Summary

In 2012, the Ontario Hospital Association, in collaboration with the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres and ECHO (a former agency of the Ministry of Health), developed a number of guidelines, outlined in a document entitled Guidelines for the Treatment of Persons Who Have Been Sexually Assaulted, in order to address the gap in the continuum of care provided to victims/survivors of sexual assault. The guidelines outline the importance of a more responsive and supportive environment for victims/survivors of sexual assault who present to the Emergency Department.

To support the implementation of these guidelines, the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres developed and implemented an interactive online and in-person training on sexual assault for Emergency Department staff. This project was undertaken in collaboration with Women’s College Research Institute.

  • Publications
  • KT Tools
  • Acknowledgements

Articles

  1. Du Mont, J., Solomon, S., Kosa, D., & Macdonald, S. (2018). Development and evaluation of sexual assault training for emergency department staff in Ontario, Canada. Nurse Education Today, 70, 124-129. Read article.   

Curricula & Guidelines

  1. Macdonald, S., Du Mont, J., & Lanthier, S. (2014, May). Care and Treatment of Persons Who have Been Sexually Assaulted [Facilitator’s Guide]. Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres and Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.  

  2. Macdonald, S., Du Mont, J., & Lanthier, S. (2015, June). Care and treatment of persons who have been sexually assaulted [Online Curriculum]. The Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres and Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.

  3. Macdonald, S., Du Mont, J., & Lanthier, S.(2014, May). Care and treatment of persons who have been sexually assaulted [PowerPoint Training]. The Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres and Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.   

Funder

This project was partially funded the Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade, Ontario Women’s Directorate, Government of Ontario.

Participating Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres

  • Brant Community Healthcare System, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program;
  • Brockville General Hospital, Assault Response & Care Centre; 
  • Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre;
  • Cornwall Community Hospital, Assault and Sexual Abuse Program;
  • Dryden Regional Health Centre, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program;
  • Lakeridge Health Oshawa, Durham Region Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault Care Centre;         
  • Guelph General Hospital, Guelph-Wellington Care and treatment Centre for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence; 
  • Lake of the Woods District Hospital, Sexual Assault/Partner Abuse and Safekids Programs; 
  • Kingston General Hospital, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program; 
  • Perth & Smith Falls District Hospital, Lanark County Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program; 
  • St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence Treatment Centre;
  • Trillium Health Centre and Credit Valley Hospital, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services;
  • North Bay General Hospital, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Program;   
  • Headwaters Health Care Centre, Domestic And Sexual Assault Treatment Program;
  • The Ottawa Hospital, Sexual Assault & Partner Abuse Care Program (SAPACP)/Programme De Soins Aux Victimes D’Agression Sexuelle Et D’abus Par Un Partenaire;
  • Grey Bruce Health Services, Sexual Assault & Partner Abuse Care Centre;
  • Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program;
  • Renfrew Victoria Hospital, Renfrew Victoria Hospital Regional Assault Care Program;
  • Sault Area Hospitals, Sexual Assault/Partner Assault Clinic;   
  • The Scarborough Hospital, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre;   
  • Niagara Health System, Sexual Assault /Domestic Violence Treatment Program; 
  • Sudbury Regional Hospital, Violence Intervention and Prevention Program;   
  • Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre;
  • Women’s College Hospital, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre;
  • Quinte Health Care, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Response Program; and  
  • Windsor Regional Hospital, Sexual Assault / Domestic Violence & Safekids Care Centre; York Central Hospital, Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault (DASA) Care Centre of York Region.

Research Team

  • Co-Principal Investigator: Janice Du Mont, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital;
  • Co-Principal Investigator: Sheila Macdonald, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres;
  • Curriculum developer: Stephanie Lanthier, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital;
  • Project Coordinator: Lindsay Holder, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital; and
  • Project Coordinator: Shannon Elliot, Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, Women’s College Research Institute- Women’s College Hospital.

Collaborators

Advisory Committee

  • Kathleen Fitzgerald, Sexual Assault/Partner Abuse Program, Kenora;
  • Nancy Horan, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Treatment Program, Sudbury;
  • Jennifer Keeler, Peel Region Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Program, Mississauga;
  • Tara Leach, Sexual Assault Partner Abuse Care Program, Ottawa;  
  • Kari Sampsel, Sexual Assault Partner Abuse Care Program, Ottawa;
  • Diana Tikasz, Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre, Hamilton; and
  • Jennifer Valiquette, Renfrew Victoria Hospital Regional Assault Care Program, Renfrew.