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From left, Lawrence Police Chief Tarik Khatib, and Detective Capt. Mike Pattrick, along with Lawrence Memorial Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Julie Jacobson watch Sarah Martin, also a SANE nurse, demonstrate a new imaging system used to collect evidence in sexual assault cases. LMH had a private open house Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, for its SANE program. by Richard Gwin

District Attorney Charles Branson lauded Lawrence Memorial Hospital for improving its services to sexual assault victims during the past couple of years.

“There has been tremendous improvement,” Branson said. “The training and emphasis LMH has put on these cases is wonderful.”

LMH has a new examination room, new state-of-the-art equipment, and more nurses trained to be a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). The hospital went from two nurses to 10, and there are three nurses who are in the process of completing their training. There is one nurse on call at any given time. Last year, LMH paid $118,245 for SANE nurses to be on call.

“They now have 24/7 coverage for sexual assault exams,” Branson said.

These improvements began in September 2009 when Branson publicly raised concerns about the number of rape victims being transferred from LMH to hospitals in Topeka and Kansas City.

At the time, he said delays in an examination could destroy evidence needed to hold an attacker accountable. He also feared that victims would abandon the reporting process instead of going to another hospital.

Since then, there have been no transfers of adult patients. There were 40 cases in 2010, and 45 last year. In 2009, three of the 64 cases were transferred. In 2008, five of the 34 cases were transferred.

Pediatric cases

Branson and LMH leaders agree that it’s still best to send pediatric cases — children 14 and younger — to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., because it is better equipped and trained to handle such cases.

Jessie Fazel, SANE coordinator at LMH, said it takes 40 hours of training to become a SANE nurse and an additional 40 hours for pediatrics. At LMH, the nurses also go through an orientation process where they observe a couple of sexual assault cases, assist a couple of cases and then they are observed taking care of two cases. After they become a SANE nurse, Fazel said they need to perform cases to stay proficient and competent.

She said there are not enough pediatric cases in Lawrence to do that. There were three children transferred last year, one in 2010, and five in 2009.

“Children’s Mercy has a dedicated facility that only deals with child abuse and sexual assault cases,” Fazel said. “It would kind of do them an injustice to keep them here.”

If someone is concerned that a child has been sexually assaulted, Fazel said they can go to LMH where the hospital will facilitate law enforcement involvement and transportation to Children’s Mercy.

“We are here as a resource and we know how to facilitate all of that,” she said. “We strive to be the best in everything we do and we want to provide the best care that we can to our community.”

Fazel is president-elect of the Kansas chapter of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. The state chapter formed in January 2011 and the meetings rotate quarterly among eight Kansas hospitals, including LMH. She said topics have included the court process, documentation and missing and exploited children.

In addition, Fazel said LMH will be hosting a two-day advanced training session in May for SANE nurses and anyone involved in a sexual assault response. The sessions will feature nationally known speakers in the field of forensic collection.

Sarah Jane Russell, executive director of GaDuGi SafeCenter, praised LMH for its response to a community need.

“They responded with great integrity and they got it done,” she said.

Russell said the new examination room has made a huge difference for victims. It is located away from the Emergency Department and is designed to give victims more privacy and a sense of security and hope. There also is a shower.

“For a victim to be able to receive treatment in a private room that is welcoming and soothing that means everything,” she said. “We have had comments from victims that the experience at the hospital was not as upsetting as they thought it might be.”

LMH began using a new $25,000 system for collecting evidence called a Secure Digital Forensic Imaging System in June 2010. The camera It provides high-resolution and detail-oriented evidence. There is a yearly fee of $900 for the electronic encryption and storage capabilities.

“It’s very safe for transferring the information online,” Fazel said.

The startup costs for the new services cost about $150,000, and it was provided through the Douglas County Community Foundation, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, LMH Endowment Association and LMH employee Audrey Bishop.

Jessie Fazel, coordinator of Lawrence Memorial Hospital's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, is holding a high-resolution digital camera that is used to collect evidence. The hospital began using the camera in June 2010. The camera is just one of several improvements that the hospital has made during the past couple of years in its services to sexual assault victims. by Kevin Anderson

Community efforts

There has been a renewed effort for sexual assault response among Douglas County agencies as well.

Branson said communication has improved among members of the Sexual Assault Response Team, which has been around for years. Members include the district attorney’s office, LMH, Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, Kansas University’s Watkins Health Center and GaDuGi SafeCenter. This fall, the group created a new protocol that defined their roles.

Russell said that was a big step for the group.

“I think there is a greater recognition of the importance of a coordinated community response,” she said.

There is no charge to a patient for a SANE exam, and by law the hospital is required to provide this community service. It costs approximately $2,000 per case. The Douglas County District Attorney’s office pays $500 per case and the balance is written off by LMH. Last year, the district attorney’s office paid $250 per case. The payment will increase to $750 next year.

BY THE NUMBERS

Lawrence Memorial Hospital has improved its services to sexual assault victims. Here’s a review of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program in 2011:

• 48 — sexual assault cases.

• 0 — adult transfers.

• 3 — transfers of children ages 14 and younger to Children’s Mercy Hospital.

• 4 — instances where two or three victims were in the ER at the same time.

• 28 — patients elected to report to law enforcement.

• 8 — patients elected to not report to law enforcement, but sent evidence to KBI to be kept up to five years. Victim can file a report and pursue charges within this timeframe.

• 9 — patients declined or were out of the 72-hour window for forensic evidence collection.

• 10 — nurses trained to handle SANE cases.

• 3 — nurses are in process of completing orientation.

• $118,245 — wages paid to have one nurse on-call.

• $2,000 — approximate cost per SANE exam for LMH. There is no charge for patients.

• $250 — district attorney’s office paid LMH per case.

Kansas City area high school students talk about why they got involved in a theater group called "The Outrage" during "Take Back The Night" in South Park. The group does performances about teen dating violence. The female student, who is holding the microphone, said she got involved after being in an abusive relationship. She said it helped her "mend." by John Young

The Willow Domestic Violence Center and GaDuGi SafeCenter are developing programming to educate teenagers in Lawrence about dating violence and healthy relationships. Our ultimate goal is to establish long-term programming to be utilized within the high schools and/or community organizations by fall 2012.

Adolescence is an important age during which to be exposed to models of healthy relationships. 1 in 4 adolescents experience physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual abuse from a dating partner each year. Our program will empower teens to make decisions that are the best for their own lives. The prevention program will give teens the tools to help their friends and loved ones who are in unhealthy situations.

As part of our program development, we’re planning to hold focus groups in late January and February 2012 for both teens and educators in order to create an open dialogue about healthy relationships. To realize this goal, we need help from community members in determining what should be addressed in our teen violence prevention program.

We are looking for teens and educators to participate in these focus groups. If you are a teen or work with teens, or are affiliated with any teen groups, clubs, or organizations, please contact us at teen@willowdvcenter.org

Your help could ensure a safer environment for teens in our community.

The Willow Domestic Violence Center provides safe-shelter, peer counseling, advocacy, and other services to survivors of domestic violence. The Willow’s services are based on the empowerment philosophy. Some of the components of empowerment include: believing that the survivor is the expert in their own experience; offering support, resources and referrals; and providing information on domestic violence.

GaDuGi SafeCenter, Inc. impacts our community by providing 24-hour comprehensive victim-centered services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence. It engages in creative collaboration with community partners to develop and implement prevention education and community awareness.

About 75 runners participated in the GaDuGi SafeCenter's Halloween-themed 5K run Sunday along the Kansas River levee.

The benefit also included family-friendly activities after the race, like face painting, bean bag toss, sidewalk chalk, arts and crafts and, of course, candy.

GaDuGi provides 24-hour victim-centered services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence in Douglas and Jefferson counties. Last year, the safe center provided direct services for 176 people.

Here are a few pictures from Sunday's event:

Runners compete in the Boo Run 5k Race held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. Although not required to compete, costumes were encouraged. by John Young

Disguised as a black widow, Jennifer Smith, right, Lecompton, and Judi Long, Lawrence, approach the finish line of the Boo Run 5k Race held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. by John Young

Jeremy Garrett, of Kansas City, Mo., runs along the Kansas River levee during the Boo Run 5k Race held Sunday Oct 30, 2011. Garrett was first to cross the finish line. by John Young

http://admin.ljworld.com/media/photo/223819/

Susan Miller, right, Eudora, paints 1-year-old Lucy Chapam’s, Lawrence, face as her mother, Shawna, watches during the Trunk or Treat event held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, at the corner of Second and Elm streets in North Lawrence. The event, sponsored by the GaDuGi SafeCenter, featured face painting, chalk art and other fun and games for children. by John Young

Dressed as a princess, 4-year-old Kenisen Large, left, Tonganoxie, and her 2-year-old brother Conlan, dressed as a frog prince, create chalk art during the Trunk or Treat event held Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011 at the corner of Second and Elm streets in North Lawrence. The event, sponsored by the GaDuGi SafeCenter, featured face painting, chalk art and other fun and games for children. by John Young

Two ghostly brides and a gorilla participate in the Downtown Lawrence Trick-or-Treat event Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. by Mike Yoder

The GaDuGi SafeCenter is having a Halloween-themed 5K run Sunday along the Kansas River levee.

Registration for “The Boo! Run” begins at 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot near 402 N. Second St. and the run begins at 1 p.m. The cost is $25.

Participants are encouraged to run in costumes, and prizes will be given for best costumes in addition to the top runners.

There will be family-friendly activities following the race in the parking lot until 2:30 p.m. They include face painting, bean bag toss, sidewalk chalk, arts and crafts and, of course, candy.

Individuals can pre-register for the race between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday at GaDuGi SafeCenter, 2518 Ridge Court. Pre-registration cost is $20.

Proceeds benefit the safe center, which provides 24-hour victim-centered services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence in Douglas and Jefferson counties. Last year, GaDuGi provided direct services for 176 people.

For more information, call 843-8985.

GaDuGi's website. by kbritt

Verizon Wireless announced Wednesday that it has donated $2,000 to Lawrence's GaDuGi SafeCenter as part of the company’s national HopeLine program, which is dedicated to assisting communities, local shelters and agencies in ending domestic violence.

GaDuGi Safe Center is one of 23 violence prevention organizations in Kansas that will be receiving funds to support local education programs and shelter operations. It provides 24-hour services for women, children and men affected by sexual violence in Douglas and Jefferson counties.

Verizon's HopeLine program provides wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence and cash grants to local shelters and nonprofit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention.

Since the launch of the HopeLine phone recycling program in 2001, Verizon has:

• collected more than 8 million phones,

• awarded more than $10 million in cash grants,

• properly disposed of nearly 1.7 million no-longer-used wireless phones in an environmentally sound way,

• distributed more than 106,000 phones with about 319 million minutes of free wireless service to be used by victims of domestic violence,

• kept more than 210 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence, call GaDuGi at 888-899-2345 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

The Willow Domestic Violence Center's website. by kbritt

Gov. Sam Brownback recently announced more than $5.7 million in state and federal funding for agencies that help victims of crime, child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault.

Among the recipients were two Lawrence safe centers:

• The Willow Domestic Violence Center — $210,297.

• GaDuGi SafeCenter — $43,647.

From domestic violence prevention efforts to prosecuting child abusers, this grant money will go a long way in helping local organizations and communities. These federal and state dollars play a vital role in supporting and improving the important services each of the recipient organizations provide, especially in slow economic times like these.”

— Gov. Brownback

Both centers received money through the State General Fund Grant Program for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agencies. The funds are used as matching funds for federal formula grant requirements to support sexual and domestic violence services and to enhance services to underserved areas of the state. The Willow Center received $153,610 and GaDuGi was awarded $43,647.

The Willow Center also received a $56,687 grant through the Federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Grant Program. The program pays for support group activities for women and children, child care, prevention education in schools and communities, information and referral services, advocacy in obtaining protection from abuse and stalking orders, court accompaniment, and outreach into rural counties.