Agency policy is to ensure a coordinated response to sexual abuse among all appropriate staff, ensuring that they know their role in the event that an incident is reported. The agency has a specific plan for first responders, medical and mental health professionals, investigators, victim advocates, and facility leadership.
Actions requiring coordination include: (1) assessing the victim’s medical needs, (2) informing the victim of rights, (3) giving the victim the option of a forensic medical exam for the purpose of collecting evidence, (4) making a victim advocate available to the resident, (5) providing crisis intervention counseling to the victim, (6) interviewing victims and witnesses, (7) collecting evidence, and, (8) providing for any special needs of the victim.
Immediate and ongoing medical, mental health, and support services will be prioritized and provided to all victims of sexual abuse.
Investigators will be given access to any and all evidence necessary to substantiate allegations and hold perpetrators accountable.
If a victim is transferred to another facility, the agency notifies the receiving facility of the need for medical, mental health, and other social services.
The Oregon PREA Training curriculum Unit 4 (PPT) (slides 30, 42, and 44) covers coordinated response.
Resources:
Model Policy on Investigation of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment
Model Policy on Referral of Sexual Abuse Allegations for Investigation