School of Nursing professor takes part in Ensuring Forensic Care for All Victims Act
by Jordana Newman |
School of Nursing Associate Professor Angelia Trujillo served an instrumental role in legislation that was introduced by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and John Hickenlooper. On August 23, Senators Murkowski and Hickenlooper announced the Ensuring Forensic Care for All Victims Act. This legislation authorizes demonstration grants based on the Alaska Comprehensive Training Forensic Academy (ACTFA), which was founded by Trujillo.
"I started the Alaska Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy because I believe strongly
that all victims of violence deserve evaluation and care from forensically trained
health care providers. We have done a great job at developing, promoting, and training
nurses to respond to sexual assault for victims within the first 5-7 days after the
assault, but we are doing a disservice to victims who do not meet that time threshold
or who have experienced other forms of violence such as strangulation, elder abuse,
and domestic violence for which there are no standardized programs," said Trujillo.
This legislation provides the opportunity for all providers to receive a generalist
medical forensic education in order to ensure all patients who have experienced violence/trauma
have access to services. While this training would not replace specialized sexual
assault nurse examiner (SANE) or child advocacy training, it would ensure there are
health care providers in rural communities who are able to provide basic medical forensic
services to all victims of violence.
“Alaska continues to see some of the highest rates of interpersonal violence in the
nation. Unfortunately, rural parts of the state have challenges retaining specialized
forensic examiners. Increasing opportunities for basic forensic training in healthcare
settings ensure that victims of violence will receive the necessary trauma-informed
care that they need to heal, including medical evidence collection to assist them
on their path to justice,” said Senator Murkowski.
The bill authorizes demonstration grants to provide an evidence-based and trauma-informed care
approach for a broad group of providers, including emergency service providers, registered
nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physicians, and community health
aides and practitioners.
"I am proud of the work of Dr. Trujillo and her colleagues in fostering a movement
that benefits Alaskans in a truly meaningful way. Her work is a great example of how
public universities can help address critical issues impacting communities, states,
and our nation," said Chancellor Sean Parnell.