SAFEta

Healing Through Words: Addressing Language Needs in the Response to Sexual Violence
2025-06-26 15:00 - 16:30 UTC
This webinar will explore the impact that language has on the healing journey of survivors of sexual violence, particularly within Tribal communities. The presenters will examine how language can be harmful and internalized, as well as how it can influence survivors’ self-perception, identity, and relationships with those who respond to sexual violence. Through this session, the presenters will highlight the role that language has in a survivor’s healing journey and the importance of utilizing trauma-informed language in creating an environment that fosters healing and empowerment.

Presenters:
Christina Love and Vicky Ybanez

REGISTER HERE.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-03969-INDI awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are these of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dynamics of Sexual Violence in the Deaf Community: Recognizing Barriers and Identifying Strategies to Enhance Care and Support
2025-07-18 12:00 - 13:30
This webinar will provide a comprehensive examination of the unique dynamics of sexual violence within the Deaf community, focusing on the barriers Deaf survivors face and the strategies that can be implemented to enhance their care and support. Participants will gain insights into the cultural, social, and systemic factors that contribute to the prevalence of sexual violence in the Deaf community, including communication barriers, stigma, and limited access to resources.

Presenters:
Roberta Eaton, DAWN Executive Director
DeAnna Swope, Activating Change Senior Program Associate

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This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05172-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are these of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Breaking Barriers for Deaf Survivors of Sexual Violence: Effective Partnerships for the Medical Forensic Exam
2025-07-29 13:00 - 14:30
This webinar is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the unique needs and considerations when conducting medical forensic exams for Deaf survivors of sexual assault. Participants will learn how to build effective partnerships between healthcare providers, interpreters, and advocates to ensure that Deaf survivors receive comprehensive and sensitive care. The session will explore the challenges Deaf survivors face in accessing services, the importance of cultural competence, and the roles of various professionals in creating a supportive and inclusive environment. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to enhance communication, improve service delivery, and uphold the rights and dignity of Deaf survivors during the medical forensic exam process.

Presenters:
Roberta Eaton, DAWN
DeAnna Swope, Activating Change
Angelita Olowu, International Association of Forensic Nurses

REGISTER HERE.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05172-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are these of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Aligning Medical Forensic Care with Patient’s Needs, When Services Span Multiple Regions
2025-07-31 14:00 - 15:30
Forensic Nurses should be prepared to provide medical forensic exams to all patients that present after sexual assault. This included instances where patients are seeking exams in regions that may differ from where the sexual assault or sexual abuse occurred. This may include scenarios such as exams in hospitals where patients have traveled long distances to access and exam; medical facilities that border state lines; or even medical facilities where a patient may present because it is where they feel most comfortable. These circumstances can create complex challenges. Advocacy and other multi-disciplinary collaboration, can be an invaluable resource to both patients and clinicians when navigating issues that may arise. This webinar will discuss some of those issues and considerations and provide ways to support patients, as well as clinicians through collaboration and use of appropriate resources.

Presenters:
Chenel Vanden Berk, BSFS, JD, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN)
Karla Vierthaler, National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Tiffany Watson, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)

REGISTER HERE.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-05172-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are these of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Embracing Body Sovereignty During Medical Forensic Examinations
2025-08-07 14:00 - 15:30
There have been reports of instances of interaction with healthcare, for which a patient may have felt as though they were treated as if they were just a sum of physical parts that need fixing. This type of interaction can lead to the development of mistrust with the healthcare system, leaving the patient feeling dehumanized. By contrast, when a medical forensic exam is conducted by a trained clinician, the exam process can be empowering to patients that have experienced interpersonal violence, especially those that are American Indian/Alaska Native. The exam process allows these patients to receive medical care in a way that encourages body sovereignty. The promotion of patient’s having control over their own body is embedded throughout the medical forensic exam process. It embodies the essence of patient-centered care by asking the patient, instead of taking from the patient. Allowing the establishment of physical boundaries instead of breaching boundaries, while providing options to the patient. This approach may feel really important to American Indian/Alaska Native individuals. National guidance documents, such as the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations Adult/Adolescents, recommends that care be provided to patients that have experienced sexual violence, in a manner that shifts the power dynamics from the clinician as the healer, to the patient, the person in need of healing.

Presenters:
Chenel Vanden Berk, BSFS, JD, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) and Kelsey Morris, M.A, International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN)

REGISTER HERE.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GK-03969-INDI awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are these of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.
