Categories
Child Abuse Sexual Assault

Just Released: National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners (2nd Edition)

I am thrilled this is now available, as I was fortunate to work on this project–the 2nd edition of the National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners (PDF) is now available. Published by OVW, it updates the original training standards, incorporating pediatric practice and the corresponding national protocols for the 1st time. Of particular importance is a note about its intended audience:

The intended audience for the National Training Standards are clinicians (registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and physicians) who have been specially trained to provide comprehensive, specialized care to patients1 who present with known or suspected sexual assault or abuse, including the medical forensic examination, evidence collection and testimony. Patients who have experienced sexual assault and abuse have a variety of complex concerns at the time of the examination, such as safety; injury; pregnancy and disease risk; legal reporting and evidence collection options and requirements; and both short- and long-term health sequelae. For these reasons it is critically important that healthcare facilities provide specially trained examiners to properly provide care for this patient population. For communities unable to provide specially trained examiners, Appendix C outlines the training all providers should have prior to performing an examination on a patient who has been sexually assaulted or abused.

You can download a copy over at the SAFEta website.

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Sexual Assault

Rising STD Rates in US

CDC is reporting rising rates of STDs in the US, which is of concern for many of our practices. Now is a good time to be touching base with your local health departments to see what the clinical picture is in your own community. Of particular concern from the recent report:

  • Gonorrhea diagnoses increased 67 percent overall (from 333,004 to 555,608 cases according to preliminary 2017 data) and nearly doubled among men (from 169,130 to 322,169). Increases in diagnoses among women — and the speed with which they are increasing — are also concerning, with cases going up for the third year in a row (from 197,499 to 232,587). CDC continues to be concerned about resistance, as well, although there have not yet been any confirmed cases of resistance to the recommended dual therapy in the US.
  • Primary and secondary syphilis diagnoses increased 76 percent (from 17,375 to 30,644 cases). Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) made up almost 70 percent of primary and secondary syphilis cases where the gender of the sex partner is known in 2017.

The full surveillance report is expected to be released at the end of next month; I’ll post it when it comes out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download

Categories
Child Abuse Sexual Assault

New Issue of Journal of Forensic Nursing

Don’t know if you saw, but the new issue of the Journal of Forensic Nursing is out and there is a lot in this edition that caught my attention. I was particularly interested in the HPV prevention article and the article looking at stigmatization of overweight/obese patients during medical-forensic exams, but there’s quite a bit that’s worth your time. Free with your IAFN membership (a lovely perk of investing your dollars in organizations with scientific journals), so go through the Member Center to access the full article; the links will only access the publisher’s abstracts.

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

 

Categories
Uncategorized

Since Last We Spoke, 8-27-18

I thought I would be heading straight from Camp Pendleton to Ft Drum, but as these things do, that work went away, so I am unexpectedly home for a few days before I head to the CLE for a family wedding over the Labor Day weekend. I don’t hate this–I can catch up on much-needed admin time, and get a head start on planning for my sessions at IAFN that have many moving parts that require careful mapping (I am still looking for a few more folks to facilitate, BTW, so please get in touch if you’re interested in the gig). Aside from indulging my wife’s folly this weekend of some camping (if you follow either of us on Facebook you know of what I speak), I had some downtime to catch up with the interwebs. Here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

Nothing about these findings are surprising

Well, this is–not good

Male entitlement to women’s attention and affection is a public health issue

Powerful.

A new bill has been introduced to fight black maternal health disparities.

This is next up on our collective watch list here in our household–have you seen it?

Many of you know I don’t work on planes–I took advantage of about 12 travel hours this past week and polished off Educated. Highly. Recommend.

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Testimony

Looking for Volunteers to Help Facilitate at My Workshop

If you are planning on attending the IAFN conference this year in Reno AND you are not committed to teaching or meetings on that Wednesday the 24th, please consider the following request–I am looking for volunteer facilitators for a new day-long testimony workshop we are doing that day. It will begin immediately after the keynote speaker that morning and go until 5pm. I need about 4 additional people (I have already compiled a great crew of facilitators, thus far, but it’s a large session, so I need a few more) with the following qualifications:

  • Minimum 5 years working in forensic nursing
  • Must have testified or provided expert consultation at trial 10 or more times
  • Must be able to easily discuss the evidence base that supports forensic nursing practice and ethical testimony

I have nothing but my eternal gratitude to offer for your participation (plus a cocktail or two in Reno)–you will not receive any discounts or compensation of any sort for assisting. I would love to be able to do that, but this site does not generate that kind of scratch. Sorry. But you will get to participate in a terrific day or learning, mentoring new(er) forensic nurses and teaching alongside other experienced colleagues. If this sounds remotely interesting, please contact me and include a copy of your CV with your email. I will get back with folks shortly after the Labor Day holiday. Facilitators will receive details for the workshop by the end of September.

Thanks for considering it!

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
DV/IPV

Domestic Violence Related Mass and Spree Killings

Battered Women’s Justice Project is hosting an upcoming webinar, Domestic Violence Related Mass and Spree Killings. The session will be held September 17th at 2pm CT. From the website:

Dr. Neil Websdale will define mass and spree killing and explain the differences between familicidal, felonious, and non-felony related forms of these offenses. The Webinar will concentrate on two forms of “public” mass and spree killings. The first form consists of those cases where the complex dynamics of domestic violence are of central significance and appear to be the principal precipitant of the killings. These cases involve offenders killing former or current spouses/partners and/or those such as family law attorneys, allied professionals, and/or friends who may have supported the spouse or partner. The second form involves those public mass killings, usually shootings, where domestic violence forms but one aspect of the case but may nevertheless be central to developing an understanding of the killings. Dr. Websdale will use case illustrations to flesh out themes across case types, examining, for example, the gendering of these offenses, the signaling of offenses, histories of intimate terrorism, planning and preparation, the possible role of mental illness, the social isolation of offenders, fascination and proficiency with weaponry, threatening changes in the life circumstances of offenders, and the role of suicidal feelings, depression, rage, extreme hatred, and vengefulness.

BWJP archives their webinars, so if you can’t attend live, you can check their site later for the recording. Register for the session here.

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

 

Categories
Testimony

Research Article Review Template

Oh hey–I made you a thing! Actually, I built you a thing out of some solid, already crafted parts and few original ideas, so let’s not get carried away here. An FHO reader asked if I had a concrete way for people to sit down with a research article and analyze it for its relevance for practice and testimony, so here you go. It’s a mash-up of some of the best of what I have found online from a variety of sources (that I have used) for journal clubs (part I, Research Outline), plus some of my personal perspective regarding analysis (part II, Reader Synthesis). Good for a step-by-step through a research article solo, or as part of a collective discussion. Hope it’s helpful.

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Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Articles of Note Child Abuse DV/IPV Elder Abuse/Neglect Sexual Assault

Articles of Note: August 2018 Edition

It’s time once again for Articles of Note, our mostly monthly romp through the peer-reviewed research. As always, this is not an exhaustive list; simply what has caught my attention upon reviewing what’s new and noteworthy–and relevant to practice. All links lead to PubMed unless otherwise specified. Enjoy!

 

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Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Sexual Assault

The National TeleNursing Center: Transforming Care for Sexual Assault Patients, Providers and Communities

IAFN has a webinar coming up, The National TeleNursing Center: Transforming Care for Sexual Assault Patients, Providers, and Communities. The session will be held September 5th at 1pm ET. It’s free for IAFN members and includes 1.5 CEUs ($35 non-members).  From the site:

Join us to learn how the National TeleNursing Center (NTC) piloted the use of Video Conferencing Technology (VCT) to support SANE/SAFE and emergency department clinicians caring for sexual assault patients across 3 states with diverse communities (tribal, rural, Military). Presenters will discuss the NTC teleSANE practice model based on Duffy’s Quality Care Framework. In addition, presenters will discuss evaluation findings from this 5-year pilot project in relation to its impact on patients, clinicians, and the broader community. Presenters will share important lessons learned that can help other agencies looking to implement this innovative teleSANE practice model to increase access to SANE/SAFE expertise.

Register here.

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
DV/IPV

Handling Strangulation Cases at the Front Lines

The Strangulation Prevention Institute has a webinar coming up with Drs. Ralph Riviello and Jacquelyn Campbell, Handling Strangulation Cases at the Front Lines (Part I). The session will be held August 28th at 10am PT. Note: this is a two-hour webinar. It appears nursing CEs are available for a cost of $25. Hopefully, this will be archived on their site. From the announcement:

Part 1 – “He choked me.  I thought I was going to die.” will cover:

  • Updates on the Danger Assessment Tool and new research on Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Understanding the impact of an of anoxic injury, traumatic brain injuries and delayed consequences
  • How to explain the medical aspects of strangulation and suffocation to victims
  • What to do when the victim answers YES to question about being “choked”
  • Tools from the Institute to help front-line workers
  • Emerging practices at Family Justice Centers and DOVE
  • How to support a survivor who has been strangled and potentially suffering from the long-term consequences of strangulation such as traumatic brain injury
  • Practical tips from the panel, the field and survivors

Objectives:

  • Improve our understanding of the immediate, delayed, and long-term health consequences of non-fatal strangulation
  • Discuss promising practices emerging at Family Justice Centers, hospitals, and/or multi-agency organizations
  • Review the Danger Assessment Tool and new research
  • Provide practical approaches for front-line staff at Centers on how to best provide services and support for survivors of strangulation

Register for the session here.

[photo credit]

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Uncategorized

Since Last We Spoke, 8-13-18

Home this week, with my father-in-law visiting, before I head to Camp Pendleton Saturday. Amazing how much you can pack into a week at home, especially during the summer. It felt like we never quit this weekend, although we took time Friday night to head to our synagogue to stand with our community on the eve of the Unite the Right rally here in DC (which, thankfully turned out to be a whole lot of not much at all compared to all the counterprotesters). I mostly took to the interwebs to follow the protests yesterday evening, but I managed to catch up on a few other things, as well–here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

Catholic hospitals: proliferation actually translates to reduced access to some types of care

A wonder people hesitate to report

Love all these women vets running right now

DC restaurants weren’t having any of it this weekend

Healthcare gaslighting

The stories don’t seem to end for the military

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Child Abuse

The Tale (A True Story of Child Sexual Abuse)

Did you see the HBO film, The Tale? I haven’t, but I was fascinated by this Fresh Air interview with the filmmaker, Jennifer Fox. It’s a pretty thorough examination of many facets of child sexual abuse (for a radio interview), and while it’s obviously not everyone’s experience of abuse, there are some fascinating revelations about other people’s reactions, the grooming behaviors used, and the filmmakers own complicated feelings about her abusers (there were two–a man and a woman, both coaches). She also speaks at length about language: survivor vs victim. If you’re in the headspace for it, it’s worth listening to the full interview:

 

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Testimony

Concede What Is Possible

I had a question from an FHO reader this week: if there was only one piece of advice I could give a newly minted forensic nurse about cross-examination, what would it be? That’s easy.

Concede what is possible.

It’s funny because we were working on a testimony project last week and this issue actually played itself out in front of us in a very real way, so the timing of the question is perfect, really.

I’ve watched more clinicians get themselves into trouble on cross by failing to simply concede things that could be possible are, in fact, possible. Often times it comes from a place of wanting to be helpful to “their” side (pro tip: it’s not helpful). Other times it is because people confuse possible with probable (possible is any chance at all that a thing could be; probable is more than 50% likely. Even when I don’t believe something is probable, there’s a good chance I would have to admit it’s still possible.)

If a clinician digs their heels in on the question of whether something is possible, the resulting questions can leave them looking biased or argumentative. Ultimately, it can undermine the most well-intended testimony.

Concede what is possible. We don’t take the stand to make an attorney’s case. We take the stand to educate judges and juries about what we know, what we saw, what we did, and sometimes, what we believe, based on science and our clinical experience. Simple as that.

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Sexual Assault

Studying Homeless Young Adults and Their Experiences with Human Trafficking

The National Criminal Justice Training Center is hosting a webinar, Studying Homeless Young Adults and Their Experiences with Human Trafficking. The session will be held August 28th at 1pm CT. From the website:

Presenter – Dr. Dominique Roe-Sepowitz

Upon completion of this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Leverage new knowledge about issues facing homeless young adults including mental health and medical needs, childhood maltreatment, and family relationships
  • Discuss the substance abuse experiences of a sample of homeless young adults
  • Review the sex and labor trafficking experiences of homeless young adults in Arizona

Register for the webinar here.

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
Child Abuse

Pediatric Strangulation Case Review and Assessment

A brand new resource is now available from IAFN: Pediatric Strangulation Case Review and Assessment. Although it’s more expensive than items I normally post, it’s such a fantastic educational opportunity, it’s hard to pass this one up. The cost is $199 for 20 CEUs (IAFN members can obtain a code for $50 off). There are also institutional access options available. From the website:

IAFN Pediatric Strangulation Case Review and Assessment is an accredited e-learning module developed by the International Association of Forensic Nurses. It contains 29 cases of living pediatric strangulation patients evaluated and treated in the medical setting, presented in conjunction with evidence-based knowledge on pediatric strangulation evaluation and treatment. 

Assess your knowledge acquisition through review of:

  • Definitions and terminology
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Manner and associated signs & symptoms
  • CE post-testing: 20 credits 

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.

Categories
DV/IPV

Beyond Halal And Haram: Muslims, Sex, And Relationships Safety Card (and Webinar)

Futures Without Violence has a brand new resource, Beyond Halal And Haram: Muslims, Sex, And Relationships Safety Card. It’s available as a free download. “The goal of this safety card is to be both a survivor-centered resource and a useful conversation starter for health care providers, counselors, social workers, mentors, or other adults working with high-school and college-aged Muslim youth who are doing universal education around healthy relationships and assessing for violence. The card provides information on healthy relationships and sex, guidance, and resources for support, how to help a friend and cultural and religious factors that play into decision-making.”

Additionally, there is a corresponding webinar being held on August 17th at 1pm ET. From the registration:

There is a dearth of resources for American Muslims related to sex and relationships, and some American Muslims may encounter cultural barriers that prevent them from discussing these issues with family and community members. High levels of discrimination against Muslims and Islamophobia also propel the need for more understanding about how to provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive violence prevention services to this diverse community. Health centers and community-based settings play a crucial role in reaching high school and college-aged American Muslims with messages about healthy and unhealthy relationships. This webinar will describe an evidence-informed universal education intervention on relationships and its impact on health, which can be used in a variety of settings. This intervention features a new safety card specific to American Muslims, which contains information on healthy relationships and sex, guidance, and resources for support, how to help a friend and cultural and religious factors that play into decision-making. This card was developed as a collaboration between Futures Without Violence, HEART Women & Girls, and Advocates for Youth, with additional input from Muslim youth from diverse communities across the country.

EDIT: THE ARCHIVE OF THIS EVENT CAN BE FOUND HERE

 

Have you checked out the FHO store lately? You can find our newest research brief, Aging Bruises Based On Color, plus our original guide, Injury Following Consensual Sex. Both available now for electronic download.