RD107 - 2022 Report on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault
Executive Summary: The Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault (Task Force) was created by Chapter 725 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly to assist in the implementation of the treatment and transfer requirements placed on hospitals and pediatric health care facilities for adult and pediatric survivors of sexual assault. This 19-member Task Force is submitting this report in response to the requirements in Chapter 725 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly, which enacted Article 8 (§ 32.1-162.15:2 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia related to treatment services and transfer services of adult and pediatric survivors of sexual assault. The newly enacted § 32.1-162.15:11(B) of the Code of Virginia requires the Task Force to “[r]eport to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities and the status of implementation of the provisions of [Article 8 (§ 32.1-162.15:2 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia]"). The primary responsibilities of the Task Force are to develop model documents, plans, and processes for these facilities to use, to educate these facilities on their obligations in treating or transferring survivors of sexual assault, and to increase the use of telemedicine in providing services to survivors of sexual assault. STATUS UPDATE The Task Force prioritized work during 2022 on the development of model plans and transfer agreements for adult and pediatric survivors of sexual assault. • The composition of the Task Force allowed for input from hospitals, pediatric health care facilities, and subject matter experts to inform the development of draft model treatment and transfer plans. The Task Force anticipated finalizing the model plans in 2023. • The composition of the Task Force allowed for input from treatment hospitals, transfer hospitals, and pediatric health care facilities to inform the development of draft model written transfer agreements. The Task Force anticipated finalizing the model transfer agreements in 2023. The Task Force plans to focus efforts in 2023 on the remaining requirements identified in § 32.1-162.15:11 of the Code of Virginia. • Develop model written agreements for use by treatment hospitals and approved pediatric health care facilities required to enter into agreements with rape crisis centers; • Work with treatment hospitals and approved pediatric health care facilities to develop plans to employ or contract with sexual assault forensic examiners for treatment services to survivors of sexual assault by sexual assault forensic examiners, including plans for implementation of on-call systems to ensure availability of sexual assault forensic examiners; • Work with treatment hospitals and approved pediatric health care facilities to identify and recommend processes to ensure compliance related to creation, storage, and retention of photographic and other documentation and evidence; • Develop and distribute educational materials regarding implementation to hospitals, health care providers, rape crisis centers, children's advocacy centers, and others; and • Study and provide recommendations to the Virginia Department of Health for the use of telemedicine in meeting the requirements of Article 8 (§ 32.1-162.15:2 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia. |