YWCA On-Call

Question 1

What are the service areas for accompaniments?

Answer 1

DV: Norfolk area
SV: all South Hampton Roads

Question 2

Where do we accompany DV survivors?

Answer 2

Emergency rooms
Urgent care facilities
Strangulation Exams (by SANE nurses)
Primary care doctors

Question 3

Where do we accompany Sexual Assault Medical accompaniments (not PERK exams)?

Answer 3

Follow up appointments with SANE nurses
Emergency rooms
Urgent Care facilities
Primary care doctors

(Not the same thing as PERK exams. For people who want medical attention related to their assault but not necessarily a PERK.)

Question 4

What are the locations where PERK exams are done?

Answer 4

Chesapeake Forensic Specialists, and Norfolk Family Justice Center. Sometimes other hospitals if needed.

Question 5

Is a SANE nurse an agent of law enforcement?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

What are the three phases of a PERK exam after obtaining consent?

Answer 6

History
Physical exam and evidence collection
Discharge

Question 7

What are the components of the physical exam and evidence collection?

Answer 7

Head to toe assessment: reference samples taken such as blood and hair, assessment with alternative light sources like UV, injury documentation including photos, internal and external genital exam
Clothing inventory: condition noted and articles bagged

Question 8

What kinds of medical care are patients offered at a PERK exam?

Answer 8

STD testing, pregnancy testing and emergency contraception including morning after pill, HIV testing

Question 9

What do you do with secondary victims who are present?

Answer 9

Offer crisis services, educate them, address any unsupportive secondary victim dynamics, explain our services provided

Question 10

What materials do EVMS students receive?

Answer 10

YWCA PERK folder, just like normal PERK patient

Question 11

What materials do ODU and NSU students receive?

Answer 11

ODU: ODU folder with ODU checklist
NSU: NSU checklist plus normal YWCA PERK folder

Question 12

During the exam, what are two roles I can offer to fill for the patient?

Answer 12

Distraction or processing

Question 13

What are the three things you do at the end of an accompaniment?

Answer 13

Confirm that the victim wants a call back from YWCA and if so get contact information

Confirm victim has safe place to go to recuperate

Call SBU to tell them it’s done and do advocacy form

Question 14

What do you do if a victim reports being an ODU, NSU, or EVMS student?

Answer 14

Call SBU immediately so the CPO can inform the college

Question 15

Can a sexual assault victim have evidence collected and preserved without police involvement?

Answer 15

Yes.

Question 16

What is different about a victim who reports being in the military?

Answer 16

Nothing, unless they decide on their own to go through military channels as well. They do not have to involve the military and medical professionals don’t report to the military.

Question 17

What are the most important crisis interventions skills?

Answer 17

Addressing issues keeping the victim from being present, such as child care or phones
Reviewing grounding and coping mechanisms
Addressing issues of guilt and shame
Establishing the next steps after accompaniment
Check on victims support systems and encourage counselor appointment

Question 18

What are some common grounding techniques?

Answer 18

Breathing exercises, 54321, self-talk, body awareness exercises, identify surroundings

Question 19

What are some common coping skills?

Answer 19

Stop sign visualization, journaling, exercise, progressive muscle relaxing

Question 20

What do you ask if you get the feeling they’re having suicidal thoughts?

Answer 20

Are you having thoughts of ending your life?

If so, share this with the SANE nurse.