On Practice Providing Context for Social Workers ’ Response to Sexual Assault Victims

The authors sought to give voice to women victims of sexual assault whose stories otherwise remain muted. The study reported here provided rare insights into victims who sought emergency services at a hospital following a sexual assault. The data (N 745) were collected by sexual assault nurse examiners in one northeastern state between 1997 and 2007. Keywords sexual assault, sexual assault nurse examiner, trauma It is late Friday night as Susan, a social worker on the Sexual Assault Response Team, makes her way to the hospital emergency department. As her mind clicks through the cases that she has seen over the years, she finds the common themes: guilt and self-blame. She knows that tonight’s vic-tim—a woman, man, or child—will be distraught. Her job will be to reach through the trauma and fear to offer emotional support. In the emergency department, Susan finds Kate, the 27-year-old victim. She introduces herself by saying, ‘‘Hey, Kate, I’m Susan, a social worker from the Sexual Assault Response Team. I’m here to be with you to answer any questions or just to sit with you.’ ’ Susan next explains her role of socia