With the school year kicking off and the so-called "Red Zone" upon us—an unsettling period marked by a spike in campus sexual assaults—Santa Clara Valley Healthcare's (SCVH) Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) program is issuing a timely reminder to college students that crucial support services are at hand. Stats show a stark reality: approximately a quarter of undergraduate women and 7% of undergraduate men face sexual assault, contributing to a broader figure of 13% when including graduate students, according to a recent report by the County of Santa Clara.
The SAFE program, explicitly designed to deliver client-centered care in the aftermath of sexual assault, intimate partner violence (IPV), or human trafficking, upholds the empowerment of survivors by providing an informed choice throughout their difficult journey of recovery this year the SAFE team has rendered aid to more than 500 survivors. They stand ready to tackle the complex emotional and physical healing processes that those affected may undergo. The confidential realm of assistance offers a discreet entry point for those seeking help, with the option to exclude law enforcement from the procedure readily available, detailed by the county's website.
"We want to create awareness for the community that help is available and they are not alone," Santa Clara Supervisor Cindy Chavez noted in a statement of support, emphasizing the enduring availability of emotional aid post-trauma, recognizing the often delayed shock that follows such distressing events. The SAFE Program, accessible 24/7, reflects a network's commitment to providing secluded and secure spaces for thorough examinations, treatments, and evidence collection operated by specialized healthcare staff trained in trauma-informed care.
Access to the SAFE program spans across Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties, with facilities at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San José, Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, and Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, "Our staff is specifically trained to understand each individual situation to guide them in their care in a trauma informed way," explained Anna Anton, SAFE Nurse Manager, who reassured the program's strong collaboration with confidential advocates offering critical in-person and ongoing support following an exam, this system leaves no stone unturned from medical evaluations that cover sexually transmitted infections and emergency contraception to evidence collection and follow-up referrals.
Additionally, the close-knit partnership extending into educational institutions such as San José State University fosters a proactive approach to spreading awareness about such vital services, with Catherine Voss Plaxton, Associate Vice President, Health, Wellness and Student Services at SJSU, reinforcing the importance of maintaining not only student safety but access to comprehensive support like counseling and care. The SAFE program balances the complex dynamic where medical personnel are mandated to report suspicious injury to law enforcement while honoring survivors' rights in deciding whether to engage with the legal process.
