Preventing and Responding to Sexual Assault in Job Corps

1. Preventing and Responding to Sexual Assaultin Job Corps Shannon Bentley, RN, Nurse Specialist Melissa Cusey, RN, BSN, Nurse Specialist Julie Luht, MPH, MCHES

2. Learning Objectives • Describe an effective sexual assault prevention and response program • Discuss sexual assault prevention and education components • Discuss counseling and treatment options • Explain follow-up care and reporting • List available resources

3. How much do you know?

4. Nearly 1 in 4 women have been the victim of a sexual assault.

5. January March April June September December July Women who are physically assaulted by an intimate partner average 6.9 physical assaults per year by the same partner.

6. Program Components • Establish a program for sexual assault that includes: • A team approach • Prevention and education • Counseling and treatment • Follow-up care • Reporting mechanisms

7. Center Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) • Each center should formally establish a SART, which is inclusive of both prevention and response activities, and identify member roles and responsibilities. It is suggested that the team leader/coordinator be a full-time center employee (e.g., family planning coordinator, career counselor). See Health and Wellness Approach to (1) Family Planning and (2) Sexual Assault and Prevention TAG for information on creating a SART.

8. SART Team Duties • Coordinator: • Provides overall direction/responsibility for the SART • Develops community resources for victims (referrals for therapy, counseling) • Provides information on the SART during Introduction to Center Living/Orientation • Develops center wide prevention strategies—posters, brochures, awareness day, speakers, etc. • Acts as main contact person • Is trained by local rape crisis center or the state sexual assault coalition office and trains or coordinates training for counselors and/or residential advisors • Evaluates SART effectiveness

9. SART Team Duties • Health and Wellness Manager: • Assists with significant incident reporting (SIRs) • Assists with medical interventions, if applicable • Provides HIV policy assistance • Coordinates involvement of CMHC and physician, if applicable

10. SART Team Duties • Center Mental Health Consultant: • Provides staff training on sexual assault awareness and prevention • Provides short-term therapy • Provides follow up support when the student returns after receiving outside services • Acts as center liaison with local crisis center • Provides HIV counseling and crisis assistance, if needed

11. SART Team Duties • Career Counselor: • Provides counseling for the victim • Assists in training the residential advisors on how to respond to reports, supportive roles, etc. • Monitors victim’s progress • Physician: • Assists with medical interventions, if applicable

12. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) • Have a SOP with staff designations and outlined duties • Be center specific • Have a copy with call numbers available in safety and the dorms

13. Sample Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Standard Operating Procedure • References: PRH 6.11;R6, Health and Wellness Approach to (1) Family Planning and (2) Sexual Assault and Prevention TAG • Purpose: Establish a Standard Operating Procedure to provide a program for sexual assault prevention, education, counseling, treatment, and follow-up care, and a sexual assault response team (SART). • Policy: Students will be provided with a safe, sound living environment. The Center Director will ensure that sexual assault prevention measures, rapid team response and investigation, counseling, education, treatment, reporting and follow-up activities are provided for students per PRH guidelines and local reporting laws. • Procedure: Should be center specific • SART members: • Cindy Nurse • Jack Psychologist • Etc. • Reporting: SIR and state laws

14. Center Behavioral Standards Regarding Sexual Behavior • Each center must define standards for acceptable and unacceptable sexual behavior. • The standards should both create and support comfortable learning and living environments, and (2) protect individuals from exploitative, coercive, and traumatic experiences. • The Center Director must ensure that center rules for sexual behavior are equally applied to all students (and staff). During the Introduction to Center Living, students must be informed of the center’s standards regarding sexual behavior.

15. Sexual Assault Policy • Job Corps policy [PRH-6: 6.11, R6 (a, b)] requires that each Center Director: • Establish a program for sexual assault risk reduction response, and follow up care • Develop a team response to sexual assault that involves center staff and outside resources • Report sexual assaults: • To law enforcement authorities as required by state and local law • As significant incidents (see Chapter 5, Section 5.5, Management and Reporting of Significant Incidents)

16. Prevention • Orientation—During orientation to health and wellness services (during Introduction to Center Living), students should be given introductory information about the SART and the sexual assault prevention and response program, including where to go for help. • Wellness Education Program (WEP)—The human sexuality segment of WEP should include information on sexual assaults and risk reduction. • TEAP Education Classes—The TEAP specialist should provide information to all students regarding the connection between alcohol and drug use and sexual assault. • Informal Discussion Groups—Small group discussions, generally held in the dormitory, may be another means of teaching students about sexual assault risk reduction.

17. Environmental Precautions • RA presence or make sure other staff members are visible • Encourage staff and students to tell others where they are going and when they expect to return • Proper lighting • Sharing emergency #’s with students • Travel in pairs

18. Alcohol and Drugs • 70% of sexual assaults involve alcohol • Education around date-rape drugs (e.g., roofies) • Peer pressure • Consent

19. Educating Bystanders • One of the most effective ways to prevent sexual assaults • “If you see something, say something.” • Importance of being a “Good Samaritan” • Identify red flags • Teach empathy—“If I were in this situation, would I want someone to help me?” • Encourage friends to have a plan

20. Sexual Assault Education Topics • Avoiding situations • Standing up for friends AND STRANGERS • Working with male students/staying out of trouble • See Program Instruction No. 04-10 and SafetyNet for more information

21. SafteyNet • Violence-prevention training—geared for staff • Sexual assault prevention component • Relationship aggression • Critical Incident Crisis Intervention Plan

26. Responding to a Sexual Assault

27. Steps to Respond (In Order) • Move victim to a safe area and offer comfort • Respond to a medical emergency, if applicable • Contact SART Coordinator • SART Coordinator conducts a brief interview • Involve center security and law enforcement • Arrange for appropriate follow-up services • Complete reporting requirements

28. Counseling and Treatment • Mental Health Care of the Assault Victim: Victims of sexual assault should be referred by the SART for short-term mental health care. Mental health professionals who are trained and experienced in working with sexual assault victims should be utilized. This may be the center mental health consultant or an off-center agency. Center counselors, residential advisors, and/or other appropriate staff should also provide support to help the victim cope with the trauma and readjust to center life.

29. Counseling and Treatment • Medical Follow up: Arrangements should be made at the time of the initial physical examination for subsequent medical follow up.

30. Follow Up • Refer student for follow-up care • “Go upstream” • Make changes to the program to prevent reoccurrence • Focus on education

31. SIRs • Complete a Significant Incident Report (SIR) • Timely and prompt • Detailed but no medical information • Discuss SART team activation • Discuss SOP • Supplemental regarding follow-up actions and resolution

32. Sample SIR #1 • Victim #1 reported to her RA that she was sexually assaulted around 11:00 p.m. by Student #1. • The RA immediately called SART to the center. The SART conducted a comprehensive investigation and also obtained written statements from Victim #1 and Student #1. Student #1 confessed to having sexual intercourse with Victim #1, claiming he thought that Victim #1 wanted to have sex with him. • The SART called local law enforcement to the center around 3:00 a.m. and upon completion of their investigation and interview with Victim #1 and Student #1, Victim #1 was transported to the hospital for further medical examination and Student #1 was taken into custody and charged with sexual battery. • Follow up: A Fact Finding Board was held and it was determined that Student #1 violated center's policy for inappropriate sexual behavior and was recommended for immediate separation from the program (05.1a). The center continues to make contact with Victim #1 and provides necessary support.

33. Sample SIR #2 • The victim was discovered intoxicated and unresponsive. • At around midnight the victim was transported to the hospital. The center on-call nurse received a call from the safety officer stating that the victim told hospital staff that she had been sexually assaulted, and that the sexual assault occurred during the time that the victim was drinking. • All SART activity took place at the hospital by the local rape crisis center. • The investigation on center revealed conflicting information. All witnesses state that the victim and her friend were let onto the boy's dorm through a rear fire exit door. Due to the victim’s intoxication, it is still unclear exactly what occurred. The police are currently interviewing all possible witnesses. • The victim's parent has been notified. • No arrest has been made. Review Boards are being held for all parties involved regardless of the police investigation as several center policies were violated. Victim is home on leave.

34. State Laws • Report sexual assaults: • To law enforcement agencies as required by state and local law • Be aware of state laws regarding minors and informing guardians Go to: http://www.findlaw.com

35. In Summary… • Five components for a successful and effective sexual assault prevention and response program • A team approach • Prevention and education • Counseling and treatment • Follow-up care • Reporting mechanisms

36. Resources • SafetyNet • National Sexual Violence Resource Center • Job Corps Program Instruction No. 04 -10 and attachment 04-10a • Job Corps Health and Wellness Web Site

37. Resources • SART Tool Kit from DOJ: http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/sartkit/ • From CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/ChooseRespect/ • Teen Dating Violence Awareness: http://www.teendvmonth.org/

38. Resources • National Center for Victims of Crimes: www.ncvc.org • The Faith Trust Institute (formerly known as Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence): www.cpsdv.org • National Sexual Violence Resource Center: www.nsvrc.org • National Resource Center for Safe Schools (Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory: www.safetyzone.org • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/ncipchm.htm • U.S. Department of Justice, Violence Against Women Office: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo • Sexual Assault Statistics: http://sa.rochester.edu/masa/stats.php