Non-Military Team Members

Volunteer or paid professional who understands sexual violence and victim dynamics, who is highly trained and trauma-informed and can address with expertise the short- and long-term needs of patients who report sexual assault. May serve military or civilian families. Texas Government Code §420.003 and Texas Code of Criminal Procedure §56A.351 describe presence of an advocate and mandatory training requirements. Also see sexual assault prevention and response victim advocate (SAPR). A support person is not the same as an advocate with specialized education.

For the purposes of this protocol, a basic forensically trained medical professional is defined as a licensed medical professional (registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or physician) who has taken a minimum two hours or more of education on forensic evidence collection, but less than the didactic and clinical requirements obtained by specially trained medical forensic professionals, and who cares for patients who report sexual assault or when there is a concern that sexual assault occurred (Texas Board of Nursing, 2013, Rule 216.3(d)(1); Texas Medical Board, 2018, Rule 166.2(a)(4)). (See Texas adult/adolescent and pediatric protocols.)

A licensed registered nurse, nurse practitioner or physician who demonstrates competence through completion of extensive didactic education, as well as completion of clinical requirements or fellowship resulting in achieving certification. For the purposes of this protocol, certification includes:

• American Board of Pediatricians, Child Abuse Pediatrics
• Attorney General of Texas currency of practice certifications SANE Certification Office of the Attorney General
  • Certified Adult/Adolescent SANE (CA-SANE),
  • Certified Pediatric SANE (CP-SANE), or
  • Certified Adult/Adolescent and Certified Pediatric SANE (CA-CP SANE)
• International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) certification examinations Certification Opportunities – International Association of Forensic Nurses
  • Sexual Assualt Nurse Examiner – Adult/Adolescent (SANE-A)
  • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner – Pediatric (SANE-P)

Volunteer or paid professional who offers support to victims or suspects of sexual violence, and who understands that the patient guides any spiritual discussion.

Pediatricians “with special training, experience and skills in evaluating children who may be victims of some type of abuse or neglect” (Healthy Children, 2015, para. 1).

Located in 71 different locations throughout Texas, CACs coordinate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases by utilizing multidisciplinary teams comprising professionals involved in child welfare, law enforcement, prosecution, medical and mental health, and are responsible for providing critical services to children and families impacted by abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

“Forensic nursing science combines the concepts and principles of the traditional forensic sciences and those of nursing in the clinical investigation of trauma and the recovery of medical evidence” (Lynch & Duval, 2011).

Anyone who is not an active-duty service member (ADSM).

“A registered nurse specially trained to provide the forensic/medical examination and evaluation of sexual trauma while maximizing the collection of biological, trace and physical evidence and minimizing the patient’s emotional trauma” (Lynch & Duval, 2011, p. 16). SANEs have extensive training on laws, sexual violence, trauma-informed care, and evidence collection.

A licensed medical professional (registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or physician) who has completed forensic education and clinical requirements that meets or exceeds the Department of Justice recommended standards outlined in “A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations – Adults/Adolescents Second Edition,” and/or the minimum standards required for certification as outlined by the Texas Attorney General in “Initial SANE certification guide,” which includes:

• Adult/adolescent patient
  • 40 hours of didactic education that meets the guidelines established by the protocols,
  • 10 pelvic examinations supervised by a preceptor,
  • 8 adult/adolescent sexual assault medical forensic examinations supervised by a preceptor, and
  • 12 hours of courtroom observation.
• Pediatric patients
  • 40 hours of didactic education that meets the guidelines established by the protocols, 10 pelvic examinations supervised by a preceptor,
  • 20 well child examinations,
  • 10 pediatric sexual assault medical forensic examinations supervised by a
  • preceptor, at least six of which must be prepubescent children, and one adolescent.