Health Education Learning Program for Sexual Assault in Rural Appalachia (HELP SARA) Update

In Fall 2018, Professor Emeritus Dr. Patricia Vanhook, secured a three year, 1.4 million dollar, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant focused on increasing access to post-sexual assault care. As the Project Director, Dr. Vanhook created the Health Education Learning Program for Sexual Assault in Rural Appalachia (HELP SARA).  HELP SARA is focused on providing advanced nurse education and increasing the number of Registered Nurses (RNs), Advanced Practice (APRNs) and Forensic Nurses trained and certified as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in rural and underserved populations in Northeast Tennessee. Initially, HELP SARA focused on the eight Northeast counties of Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. Through a partnership with Ballad Health, HELP SARA's reach has extended into Southwest Virginia and helped train nurses in 21 Ballad hospitals.   

 

In 2021, HELP SARA was granted a no-cost continuation through June 2022. To date, HELP SARA has trained more than 160 RNs and APRNs, and 18 nurses have been certified through the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN). SANE-A certified nurses, provide care for patients 13 and older, while SANE-P nurses are certified to provide care from birth through 17 years of age. An online Forensic Nurse Certificate program began this spring led by Dr. Judy McCook, a forensic nurse, and a certified SANE-A, who served as the HELP SARA project Administrator. Under Dr. McCook’s leadership the HELP SARA grant established the first Tennessee chapter of IAFN. HELP SARA continues to offer training to interested RNs and APRNs. For more information, please contact  the SANE training coordinator Kelsey Wallace at wallaceks@etsu.edu 

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