Every April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month bring the opportunity for a healthy pause and reflection of program activities across the Indian Health Service, Tribal and urban Indian organization programs. Below are just a few highlights to showcase Indian health system providers, their dedication to the field, and general facility updates with regards to forensic health care program growth and development.
Four Directions Clinic, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: Kyle, South Dakota
With three permanent sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE), this small but highly professional and dedicated team ensures survivors from around the community receive compassionate, trauma-informed, and comprehensive medical forensic health care. This team of nurses provide ongoing community outreach and education—offering presentations at local schools and juvenile detention centers, focusing on prevention and awareness of sexual assault and sexually transmitted infections among youth. They participate in a weekly one-hour Indian health program on the local radio station, which allows them to educate the public, raise awareness, and reach a wide audience on topics like sexual assault and abuse. To strengthen their coordinated community response efforts, their team also participates in monthly multidisciplinary team meetings with Bureau of Indian Affairs investigators, South Dakota State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These collaborations help ensure effective communication, coordinated investigations, and improved support for survivors in their area.
Lawton Service Unit: Lawton, Oklahoma
The Lawton Service Unit is working diligently to finalize policies and procedures, as it works on implementing its new SANE Program. The service unit currently has five registered nurses who are training to serve as SANEs, four of whom have completed the minimum mandatory requirements to serve as examiners in Oklahoma. Nurses have collaborated with the local community SANE program and are working with seasoned SANEs to achieve additional competencies. Service unit nurses have also become involved in the community’s Sexual Assault Response Team and have been corresponding with representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and other community stakeholders to ensure strong community partnerships.
Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority: Cherokee, North Carolina
The Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority’s Forensic Nurse Program entered the final year of the five-year Forensic Healthcare Service’s grant cycle. Expanding staff capacity was a key priority in year four, resulting in the hiring of three additional nurses and a project coordinator to support this vital work in the community. Community awareness and access to these services have continued to grow, and the forensic nursing team remains committed to providing high-quality care. The Indian Health Service continues to support this expansion in staffing and leadership for these essential services.
Gallup Indian Medical Center: Gallup, New Mexico
The Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) has been focusing on increased provider education on the topics of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking awareness. Many of their staff have been able to attend the online Texas A&M University Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursing Adult and Adolescent Sexual Assault Examiner Trainings. They have been building an ongoing collaboration with the Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico, who recently opened a Gallup location and are offering medical forensic exams and advocacy services. They are also collaborating with the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, who have kindly offered to do additional education on human trafficking. GIMC is incredibly excited for the future of their program and to provide resources and support to patients in the community.
Important dates to remember:
- April 10: Please wear blue to show support and encourage positive and healthy discussions with family and friends to help end child abuse and maltreatment. Our children are our future!
- April 29: Sexual Assault Awareness Month's Denim Day – Wear Denim with a Purpose!
Helpful resources:
- IHS Child Maltreatment – related information
- EMSC Innovation and Improvement Center – Pediatric Education and Advocacy Kit (PEAK): Child Abuse
- Children’s Bureau: The Administration for Children and Families (hhs.gov)
- National Child Abuse Prevention Month - Child Welfare Information Gateway
- Tribal Child Welfare
- National Indian Child Welfare Association – NICWA
- StrongHearts Native Helpline – 844-7NATIVE (762-8483)
Provider Resources:
- Hotline for Reporting Child/Sexual Abuse within IHS: 855-SAFE-IHS (855-723-3447)
- Indian Health Manual Part 3, Chapter 36: Child Maltreatment
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: 1-844-762-8483
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center - About SAAM 2026 - National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
- The IHS Forensic Healthcarewebpage offers a variety of resources, including provider guidebooks, forensic-related health topics, programs and initiatives, provider resources, training, policies, and a sign-up option for the Forensic Healthcare Listserv.
- The IHS awarded the Forensic Nursing Consultation Program contract to Texas A&M University Center of Excellence in Forensic Nursingto provide education, training, and mentoring resources to boost forensic health care related workforce activities across all IHS, tribal, and urban Indian organization facilities. Trainings include both Adult/Adolescent and Pediatric Sexual Assault Examiner course (CE/CMEs are available and are FREE for all IHS/Tribal/urban Indian organization providers). Register for courses or listen to On-Demand Webinars today!
