Providence St. Mary’s SART program forges powerful community partnerships to support survivors of sexual assault

For survivors of sexual assault, access to compassionate, specialized care is vital to their healing and long-term well-being. With the soft launch of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) program in March 2024 — the first of its kind in the High Desert — Providence St. Mary Medical Center is taking a bold and necessary step forward to address a critical community need.

The SART program provides 24/7 access to forensic exams, crisis intervention and trauma-informed medical care delivered by a team of five specially trained forensic nurses. This care is confidential, free of charge and designed to support victims and survivors when they need it most. It’s also an essential part of a broader community vision: one where every survivor has access to the resources they need to be healthy, including emotional, legal and social support.

Purpose-driven affinity groups

The true innovation behind the SART model at Providence St. Mary lies in its commitment to community partnership. Over the past several months, the hospital has hosted a series of SART Affinity Group meetings, bringing together educators, faith leaders, nonprofit leaders and elected officials for a shared purpose: to create a coordinated, compassionate response system that wraps around survivors and addresses the full spectrum of their needs from housing and food to counseling and education.

These gatherings are as much about listening as they are about sharing. From public schools to faith communities, each group has a unique lens on how sexual violence impacts our neighbors. Hospital leaders, including Chief Executive Randy Castillo, Chief Philanthropy Officer Nicole Orr and Chief Nursing Officer Jessica Sadowski, are helping to lead these sessions, ensuring that the voices of community members are not only heard but also integrated into the strategy.

As the program transitions from soft launch to full implementation, the focus remains on relationship- building and education. The hospital is committed to continuing these dialogues, bringing transparency to the process and deepening connections across sectors.