Developing a Contractual Agreement With Hospitals
Creating a Cost-Efficient Program
For states in which a forensic exam fund reimburses hospitals, and for which reimbursement is more than $350 per exam, the cost to the hospitals of implementing this project should be significantly less. States that do not have a designated forensic exam fund may use their state crime victim compensation fund or local governmental entities, such as police departments, to help pay for the costs of this project.
- Seek funding for SANE and advocate training and forensic exam equipment from state and local hospital associations, statewide obstetrician/ gynecologist and emergency room physician associations, and the state attorney general’s office.
- Seek funding for salaries for a project administrator and advocate coordinators through local United Way funds, child advocacy center grants, and Victims of Crime Act funds.
- Recognize that many hospitals are multimillion dollar organizations. If the rape crisis centers can provide their service at no cost, it is reasonable to request that hospitals invest some funds into a SANE program.
Role of FRIS
FRIS’s responsibilities in planning and implementing the West Virginia Regional Mobile SANE Project were outlined as follows. The coalition would—
- Hire/employ a project administrator who would recruit and retain SANEs, develop and maintain an on-call SANE schedule, develop a protocol for standards of care, collect and maintain data on program operation, and provide backup SANE coverage.
- Recruit and schedule advocates, in conjunction with the advocate coordinators and rape crisis centers.
- Provide support staff to develop the strategic plan and administer the support grant program, grant writing activities, data collection and analysis, project evaluation, and other related activities.
- Provide and cover the costs for SANE and advocate trainings.
- Purchase and provide hospitals with the equipment they need to conduct forensic medical examinations of sexual assault victims.