Item #6 Draft SAFE Forensic Nursing Recommendation — original pdf

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PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION August 5, 2024 Date: Subject: SAFE Forensic Nursing Motioned by: Seconded by: WHEREAS, The Austin Public Safety Commission is tasked with providing recommendations to the Austin City Council which will be adopting the FY24-25 Budget in August 2024; and WHEREAS, in September 2019, the City Manager’s Office contracted the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), in conjunction with the Women’s Law Project and the Wellesley Centers for Women, to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the way sexual assaults reported to the Austin Police Department (APD) are investigated and processed; and WHEREAS, sexual assault lawsuits were filed and settlements were approved for Smith et. al. vs City of Austin and Senko et. al. vs City of Austin; and WHEREAS, on November 14, 2022, the final PERF report was released, Austin Police Department (APD) Review, Reported Sexual Assault Comprehensive Evaluation, and included comprehensive findings and over one hundred recommendations; and WHEREAS, the Austin Police Department worked with the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) to address the PERF recommendations and take actions, including revisions to APD policies and procedures; and WHEREAS, the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) was established in early 2023 to coordinate the full response to the PERF report, and includes representatives from APD, SARRT, nonprofit and community organizations, survivors and survivor advocates; and WHEREAS, the CSCRM identified SAFE’s forensic nursing program1 as an additional funding consideration that would greatly impact its ability to make progress; and WHEREAS SAFE is critically short-staffed due to underfunding and below market compensation, not all sexual assault victims are able to have evidence collected and preserved 1 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=424223  and receive the medical help they need, and in 2023, 144 victims were turned away and 56 were scheduled for a time later than their dispatch due to a lack of availability of nurses and advocates; and WHEREAS, SAFE (Stop Abuse for Everyone) and members of SAART briefed and provided materials2 to the commission on the forensic nursing program in July 20243; and WHEREAS, the Commission for Women passed a recommendation in support of both the CSCRM and SAFE Forensic Nursing Program in April 20244; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Public Safety Commission recommends that Austin City Council allocate investments in the FY24-25 Budget to fund $328,000 via Austin Public Health for forensic nursing compensation, to support additional positions and fund all forensic nursing staff at competitive market rates per the CSCRM recommendations. In addition to funding forensic nursing positions, ensure funding is sufficient to support wrap-around services for sexual assault survivors, such as advocacy, counseling, and administrative support for scheduling, follow up and billing. Funding for these initiatives should not detract from other city-funded services at SAFE. Vote: For: Absent: Attest: __________________________________ 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=431033 3 https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/309326 4 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=425290