UAA COH Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy comes to Southcentral Alaska

Alaska has the highest rates of interpersonal violence in the country. As many as 75% of Alaskans report experiencing or knowing someone who has experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. Despite these statistics, many communities in Alaska do not have access to the health care personnel with the training to correctly document and collect medical evidence to report these crimes.

The Alaska Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy (ACFTA), a partnership between the Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, the UAA College of Health (COH), and the Alaska Nurses Association, provides a broad range of health care professionals with the training to adequately document and report violence and abuse.

Angelia Trujillo, professor of nursing at UAA and architect behind the program said, "Many of our communities have programs for sexual assault response, but that doesn't cover protocol for domestic violence, strangulation or elder abuse. While we recognize there are opportunities to train as a sexual assault examiner, there wasn't a training available that took an even broader approach to equip health care professionals and first responders with the knowledge to adequately document all types of violence."

The program consists of 20-25 hours of asynchronous virtual learning followed by 20-25 hours of hands-on instruction. First, applicants are encouraged to attend a local introductory meeting, which offers more insight into the course. The course emphasizes the importance of patient advocacy, employing a trauma-informed approach, while ensuring proper documentation by teaching first responders and health care professionals how to ask the right questions during medical examinations.

Several ACFTA introductory meetings in Southcentral Alaska will be held for health care professionals interested in registering for the Academy:

• Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Loussac Library's Wilda Marston Theatre
• Oct. 1 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Loussac Library's Wilda Marston Theatre
• Oct. 3 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Loussac Library's Wilda Marston Theatre
• Oct. 8 from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the BP Center's Birch Room
• Oct. 10 from 5:30 - 7:30 at UAA's Rasmuson Hall
• Oct. 14 from 12 - 2 p.m. at the Mat-Su Health Foundation Center

Health care professionals in all sectors are encouraged to attend. First responders, EMS, community leaders and anyone else that may interact with victims of violence can also benefit from the programming. To learn more about the program, visit its website.

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