A TCI Blog by: Sarrah Herrera, SANE & AFNE Nurse

 

Did you know that 1 in 5 females in the United States have experienced complete or attempted rape? And that nearly a quarter of all men have encountered some form of sexual violence in their lifetime? Everyday, hundreds of Americans are affected by sexual violence. In the San Luis Valley, we are not sheltered from these statistics. In order to provide prevention as well as care of the sexually assaulted victim, Tu Casa, Inc. provides services for the victim of sexual violence. These services are offered by the Tu Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) Program, which serves both adult and child survivors. We are available 24/7 to deliver care and assessments to patients.

 

Let me introduce you to our providers! First is Sarah Herrera. She has been a nurse for 25 years and just recently completed 10 years as a SANE nurse. She has worked in surgery, labor and delivery and management. She brings experience and leadership to the SANE Program. Sarah is a valley native, born and raised in Monte Vista. She is busy raising her 3 children, serves on the Monte Vista School Board as well as the Headstart Board, and is currently a correctional nurse for Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Office. Her spare time is spent going to sporting events for her children, travel, and growing the best flower gardens in the summer.

 

Our second nurse is Khrystynn Cano. She has been a nurse since 2011. She recently completed the SANE didactic and clinical course to become a SANE nurse and has practiced in the past year. She brings a wealth of experience in nursing with 3 years in a medical-surgical unit, 8 years in the emergency room and now a clinical leader for Rio Grande Hospital. Her hobbies include spending time with her family: a 12-year-old son and her high school sweetheart of 22 years. As a family, they enjoy traveling across the states. In her spare time alone, she enjoys reading thrillers and listening to podcasts.

 

The Tu Casa, Inc. SANE Program provides exams to all victims of sexual assault, free of charge to victims. Our SANE nurses are dedicated to offer the best services and resources for our clients. The SANE program also offers services for victims of child abuse, strangulations, and intimate partner violence (IPV). These services are available through Sarah who has is certified as am Advanced Forensic Nurse Examiner AFNE. Sarah also provides wellness exams to victims of sexual assault that are not acute, meaning less than 5 days since occurrence. Wellness exams deliver a holistic approach to assessing the pediatric victim of abuse. A head-to-toe assessment with emphasis on healthy well-being is the primary focus. The SANE program currently serves approximately 50 patients each year. All services can be accessed by a simple phone call to Tu Casa, Inc.'s 24/7 Hotline at 719-589-2465. We are here to serve you!