““While difficult at times, this work has brought me such joy and gratitude for the SANE program and SANE nurses across the state. We make a difference for our patients — not only in the moment, but moving forward in the healing process.””
Mary Walz-Watson, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
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Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs)
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health trains and certifies nurses and advanced practice nurses as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) to provide compassionate, trauma-informed, expert forensic nursing care to sexual assault patients of all ages. The program also provides virtual continuing education trainings on a quarterly basis for nurses and providers caring for sexual assault patients. To apply for MA SANE certification training, you must be a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician in Massachusetts with at least three years of clinical experience. We welcome nurses from diverse experiential backgrounds, but knowledge or a background in violence against women, sexual assault or domestic violence is preferable. An understanding of how racism and other oppressions impact the social determinants of health leading to health inequities, poorer health outcomes, and sexual violence in Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color as well as other marginalized communities is required. SANE nurses are exceptionally caring individuals who want to affect the lives of sexual assault survivors.
Pediatric SANEs
These nurse practitioners are provided with specialized 1:1 training in the care of children and adolescents who have been sexually assaulted/abused. Pediatric SANEs are part of a multidisciplinary team within 10 Children’s Advocacy Centers across the state. They provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care, including the option for forensic examinations, helping ensure the child’s health and well-being. Pediatric SANEs may serve as fact/expert witnesses for cases that move through the criminal justice system.
Adult/Adolescent SANE Regional Coordinators
DPH trains nurses with at least three years of experience as Adult/Adolescent SANEs who are then hired by DPH as independent contractors to provide on-call coverage on a regional basis for 52 sites across the state. SANE contractors may also be eligible to receive specialized training to use secure video-conference technology to support sexual assault patients and clinicians caring for them through forensic exams/evidence collection. TeleSANE services are provided at 15 DPH-designated hospitals.
SANE Regional Coordinators and the TeleSANE Coordinator work with DPH-designated in-person SANE and TeleSANE sites across the Commonwealth. They manage on-call scheduling, support SANE contractors, and collaborate with designated SANE site liaisons and community rape crisis centers to ensure the best patient care. These coordinators also lead trainings for hospital staff, responders, and others about the care of sexual assault patients and SANE services.
SANE Program Educators
DPH employs an Educator/Training Coordinator/Clinical Coordinator for each component of the program (Pediatrics, Adult/Adolescent, TeleSANE). These positions are expert SANE clinicians, responsible for initial training and continuing education for SANEs, TeleSANEs, and Pediatric SANEs. They work together to meet the needs of almost 200 Pediatric, Adult/Adolescent, and TeleSANE clinicians across the Commonwealth.
SANE Program Associate Directors
DPH also employs an Associate Director for each component of the program (Pediatric, Adult/Adolescent, TeleSANE). These positions are core leadership team members for the SANE Program, participating in strategic planning and program development for SANE services statewide. They also collaborate with other state partners and agencies to ensure trauma-informed responses for sexual assault patients across the system.