FORT WORTH, Texas — A historic collaboration between Tarrant County College and The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (HSC) will increase the number of trained sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in North Texas, resulting in more SANEs being available for victims of interpersonal violence who live in rural and medically underserved areas.
A $1.5 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration will help establish the North Texas Area Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Consortium (NTXASC) featuring TCC’s Division of Nursing, HSC’s College of Nursing, One Safe Place, the JPS Health Network and North Texas Area Community Health Centers. The consortium will provide adult and adolescent SANE training as well as train registered nurses to give forensic exams and follow-up care to trauma survivors.
“This funding is critical to providing compassionate and timely care to sexual assault survivors in North Texas,” said Cindy Weston, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CHSE, FAANP, FAAN, founding dean of HSC’s College of Nursing. “People who have experienced a highly traumatic event are extremely vulnerable. They should have access to trained nurses who can provide the care they need to advance a path to healing.”
TCC is expected to provide Medical Translator certification to NTXASC-sponsored SANE RN trainees. Program participants will gain clinical experience at North Texas Area Community Health Centers, the JPS Health Network and One Safe Place.
“The collaboration between Tarrant County College and the HSC is not just about expanding educational opportunities; it’s about transforming the landscape of nursing and healthcare in North Texas,” said TCC nursing Dean Nikolas Moraros.
One of the shared goals, he said, is to foster a generation of nurses who are not only highly skilled but committed to providing trauma-informed, culturally competent care.
“With Dr. Cynthia Weston’s visionary leadership at HSC and our shared commitment to addressing the shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners, we are developing a comprehensive program that integrates both didactic and practical training, tailored to the cultural and linguistic needs of our region.”
Classes are scheduled to begin January 2025.
Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive two-year college with six campuses in Tarrant County and online classes, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training for area businesses and corporations.