BE WELL

KC ASSAULT VICTIMS TURN

TO THE FACT PROGRAM FOR HELP

WRITTEN BY JACKIE WOODS / PHOTO BY SHERRI SCHWINN

Sexual assault and domestic violence can happen anywhere at any time. In fact, the United States Department of Justice estimates that an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds.

In the state of Kansas alone in 2020, there were nearly 40,000 calls to crisis hotlines and almost 70,000 victims received help, according to the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.

With so many instances of violence, it’s important to know the resources available in the Kansas City area in case you or someone you know becomes a victim.

Becky Finke, RN, BSN, SANE-A, is the assistant manager of the Emergency Department at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and leads the Forensic Assessment Consultation and Treatment (FACT) program. The FACT program consists of a group of specially trained nurses who are available 24/7, 365 days per year to provide care for patients of all ages affected by different types of violence such as sexual assault, physical assault, intimate partner violence, abuse and neglect, and human trafficking.

When victims of violence come to the emergency room for medical treatment at any of the Kansas City area AdventHealth locations, Finke and her team provide a consultation and offer services like injury assessments, documentation and forensic photography, community resources to ensure safety, and assistance filing a police report if desired by the victim. Finke’s team sees about 75 patients per month through the FACT program and helps with resources such as shelter, restraining orders, safety planning, court advocacy, and information regarding financial assistance to recover costs associated with the crime.

Violence happens year-round, but there are times when it is more prevalent and the data regarding these trends is shifting.

“We see an increase in both sexual assaults and domestic violence during the summer months, which is normally our busiest time,” says Finke. “But we were very busy this past fall, which is a change from our normal pattern. We definitely see more physical assaults during times when activities such as concerts, sporting events, and festivals are taking place.”

Although you may hear about assaults being committed by strangers in the news, it’s more likely that victims will know their perpetrator. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), eight out of ten sexual assaults are committed by someone who knows the victim.

Many of these crimes are committed by intimate partners. The CDC estimates about one in five women and about one in seven men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. However, Finke says it’s often challenging for people to make changes in their life, such as leaving an abusive spouse or partner.

“It can be difficult to help a victim reach the decision to leave an abusive situation,” says Finke. “Oftentimes a person feels it is better to stay until they have a safety plan to leave, or they are reluctant to break up their family by removing or leaving children and pets. And some are simply not financially capable of leaving.”

Taking that first step is difficult. However, if you, a family member, or friend is in a high risk situation, you should know that resources are available.

“We are very fortunate that the Kansas City community has so many resources to help, including MOCSA and Safehome,” says Finke. “Both have 24/7 crisis hotlines open 365 days a year. They also provide free resources to help victims with safety planning, financial planning, counseling, childcare, and more. Knowing there is support is so important in taking that step to a better life.”

The FACT team is part of the process from start to finish. Once the team completes their assessment, they arrange for an advocate from organizations like MOCSA and Safehome to visit with the patient at the bedside. The FACT team and advocate work together to help victims plan their next steps after leaving the hospital. Finke says she and other nurses from the FACT team also appear in court regularly to testify on the evidence they have obtained as well as their medical forensic exam processes.

“When our patients walk in the door, they are traumatized and scared,” says Finke. “Our ability to be there to support and help makes a world of difference for them.”

For help with any trauma from assault, call FACT at 913.676.7500 or come straight to one of the four AdventHealth emergency department locations. Visit AdventHealthKC.com/ER to learn more.

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