Statewide Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) VIRTUAL Training
November 16-19, 2021, ONLINE

Sponsored by the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
in partnership with Alaska State Troopers, State of Alaska Department of Law, the Alaska Nurses Association, and the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center.

REGISTER WITH YOUR TEAM TODAY! DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15, 2021

THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR THIS TRAINING

For questions about the Fall 2021 Statewide SART Training, please contact:
Marjorie Hamburger, Program Coordinator
Phone: (907) 465-4673
Email:  marjorie.hamburger@alaska.gov

TRAINING LOCATION: ONLINE – You will receive a link to set up your virtual conference account upon registration approval. Accommodations are in place to support those with limited or no internet connectivity who need to participate via the phone.

TRAINING CREDIT: (CME) Continuing Medical Education credits* and (APSC) Alaska Police Standards Council credits will be offered with full participation.

* The Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault partners with the Alaska Nurses Association (AaNA) to offer continuing nursing education. AaNA is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION: You will be notified of the status of your application by October 22, 2021.

WHAT IS SART?
A Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) is a multidisciplinary interagency team generally consisting of victim advocates, law enforcement officers, forensic examiners (such as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners), crime lab personnel, and prosecutors. These team members provide a coordinated, efficient, and supportive response to persons who have been sexually assaulted while focusing on the victim’s needs and choices. The team’s response is designed to reduce the trauma of a sexual assault by providing victim-centered advocacy, care, and services, and to increase the likelihood that assaults can be successfully prosecuted.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND THIS SART TRAINING?
Members of active SAR Teams (advocates, nurses/forensic examiners, law enforcement, prosecutors and paralegals) across the state of Alaska, including those who may not have a full team in their community but who respond to sexual assault reports and coordinate with teams in other communities to provide a full continuum of care to victims.

SAR TEAM TRAINING DAYS, NOVEMBER 16-19, 2021
Synopsis: This is a 4-day course that provides an overview of sexual assault response using the SART model, including each team member’s role and how to proceed through a call-out in a trauma-informed, person centered manner. Training includes multi-disciplinary sessions as well as discipline-specific sessions.

SART training objectives are:
• Learn to treat victims/survivors with dignity, respect, and empathy.
• Learn the roles of each of the disciplines in the SAR Team, and how to work effectively within that team.
• Learn about Sexual Assault Response options and processes, including anonymous reporting, criminal justice processes, and resources for healing.
• Learn discipline-related skills for responding to a SART call.
• Team-building: Build relationships with individuals from the other disciplines within your geographic area to lay the foundation for effective working relationships.

DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC CONTENT

Sexual Assault Investigation for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors: Criminal justice professionals are provided additional training on the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault crimes including rolespecific information on victim and witness interviews, documenting corroborating evidence, and the suspect interview. Corroborating evidence includes scene investigation, background and records, crime lab analysis, and search warrants including “glass” warrants. The training also covers legal issues surrounding these topics.

Sexual Assault Examinations for the SANE/SAFE: Sexual Assault Nurses/Forensic Examiners are provided with more advanced training regarding the care of patients reporting sexual assault. The discipline-specific training sessions cover information in more depth than is covered in the multi-disciplinary sessions including examination techniques, assessment, documentation, evidence collection, expert testimony, collaboration, and peer review.

Advocacy for Sexual Assault Survivors through the SART Process: Discipline-specific training for advocates goes more in depth on topics related to SART advocacy and legal advocacy, including long term healing and navigating the criminal justice system. Some of the topics will be determined in response to particular needs and interests of participants.