Report on the SAFE Program’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals in Rhode Island

Introduction: Addressing a Critical Gap in Public Services

The Brown University Health Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) program was established to serve a vulnerable population affected by sexual violence, an issue that transcends all demographic boundaries. Launched four years ago, the program filled a significant institutional void, as Rhode Island was the only state in the U.S. lacking a coordinated medical forensic response for victims of sexual assault. The initiative directly supports the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing comprehensive care and strengthening institutional frameworks for justice and health.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The SAFE program is a cornerstone for ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for victims of sexual assault, directly aligning with the objectives of SDG 3.

• Comprehensive Medical Care: The program provides specialized, trauma-informed medical forensic examinations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at multiple Brown University Health emergency departments, including Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
• Specialized Practitioners: A team of highly trained nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and physician assistants, all certified by the International Association of Forensic Nurses, delivers this critical care.
• Continuity of Care: The program ensures patient follow-up through established partnerships.
  1. Collaboration with the sexual assault follow-up program at Woman and Infants Hospital.
  2. Partnership with the Miriam Hospital infectious disease clinic for adult follow-up care.
• Mental Health Support: By providing immediate, compassionate care and connecting victims with advocacy and support resources, the program addresses the profound mental health consequences of sexual violence.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

By addressing sexual and gender-based violence, the SAFE program makes a significant contribution to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

• Responding to Disproportionate Impact: Data from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) highlights the prevalence of sexual violence, which disproportionately affects women and children.
  • 26% of female teens in Rhode Island have experienced sexual violence, compared to 15% of male teens.
  • 24% of children in the state have experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking.
• Empowering Survivors: The program empowers survivors by providing them with medical care, forensic evidence collection, and connections to advocacy groups, enabling them to make informed choices about their health, safety, and potential legal action.
• Culturally Sensitive Services: In partnership with organizations like the Center for Southeast Asians (CSEA), the program strives to provide a compassionate, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed response, recognizing that historical trauma and cultural stigma can create additional barriers for survivors from marginalized communities.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The SAFE program strengthens key institutions and promotes access to justice for victims of violence, a core target of SDG 16.

• Building Institutional Capacity: The program’s creation addressed a major deficiency in Rhode Island’s public health and justice infrastructure, establishing a standardized, best-practice model for responding to sexual assault.
• Supporting the Justice System: A primary function of the SAFE program is the meticulous collection of medical forensic evidence, including DNA, which is vital for the potential criminal prosecution of assailants. This directly facilitates victims’ access to the justice system.
• Trauma-Informed Justice: As noted by experts, the program provides coordinated care that helps victims navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system in a trauma-informed manner, reducing the risk of re-traumatization.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The success and sustainability of the SAFE program are built upon a robust network of partnerships, exemplifying the collaborative approach championed by SDG 17.

• Inter-Agency Collaboration: The program is a model of partnership, praised by numerous community leaders.
  1. Sojourner House: Praises the program for ensuring survivors receive trauma-informed, standards-based forensic care and for connecting them with community advocates.
  2. Day One: Cites the program as a critically important addition for offering compassionate and specialized medical services for survivors.
  3. Center for Southeast Asians (CSEA): Highlights the program’s crucial role in providing a culturally sensitive and supportive environment for survivors.
• Expansion and Training: A recent grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration will allow the SAFE program to expand its impact. This funding will enable the training of nurses at other local hospitals across the state, scaling up the availability of specialized care and strengthening the statewide response network.

Program Impact and Future Outlook

Since its inception in January 2023, the SAFE program has managed approximately 330 cases. This figure, while significant, represents only a fraction of total incidents, as sexual assault remains heavily underreported. The program’s continued operation and planned expansion are vital for improving health outcomes, advancing gender equality, and ensuring access to justice for all victims of sexual violence in Rhode Island.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article extensively discusses the health implications of sexual violence and the medical response provided to victims. The SAFE program is a healthcare initiative designed to provide “equitable, trauma-informed care and advocacy for patients” and “specialized medical forensic care.” This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Sexual violence is a critical issue addressed under SDG 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The article highlights the prevalence of sexual violence, providing specific data for female teens in Rhode Island (“26% of Rhode Island female teens have experienced sexual violence”). The SAFE program and its partnerships with organizations like Sojourner House and Day One are direct responses to this form of gender-based violence.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article connects the medical response to the justice system. The SAFE program’s work includes the “collection of DNA for possible criminal charges against assailants” and helps victims in “navigating the criminal justice system.” This addresses the need for access to justice for all and building effective, accountable institutions that can respond to violence. The article also notes the significant underreporting of sexual assault, pointing to a gap in institutional response that the program aims to help fill.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being. The article emphasizes the “trauma-informed” nature of the SAFE program, which is crucial for the mental health recovery of survivors. The mention of “devastating and life-long consequences for survivors” and the inclusion of resources like suicide and crisis hotlines (988, BHLink, The Samaritans) directly relate to promoting mental health.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services. The SAFE program is described as a “critically important addition in offering compassionate and specialized forensic medical services for survivors.” Its 24/7 availability at multiple hospitals and efforts to expand training to other local hospitals through grant funding demonstrate a commitment to increasing access to these essential services for all victims in the state.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. The entire article is centered on addressing sexual violence, a key component of this target. The program provides a comprehensive response for victims, and the statistics cited (e.g., “26% of Rhode Island female teens have experienced sexual violence”) underscore the urgency of this goal.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence. The article’s focus on sexual violence and the data provided on its prevalence among different age groups in Rhode Island directly address this target. The SAFE program is an institutional mechanism designed to respond to and mitigate the impact of this violence.
   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The article explicitly mentions services for children at “Hasbro Children’s Hospital” and provides data that “24% of Rhode Island children have experienced ‘contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking victimization'”.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice for all. The SAFE program’s role in “medical forensic care,” which includes the “collection of DNA for possible criminal charges,” is a direct link to the justice process. By providing this service, the program helps ensure that victims have a viable path to seek justice.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

1. For SDG 5 (Target 5.2) and SDG 16 (Target 16.1):

   • Prevalence of Sexual Violence: The article provides specific statistics from the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) that serve as direct indicators. These include:
     • “26% of Rhode Island female teens have experienced sexual violence.”
     • “15% of male teens have experienced sexual violence.”
     • “14.3% of young adults age 18 to 25 reported being sexually assaulted.”

     These figures can be used as a baseline to measure reductions in sexual violence over time.

2. For SDG 16 (Target 16.2):

   • Prevalence of Violence Against Children: The statistic that “24% of Rhode Island children have experienced ‘contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking victimization'” is a direct indicator for measuring violence against children.

3. For SDG 16 (Target 16.3):

   • Reporting Rate of Sexual Assault: The article explicitly states that “only 310 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to police.” This reporting rate is a key indicator of victims’ access to and trust in the justice system. An increase in this rate could signify improved access to justice.

4. For SDG 3 (Target 3.8):

   • Service Coverage and Utilization: The article mentions that “since its inception in January 2023, the program has seen approximately 330 cases.” This number serves as an indicator of the program’s reach and the number of individuals accessing this essential health service. Tracking this number over time can measure the program’s growth and impact.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ripbs.org