Sexual Assault Treatment Center

The primary mission of the Sexual Assault Treatment Center (SATC) is to meet the needs of the sexual assault victim by providing an immediate, compassionate, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive crisis response, with evaluation and treatment by specially-trained nurse examiners and master-level mental health crisis counselors.

The Sexual Assault Treatment Center also serves as an educational and research resource for health care professionals, schools, churches, and organizations whose services interface with SATC, as well as the community at large.

There are two types of volunteers utilized by SATC : volunteer advocate and special project volunteer. The purpose of the volunteer advocate is to ensure that no victim of sexual assault or sexual abuse goes through the medical response alone. The volunteer advocate's role is to provide suport, information, and a non-judgmental presence to victims ot sexual abuse and sexual assault, and their significant others. The special project volunteer works directly with SATC staff in order to increase the efficiency of SATC staff members. Projects vary according to staff needs and volunteer interest.

The Sexual Assault Treatment Center was orginally established at Family Hospital in Milwaukee in 1976. At this time, it was primarily a social work-driven program, with physicians providing medical care to victims. In April 1986, Sinai Samaritan Medical Center agreed to take on the program as a result of Family Hospital's fiscal constraints. The program was modified, based on recommendations from sexual assault survivors, the Sensitive Crimes Units of the Milwaukee Police Department, The District Attorney's Office, the Staet Crime Lab, the SATC Advisory Council, and other community members.

Over time, as sexual assault and forensic nursing emerged as a specialty field in the 1990's, nurses began to have the primary responsibility of medical care of sexual assault victims. As time progressed, the complex needs of survivors made it apparent the social work services were of great benefit to the clients and, in the late 1990's, two master-level social workers (MSW) were employed full-time by SATC. Volunteer advocates provide on-site coverage after hours to provide support and information until the arrival of off-site staff. They also are responsible for staffing the 24-hour crisis line.

SATC is now part of Aurora's larger Abuse Response Services and has units in both Aurora Sinai Medical Center and Aurora West Allis Medical Center's Emergency Departments. It is one of the few programs in the nation that incorporates Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, master-level mental health professionals, and trained advocates in a comprehensive approach to care.

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