UM-Flint nursing professors secure $1.5M grant to expand assault survivor care program in rural Michigan

The impact and implications of the University of Michigan-Flint's School of Nursing Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program will continue to reverberate throughout the region, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The program, also known as SANE, trains nurses to provide high-quality, compassionate care to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Led by Carman Turkelson and Megan Keiser, professors of nursing, the program will receive $1,481,387 over the next three years. Launched in 2021 to serve residents throughout rural Michigan, the SANE program will be able to serve a more significant number of nurses, enabling them to provide comprehensive training and resources to improve the physical and mental health of survivors of sexual assault, domestic and intimate partner violence in rural and medically underserved areas across Michigan.

This is not the first award for the distinguished UM-Flint program. In July 2021, SON received $1.3 million from the HHS. That initial funding supported the launch of the program, a comprehensive initiative that provides registered nurses with the knowledge and skills to provide medical forensic examinations and survivor care in the state. 

SANE alum Gail Spiridigliozzi from Losco County expressed how the program impacted her. "It has changed my life. This program is taught by amazing professionals, who are very caring and passionate about helping those who have been assaulted. I would recommend this program to any nurse who is looking for a fulfilling role that can have a direct impact on their community."

Nurses willing to work as examiners in a rural or medically underserved community in Michigan will be considered for grant support. The funding provides tuition assistance, travel expenses and covers certification fees for those who qualify. With a robust yet condensed format, students receive comprehensive knowledge and are prepared to act as vital advocates for survivors of sexual violence.

"This new grant award allows us to continue to provide comprehensive training and resources to improve the physical and mental health of survivors," said Turkelson. "Access to a SANE professional is vital to survivors as they provide a bridge between the legal, law enforcement, and health care systems and ensure that access to high-quality and compassionate care that survivors deserve is available to them."

Bailey Casey, a SANE alum from Tuscola County, emphasized the importance of training in addressing critical health care gaps. 

"After completing the adult/adolescent, pediatrics/adolescent, and advanced SANE courses at UM-Flint, I have the confidence and knowledge to provide quality, trauma-informed patient care. The program offers a wealth of knowledge and hands-on training via its high tech simulation center and equipment, in addition to the skilled professors who work in the field. The faculty are passionate about the program and about the students' learning experience. I have been able to use all the tools and resources provided to me through the program to provide the best care I can for patients in need of these services within my rural community where it was once difficult to assist that population."

With the additional funding, the SANE program is poised to expand its impact on rural and underserved communities across the state. The aim is to enhance the immediate care for survivors of sexual violence and improve long-term health outcomes. By providing financial support for nurses to enroll in the program, this program will increase the number and strengthen the current SANE workforce, improve access to SANEs in rural and underserved communities in Michigan.

To learn more about the UM-Flint SANE program, please visit the program's webpage.