Frequently Asked Questions

The 40-hour training course covers emergency first aid (utilizing the American Heart Association’s curriculum), human anatomy, an overview of the prevalence, dynamics, and responses to sexual violence in American Indian/Alaska Native communities, forensic evidence collection (“rape kits”), health care referrals, confidentiality, Federal and Tribal sexual assault laws, service referrals, and community outreach.

The SAFESTAR training course is taught by a team of committed and experienced women dedicated to eradicating sexual violence in American Indian/Alaska Native communities and supporting victims, their families, and their communities. SAFESTAR instructors may include: Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), nurses, physicians, Native community health experts, traditional healers, as well as experts on Tribal governance and community organizing.

The SAFESTAR course is delivered on-site directly to American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

The complete cost of SAFESTAR training for your community is no longer funded directly by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. However, federally recognized Tribes may use United States Department of Justice grant funding to cover the costs of bringing the training to your community and, in many cases, may use Indian Health Service and other federal funding with prior approval from the assigned grant manager.

You may contact the Southwest Center for Law and Policy at 520-623-8192 to begin the SAFESTAR application process.

SAFESTAR was developed by the Southwest Center for Law and Policy (SWCLAP) in collaboration with the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), Tribal and Federal victim advocates, criminal justice professionals, and health care experts. The curriculum incorporates many of the same components of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification course, but is designed for laypersons in American Indian/Alaska Native communities.

Funding for SAFESTAR was originally provided by the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. The SAFESTAR curriculum was reviewed by representatives from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Indian Health Service (IHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and by other agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ).

Yes. The SAFESTAR forensic evidence collection kits have been reviewed by representatives of the FBI Crime Lab. The evidence may be analyzed by the FBI crime lab or by state crime labs (depending upon your jurisdiction). Following the completion of the training, Federal, Tribal, and State (some jurisdictions) criminal justice professionals meet with the SAFESTARs to develop specific protocols for the transportation of evidence kits to the appropriate crime lab, to discuss discovery and mandatory reporting issues, and to ensure a seamless, collaborative implementation of the program. SAFESTARs may also testify as “fact witnesses” or “eye witnesses” to the evidence that they observed and collected.

Every victim of sexual violence deserves the same “gold standard” of health care treatment and forensic evidence collection. At this moment in time, most sexual assault victims in American Indian/Alaska Native communities lack meaningful access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs). SAFESTAR is a community-based response to the emergency that exists when victims lack access to important health care, safety, and justice resources.