The Berkshire Area Health Education Center is pleased to announce that a continuing education workshop entitled:  “Responding to the Trauma of Sexual Assault or Abuse.” will be hosted at the Sugar Hill Senior Living Community, 45 Main Street in Dalton on August 24^th from 2:00 – 4:00. 

This session will highlight best practices in responding to patients/clients who experience domestic or sexual violence by reviewing the components of a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exam, what it means when a hospital becomes a SANE site, and the role of local domestic and sexual violence response agencies.  The critical role of health and human service professionals in recognizing, responding with care to, and referring patients/clients will also be discussed, as will the role of medical interpreters during a SANE exam.

This workshop is designed for healthcare professionals of all levels working with patients or clients who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.

The presenters will be: Mary Walz-Watson RN, MS, SANE and Deborah Parkington. Ms. Watson  is the Western MA Regional Coordinator for DPH/MA Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program and is responsible for the oversight and daily delivery of sane services to 5 hospitals and one college campus. She has been caring for patients of sexual assault since 2004 and coordinating services since 2007.

Deborah Parkington is the Programs Director of the Elizabeth Freeman Center.  Ms. Parkington collaborates with agencies, organizations, and police departments statewide. Many of the programs she has developed and implemented are considered standard procedure in the field.

To get more information, or to register on-line please visit www.berkshireahec.org, or call us at 413-447-2417.

Responding to the Trauma of Sexual Assault or Abuse flyer