The Sexual Assault Program works with survivors of many different types of sexual violence. Program staff routinely work with survivors of child sexual abuse, incest, rape, sexual harassment and marital sexual assault.  Services includes 24-hour crisis intervention, 24-hour medical and legal advocacy, crisis counseling, group support services, and information and referrals.

Bay Area Women’s Center provides the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. A team composed of specially trained forensic nurses, law enforcement officers and advocates respond anytime day or night, to sexual assault victims seeking treatment after an assault, including pediatric (under the age of 12) victims of sexual abuse.  

The nurses are responsible for conducting the rape exam as well as collecting evidence. In addition, our SANE nurses are also called on by law enforcement to do the evidence collection and forensic examinations on suspected perpetrators of sexual assault. These services are critically important from both an investigative and legal standpoint and a patient care and wellness standpoint as well.

Before the SANE program existed, sexual assault victims had no choice but to go to local hospital emergency room to have evidence collection kits completed. In addition to waiting long hours and seeing primarily male doctors, victims also received a bill for evidence collection and treatment of nearly $1,000.  Today, the SANE program provides this service along with immediate crisis counseling and advocacy free-of-charge to victims of sexual assault.

If you have been a victim of sexual assault, call our hotline at 989-686-4551 or 1-800-834-2098 toll free 24 hours a day, seven days a week.