eSANE: With Care and Dignity – Medical Sexual Assault Forensic Exams for Incarcerated Survivors
In the upcoming webinar, With Care and Dignity: Medical Sexual Assault Forensic Exams for Incarcerated Survivors, technical assistance providers from the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) and Just Detention International (JDI) will illustrate trauma-informed approaches to delivering care and collecting evidence in the aftermath of sexual abuse. They will provide a framework for caring for this underserved population, reviewing the appropriate activation and response process for accessing the medical forensic examination; how to maintain effective communication throughout the response process; considerations for the medical forensic exam; and post-assault care for incarcerated survivors — through the lens of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards. The presenters will also detail considerations particular to special populations of detained survivors, including youth and those who are transgender. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss challenges they are currently experiencing in their work, and will learn about key resources and steps for accessing specialized technical assistance.
Trainers: Cynthia Totten, Deputy Executive Director, Just Detention International and Angelita Olowu, Forensic Nursing Director, International Association of Forensic Nurses
Cynthia Totten, Esq, is one of JDI’s Deputy Executive Directors, based in its Washington, D.C., office. Cynthia leads JDI’s national training and technical assistance program, supporting the work of state and tribal sexual assault coalitions, victim advocates, corrections officials, and funding administrators to ensure that incarcerated survivors have access to crisis services. Additionally, she works with corrections agencies on adopting policies that keep prisoners safe from sexual abuse. A lawyer with nearly two decades of experience in human and civil rights work, Cynthia also advocates to bring basic international human rights standards into U.S. prisons and jails, and has contributed to JDI’s federal policy and international programs.
Angelita Olowu, BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, serves as a Forensic Nursing Director, providing training and technical assistance. She has 12 years of nursing experience, and has practiced as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) since 2010. She received her certification for SANE-A in 2015 and SANE-P in 2016. Within her role as a full-time forensic nurse at Hillcrest Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Cleveland, OH, Angelita provided education and leadership to the forensic nursing staff, guidance around her patient population to the Hospital, and community education and outreach to various entities including schools, colleges and universities, and others on prevention and caring for those who have experienced trauma of personal violence.
She has served as a member of a hospital based Domestic Violence Committee, a hospital-based Child Protection Team, and the Cuyahoga County Child Advocacy Center Advisory Committee. She is a member of various professional organizations including IAFN, the Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Response Team, and the Civil Rights Task Force. Additionally, she serves on a committee with the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking.
This training is hosted by CPCM under Grant No. 2019-MU-GX-K014, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations in this document are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
