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Forensics Program for Health Care Professionals

Victims and survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, assault/abuse and domestic/intimate partner violence deserve forensic medical care that is:

  • High-quality
  • Evidence-based
  • Trauma-informed
  • Victim-centered

MultiCare’s Forensics Program offers expert support, mentorship, resources and continuing education to support you in providing the highest quality care.

This starts by believing.

Chelsea Hassell
BSN, RN, CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P
Forensics Program Interim Manager

40-hour Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Foundational Training

The overall learning outcome for foundational SANE training is to provide registered nurses and advanced practice providers with the knowledge, skills, and judgement to provide competent, comprehensive, patient-centered, coordinated care to patients being evaluated for sexual assault, or suspected of having been sexually assaulted.

See in-person 2026 dates for your region below.

Puget Sound Region:

  • Tacoma General Hospital – March 23, 24, & 25
  • Capital Medical Center – June 15, 16, & 17
  • Auburn Medical Center – September 21, 22, & 23
  • Good Samaritan Family Birth Center – December 1, 2, & 3

Spokane & Spokane Valley:

  • Valley Hospital – January 26, 27, & 28
  • Deaconess Hospital – April 14, 15, 16
  • Valley Hospital – July 14, 15, & 16
  • Deaconess Hospital – October 19, 20, & 21

Yakima:

  • Yakima Memorial Hospital – February 2, 3, & 4
  • Yakima Memorial Hospital – May 4, 5, & 6
  • Yakima Memorial Hospital – August 24, 25, & 26
  • Yakima Memorial Hospital – November 9, 10, & 11

16-hour Advanced Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Clinical Skills Lab

The overall learning outcomes of the advanced clinical skills lab is for participants to improve confidence and competence in performing a comprehensive sexual assault examination. This is achieved by enhancing their clinical skillset to include utilizing specialized examination techniques and adjuncts for an advanced assessment.

Puget Sound Region:

  • Tacoma General Hospital – March 26 & 27
  • Auburn Medical Center – September 24 & 25

Spokane & Spokane Valley:

  • Valley Hospital – January 29 & 30
  • Deaconess Hospital – October 22 & 23

Yakima:

  • Yakima Memorial Hospital – May 7 & 8
  • Yakima Memorial Hospital – November 12 & 13

Monthly lecture series

Join us for a variety of topics presented by various subject matter experts to improve your standard of care, expand your knowledge, and skillset. Registration flyers will be sent out the month prior through email and leadership. See flyer for information on Continuing Education hours provided.

Location: Virtual via Teams (Presentations will be recorded when appropriate)

  • January: FBI: Gore Groups
  • February: Gore Groups: Medical Interventions
  • March: Identifying Child Abuse
  • April: Death Investigator & Postmortem SANE
  • May: Alternate Light Source in Forensic Patient Care
  • June: Elder Abuse
  • July: Strangulation Facts & Interventions
  • August: Military Forensic Healthcare: Civilian Collaboration
  • September: Legal Nurse Consulting & Testifying Pearls
  • October: Female Genital Mutilation: Prevention & Response
  • November: Medical Care in Correctional Institutions
  • December: Human Trafficking

Contact us

If you have questions or require assistance, please email us at [email protected].

Join our email distribution list

Email us at [email protected] with the request to be added to our email distribution list. This will ensure you receive all updates, news, trainings, and webinars shared from the Forensics Program.

Seek Then Speak

Seek Then Speak offers sexual assault survivors and support people a way to privately gather information (“seek”) and explore options for medical care, supportive services and reporting to police.

If they choose, survivors can then begin the process of reporting to police (“speak”) by completing a detailed, self-guided interview.

Visit Seek Then Speak for more information, or view the FAQs.

Resources & services

Please see below for a list of available resources and services ranging from forensic exam locations, domestic violence, shelters, and more.

Locations offering Sexual Assault Forensic Exams & Follow-up Services

Advocacy services

Domestic and intimate partner violence resources

Pediatric and adolescent resources and services

Human trafficking resources

Shelters

Forensics resources

*These courses are supported by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the Health and Human Services Administration (HHS), as part of an award totaling $500,000 per year with 0 percent financed with nongovernmental sources to expand Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. government.