in sexual assault. According to DCF Secretary, Phyllis Gilmore, “DCF is proud to partner with the Ellis County SANE/SART to respond quickly and appropriately to sexual violence.”

Spreading awareness of the issue is crucial in the fight against violence. Join the Ellis County SANE/SART in wearing teal during the week of April 20 to 26 to show your support for sexual assault victim/survivors.  Businesses are encouraged to contact Options at (785) 625-3055 to inform Options of the day the business, department, church group, etc plan to wear teal. Options would love to get a picture of you and your co-workers, classmates, family and friends wearing teal. Start by Believing Sexual Assault Victims … Teal Up.

For more information, contact the members of the SANE/SART Advisory Board:
Ellis County Attorney’s Office: Brenda Basgall or Crystalyn Oswald
Hays PD: Dave Bunger
Ellis County Sheriff’s Office: Brad Ricke, Chuck White or Tabatha Deines
FHSU PD: Ed Howell
Ellis PD: Joyce McCollum
DCF: Melissa Braun or Theresa Freed
Options: Jennifer Badesire
HaysMed: Jessica Albers, Carol Groen or Terry Siek