SANE Program of Western Nova Scotia

Overview

The expansion of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program to Western Nova Scotia is part of Breaking the Silence: A Coordinated Response to Sexual Violence in Nova Scotia. The SANE Program exists to meet the needs ofvictims/ survivors, and therefore follow-up will consist of servicesthey choose.

The SANE Programwill provide:

  • services for all genders - 13 years of age or older
  • medical examination and collection of forensic evidence up to 120 hours.

SANE services to be available at participating emergency department locations:

  1. Bridgewater - South Shore Regional Hospital
  2. Yarmouth – Yarmouth Regional Hospital
  3. Kentville – Valley Regional Hospital
  • Two (2) SANE nurses will attend and provide care 24/7
  • Response time is within 1.5 hours from the time of the call

How to Access SANE Services

Call the 24/7 toll-free SANE crisis line 1-844-888-7263 (not yet live)

A SANE poster and other SANE materials will be distributed in each of the 3 geographic regions to include information specific to each SART.

MOU’s will be developed with each ER with SANE response protocols.

The SANE Program is not able to provide: Transportation, medical services outside the hospital emergency department, or medical treatment to anyone other than the person who experienced the sexual assault.

SANE Program Coordinator will:

  • Recruit, hire, and provide ongoing education for Registered Nurses
  • Maintain a monthly on-call SANE nurse schedule
  • Develop and update SANE Nurse Protocol Manual
  • Provide ongoing education and support for SANE nurses
  • Provide follow-up and support for victims/survivors
  • Serve as a member on each SART and attend regular meetings
  • Facilitate ongoing SART education, as needed

*Provincial SANE Coordinator will provide support and standard best-practice training.

A Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) will be developed for each region

A SART is a coordinated sexual assault response team, designed to ensure:

 victims/ survivors (both recent and historic) of sexualized violence are provided with a broad range of necessary care and services - legal, medical, and social services

an increase the likelihood that the assault can be successfully prosecuted.

All SART Members follow specific protocols that set out their responsibilities in treating and providing services to victims of sexual assault.

SART Members include:

-SANE Program Coordinator

-Hospital Emergency

- Crown Prosecutor

-Victim Services

-Police Services

-Community Agencies – TCWC/ Juniper House/ SHYFT

Tri-County Women’s Centre - Administration & Management of daily operations

12 Cumberland Street, Yarmouth, NS B5A 3K3 Ph 902-742-0085

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