Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs) provide coordinated interagency, interdisciplinary responses that make victims’ needs a priority. SARTs incorporate the participation of medical professionals, forensic specialists, social workers, attorneys, members of law enforcement and the courts, and clergy.

Professional nurses, including nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, must intervene in a way that speaks to the context of each victim’s circumstance while facilitating the unique roles and responsibilities of each teams member who is called to respond to sexual assault.

This foundation course is designed for those who wish to ensure a skillful forensic assessment and interview while creating a more compassionate and efficient response to the victims of sexual abuse.

The program combines both in-person classes and online modules covering procedures of the forensic assessment and evaluation, and treatment of a sexual assault injury in adults, forensic concepts, documentation, evidence collection, legal aspects, and the role of each provider, from initial intervention to legal case and courtroom management.

This course meets the education requirements for the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) standards for adolescent, adult, and pediatric SANE education and the requirements of the NJ Board of Nursing for SANE Education.