LETTERS: COOPERATION LEADS TO GOOD TRAINING

To the editor:

Cape Girardeau residents had the recent privilege to witness the power of cooperation as a variety of community members gave of their time and resources to facilitate the presentation of a four-day workshop to prepare sexual assault nurse examiners. The workshop, under the direction of the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, was specifically focused on educating nurses and others trough it sexual assault nurse examiner training program. The program's main speaker and leader was Kathy Bell, a registered nurse and SANE trainer from the Tulsa Police Department.

Many agencies, institutions and individuals from the Cape Girardeau community were instrumental in providing the setting, materials and information that made this training seminar one of high quality. Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Nursing, St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital provided support for the main speaker, printing of workshop materials, development of the workshop manuals and refreshments.

Local professionals gave freely of their time and shared their experiences with workshop attendees. Special appreciation is due to local orthodontist Dr. Shannon Kirchhoff, who gave a presentation on bite-mark identification; Dr. David Meese, an emergency-room physician, who discussed the examination of the sexually assaulted child; Dr. Jonathan Thomas, an obstetrician-gynecologist, who presented treatment protocols for sexual-assault victims; Tammy Gwaltney, a social worker, who discussed the impact of sexual assault on the child and adult victim; Chreyl Robb-Welch and staff from the Safe House for Women, who discussed domestic violence and the perpetrator profile; Judy St. John, director of the university's Center for Health and Counseling, who presented crisis-intervention and advocacy strategies; Angie Griffith from Lutheran Family and Children's Services, who discussed rape trauma syndrome and interviewing skills; Pat Randol with the Scott County Division of Family Services, who presented the role of DFS and the hot-line call; Chief Rick Hetzel of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, who discussed the role of law enforcement; Dr. Robert Briner from the Southeast Missouri Crime Lab, who discussed processing forensic evidence; Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, who presented the legal aspects of sexual abuse; and Mike Diemund and Judge Gary Kamp, who assisted with a mock trial.

To the nurses who attended the seminar, we appreciate your commitment to serve the sexually abused citizens in our communities. A special thank you to all who helped make this experience a success.

KATHY BLEVINS, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

CATHY YOUNG, Family Nurse Practitioner

Workshop Coordinators

Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence

Cape Girardeau