Given to grow aid for sexual assault survivors
TACOMA — MultiCare Health System has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to boost care for sexual assault survivors.
The funds, provided by the Health Resources & Services Administration, will support the creation of a statewide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner training program to enhance care for victims seeking emergency medical services.
MultiCare operates four facilities in the West Plains, including MultiCare Indigo Urgent Care, MultiCare Occupational Medicine and MultiCare Rockwood Clinic–Primary Care in both Airway Heights and Cheney.
The goal of the project is to train at least 300 qualified examiners and 15 certified nurses over the next three years, nearly doubling the state’s current workforce.
“Developing SANE competency among our nurses, with consistent protocols and expectations across our statewide health system, will improve quality of care and help us deepen our support for a vulnerable population,” said June Altaras, RN, executive vice president and chief nursing officer at MultiCare. “In particular, we will significantly increase our capacity to meet the high demand for care in our rural and medically underserved communities.”
The program will offer trauma-informed and culturally responsive training, while the grant will also fund upgrades to forensic medical equipment and introduce forensic photography capabilities at each of MultiCare’s 16 emergency departments. Eleven are located in HRSA-defined medically under-served areas, addressing critical gaps in care across the state.
SANE training will include a 40-hour hybrid course on adult and adolescent care, along with a 16-hour advanced clinical course featuring hands-on experience with live training aids. The free training will be offered on a quarterly basis, and will be open to nurses outside of MultiCare.
“Our intention is to provide comprehensive, survivor-centered care to survivors of sexual assault who come to our emergency departments,” interim Project Director Jennifer Cantrell said. “With enhanced education and upgraded medical supplies, we can ensure that survivors are supported immediately and compassionately.”
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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