Providence's SAFE Center breaks down 'barriers of fear'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- As a former sexual assault nurse examiner, Katie Schafer saw the challenges firsthand when victims arrived at an emergency room.
ERs often feel chaotic, rushed and can create an unwelcoming environment for survivors of sexual assault.
Providence opened a new chapter in trauma care with the launch of the SAFE Center in Northeast Portland, the first Oregon clinic dedicated solely to survivors of sexual assault and other forms of violence.
Schafer, the medical forensic program manager, said it's taken a long time.
"It's been one foot in front of the other for 7 years," she said.
She and her team are driven by their mission to serve the poor and the vulnerable at the SAFE Center -- which stands for Service, Accessibility, Fortitude, Empowerment.
Now the vision is real and better than imagined.
"I think it's just about the barriers of fear. We try to remove that by giving people choice and not forcing them down any path," she said. "They really get to decide."
It's all about choice, safety, respect -- plus extras like snacks, quiet spaces and a change of clothes so survivors don't leave in scrubs.
The SAFE Center, open around the clock, values are at the heart of what lead forensic nurse Theresa Muncy lives by. Inspired by her friend's traumatic ER experience, she helped create something more compassionate.
"It is certainly understandable why vulnerable populations might be nervous to seek care," Muncy said.
Though the center opened in January, it took time to welcome their first patient, a man who received full wraparound services. And there's a deeper impact beyond the care.
"The chances of a patient earning justice for what they experienced -- if that's what they want -- are theoretically higher," Muncy said.
As April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, open hands offered blessings on Monday and a hope to help even more heal. All are welcome at The SAFE Center, where the services -- medical care, evidence collection, police reporting, connections to local resources -- are covered by the Oregon Department of Justice.