Alaska National Guard unites with Providence to better support sexual assault victims

WASILLA — On Aug. 3, The Alaska National Guard’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program renewed its partnership with the Forensic Nursing Services of Providence by signing a revised memorandum of understanding with the goal of better serving victims of sexual assault, their families, and the entire AKNG community.

AKNG Joint Forces Headquarters SAPR officer and Lead Sexual Assault Response coordinator Ashley Shelton indicated that these types of support agreements expire every nine years and have to be updated to remain current in a recent press release.

“There have been a lot of changes made to Department of Defense policy in the last nine years, and a lot of the change specifically impacts the National Guard,” Shelton stated in the press release.

Changes include an extension of services to Alaska Guardsmen and their dependents that are 18 and older. The revised agreement extends services to Title 5 and Title 32 federal civilian employees and their adult dependents. It also emphasizes information sharing to ensure a better understanding of each agency’s resources.

“We wanted to make sure we captured everybody who is eligible for services,” Shelton stated. “Making sure the victims of sexual assault get all the care and services that are possible to them is significant to both of our organizations.”

This collaboration is designed to support victims during the medical forensic process and allows the AKNG SARC or Victim Advocate to coordinate with FNSP at the victim’s request.

“SARCs and Victim Advocates for the AKNG recognize the interests of the victim as our primary responsibility,” Shelton stated. “We seek to empower victims in their healing journey by treating them with dignity and respect, and responding compassionately to each victim with personalized services.”

Personalized services may include information about military and civilian supportive resources such as counseling or legal agencies.

“FNSP collaborates with the AKNG to ensure their members who have experienced sexual violence have access to immediate, comprehensive medical forensic examinations, treatment, and referrals to improve their safety, health, and well-being,” FNSP assistant clinical manager, Tara Henry stated in the press release.

According to the press release, the FNSP has collaborated with Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and the Air and Army National Guard since Providence Alaska Medical Center assumed operations of Forensic Nursing Services in 2007.

“FNSP appreciates the Alaska National Guard’s efforts to ensure their members receive victim-centered support and healthcare after experiencing sexual violence,” Henry stated. “In addition, receiving a medical forensic examination by a forensic nurse specialist can improve justice outcomes for those victims of violence who choose to participate in the criminal justice process after a sexual assault.”

For more information, visit ak.ng.mil.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com