SAFE Center of Iowa offers training to victims of sexual assault

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Center, also known as the SAFE Center of Iowa, is working to increase the number of professionals who know how to help victims of sexual assault.

The center held a training session Sunday for law enforcement and medical professionals in partnership with the Iowa National Guard’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.

One of the nurses who attended works in the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center.

“I love being that person who can help them in their most vulnerable time and being there for them,” Brooklynn Ossman said.

Ossman said she is already trained as a sexual assault nurse, but wanted to take a refresher course to ensure she can provide the best care.

“Especially if I were in that position, I would want a nurse who is passionate about making sure they get the right care, the medical care, and just have someone who is there for them afterward,” Ossman said.

Another part of the training was a mock conversation between a victim of sexual violence and a police officer. Brian Flikeid, a police chief in northwest Iowa, conducted the interviews during Sunday’s training and also serves on the center’s board. He said he wanted to help after seeing a shortage of resources.

“Recognizing that we can provide better services to victims. That’s actually how I got involved, because I had seen some of those cases in the past where they didn’t go as well as they should, otherwise we could have done better,” Flikeid said.

Training on sexual violence is not the only goal of the SAFE Center. It said it hopes to establish locations in Iowa where victims can receive needed medical care and file police reports in the same place.

“We are looking for an independent center where we can be open 24/7 to provide services to victims. And there are satellite centers throughout the state so victims have 24/7 access,” said Shannon Knudsen, founder of the SAFE Center.