• Individual Counseling
• Support/Therapy Groups
• Court Support
• Advocacy/Support/Referral
• After Hours Response Line
• Community Education
• Professional Development
• Partnerships and consultations with other agencies and community groups
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program

Avalon’s Services Are:

• For women 16 years of age and older
• For non-offending parents, partners and family members of women and children who have experienced sexual violence
• Free of charge; a fee for service is charged for professional development and there is a small fee for group participation (used for refreshments)
• Provided by professional staff and trained casual workers
• Confidential and non-judgmental

Avalon SANE Response Line
Avalon provides the Avalon SANE Response Line for individuals who have experienced a sexual assault within the past 3 days (72 hours). This line is in place to provide clients with information about their options after an immediate sexual assault, and a connection with Avalon Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners who can meet the client at the hospital to provide medical care and/or the collection of forensic evidence. This line is available 24 hours a day. To access the Response Line call 425-0122. Callers will hear a recorded message which gives them the option of pressing “ 1”. The call then goes directly to an answering service that will in turn contact the nurses on call. The SANE nurse will then contact the caller. If the call is regarding an assault that occurred more than 72 hours ago, the answering service will re-route the call to Help Line. During office hours, the SANE program can also be accessed through the SANE business office (422-6503). Counselors from Avalon Centre can be reached for emotional support, to arrange counseling, and/or other services during office hours (422-4240).

Avalon SANE Response Line Nurses Do Provide:

• Services to those 13 years old and older
• Confidential and non-judgmental support
• Information regarding options and supports
• Medical care and/or collection of forensic evidence at the hospital (up to 72 hours after a sexual assault has occurred).

Avalon SANE Response Line Nurses Do Not:

• Assist with the police investigation (other than the collection of forensic evidence)
• Give statements to the police or assist victims with giving a police statement
• Respond to the crime scene or the victim’s home
• Provide services to anyone under 13 years of age

Avalon Centre Does Not Provide The Following:

• Services to youth under 16 years of age (the exception being through the SANE program); we do provide information, referrals and educational materials
• Services to survivors dealing with issues relating to psychosis or other critical mental illnesses
• Counselling and support groups for male survivors of sexual violence; we do provide information, referrals and educational materials
• Services for offenders
• Services relating to other forms of violence, such as ongoing partner/intimate abuse
• Counselling that is court ordered, mandated by the Family and Children’s Services Act, or mandated by other agencies
• Couples/family counseling
• Medical services beyond those provided by the SANE program
• Referrals to doctors or lawyers
• Legal advice
• The release of confidential information
• The names of survivors/victims to media or organizations looking for speakers or representation
• Self defence programs
• Shelter or safe house accommodations

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program: The SANE program was a three year demonstration project funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health. In its fourth year it received sustained funding through Capital Health and is coordinated by Avalon Sexual Assault Centre.

A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) is a Registered Nurse who has advanced training and education in forensic examinations of sexual assault victims. The SANE program is a partnership with the IWK Health Centre, the QEII Health Sciences Centre, and the Dartmouth General Hospital. Through this initiative, on-call SANEs will provide immediate care and conduct forensic examinations of victims of sexual violence.

The SANE Program provides:

• Emergency response, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when called by emergency personnel
• Response to the emergency departments of the IWK, QEII, and Dartmouth General Hospitals
• Services to both males and females, 13 years of age and older
• After Hours Response Line for immediate sexual assaults (within past seven days)
• Expert testimony in a court of law
• Supportive follow-up for victims and their families
• Storage of forensic evidence for up to six months

The SANE Program Will Not Provide:

• Transportation
• Medical services outside the hospital emergency departments
• Medical treatment to anyone other than victims of sexual violence

For more information, you may contact the SANE Coordinator during office hours at 422-6503 or 422-7406.