The Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to handling sexual assault cases. It comprises law enforcement, medical professionals, victim advocates, and legal teams, all working together to provide timely, sensitive, and practical support for victims. The acute response team is focused on the immediate response after a sexual assault has occurred. The team conducts case reviews of victims and provides case management services to them. The overall goal of the coordinated system response is to improve collaboration among team members and support sexual assault survivors. The team works to identify gaps and barriers when servicing sexual assault victims.
Community Violence Solutions is the lead coordinating agency for the Contra Costa County and Marin County Sexual Assault Response Teams. Contra Costa County Health administers the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (SANE) for Contra Costa through their Center for Abuse/Assault Response and Evaluation (CARE). Marin County administers their program through Napa Solano SANE-SART.
Forensic Nurse Examiners perform both emergency medical exams and non-acute exams needed to improve the evidence collection processes, thereby increasing the rate of prosecution of sexual assault crimes. Examiners also serve as expert witnesses in court and hospitals provide a dedicated examining room for forensic evidence collection. Program sites are at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, Kaiser Vallejo, and Kaiser San Rafael.
Community Violence Solutions provides experience Crisis Intervention Counselors to support victims throughout the forensic exam.
To find out about becoming a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or for more information about the SANE program, contact the Center for Abuse/Assault Response and Evaluation (CARE) by email at CARE@cchealth.org or by phone at (925) 381-1512.