RD108 - 2023 Report on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault


Executive Summary:

Chapter 725 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly amended the Code of Virginia to include § 32.1-162.15:11, which established the Task Force on Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault (Task Force) to assist with the implementation of the treatment and transfer requirements placed on hospitals and pediatric health care facilities for adult and pediatric survivors of sexual assault. The code also mandates that the Task Force submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year regarding its activities and the status of implementation. The code tasks the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) with providing staff support to the Task Force. VDH assisted the Task Force with preparing this report.

From December 2022 to September 2023, the Task Force convened five times to advance its work. A summary of the status of the Task Force’s work is outlined below.

2023 STATUS UPDATE

In 2023, the Task Force continued to prioritize work on the development of model treatment and transfer 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 these model documents. At the time of this report, the Task Force approved a model pediatric transfer agreement, pediatric transfer plan, pediatric full treatment plan, and pediatric partial treatment plan. The Task Force anticipates finalizing the adult model treatment and transfer plans and transfer agreements by the end of 2023.

In 2024, the Task Force plans to focus efforts on the remaining requirements identified in Code of Virginia § 32.1-162.15:11:

• 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.