Because ongoing professional development is critical for all members of the medical forensic team–including nurses–the Indiana SANE Training Project is bringing national experts to Indianapolis for Empowering Medical Forensic Practice: Trauma, Teamwork and Transformation, a two-day conference May 14-15 at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel, Keystone Crossing.
The Indiana SANE Training Project is a program of the Southwest Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC) that provides sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training. Southwest Indiana AHEC is hosted by the University of Southern Indiana in the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions and is part of a national network with a mission to improve health by leading the nation in the recruitment, training and retention of a health workforce focused on rural and underserved communities.
The registration fee is $75 with continuing education hours available, provided by the University of Southern Indiana Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning.
Speaker lineup for the conference:
Jim Hopper, PhD, is an independent consultant and teaching associate in psychology at Harvard Medical School. His presentation on the psychological and biological effects of sexual assault and other trauma is backed by his 30 years of research, consulting and clinical work on this topic.
Renee Thompson, DNP, RN, FAAN, CSP, is the CEO and Founder of the Healthy Workforce Institute. She works with healthcare organizations to cultivate a professional, supportive and respectful work culture. During this conference, she will lead an interactive workshop on the six essential skills for healthcare leaders to retain and grow a high-performing and cohesive team.
Russell and Myra Strand, co-owners of Strand Squared Solutions LLC (Strand²), will give a presentation titled, “Behind the Cloak of Darkness: The Impact of Pornography and Other Considerations.” Russell is a retired U.S. Army CID Senior Federal Special Agent and Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program Manager. Myra Strand, MA, CA, is the Advocacy Diplomat at Strand² and a Certified Comprehensive Victim Intervention Specialist: Advanced.
Nancy Norton, RN, CHP (Certified Humor Professional), is an award-winning comedian and keynote speaker. Her presentations are based on evidence-based studies about the benefits of therapeutic humor. She backs up the anecdotal evidence with funny, fast-paced storytelling.
Since late 2018, the Indiana SANE Training Project has been working to strengthen the state’s response to sexual assault and abuse by training nurses to become medical forensic nurses, which includes SANEs. “Through this initiative, nurses across Indiana are equipped with the specialized skills needed to provide trauma-informed, patient-centered care to survivors of sexual assault,” says Jane Friona, Executive Director of Southwest Indiana AHEC. “In addition, the Project offers tailored technical assistance to new and existing SANE programs to help ensure evidence-based practice, effective policies and procedures and sustainability.”
According to Friona, the Project has offered more than 100 educational opportunities, from didactic courses to clinical skills labs to courtroom testimony trainings to intimate partner violence courses, with more than 1,500 participants from primarily rural and urban underserved communities.
“These opportunities combine clinical education with a focus on compassionate survivor support, ensuring that SANEs are well-prepared to conduct forensic exams and serve as vital resources in their communities,” she says. “As a result of the ongoing effort since the project’s inception, access to medical forensic services has expanded by 11 counties for pediatric services and 12 counties for adult/adolescent services, bringing much-needed care closer to home for many survivors who previously had limited options. The Indiana SANE Training Project will continue to build a statewide network of skilled professionals committed to improving outcomes and restoring dignity for those affected by sexual violence.”
