Kentucky SAFE Standard is a statewide initiative working to strengthen consistency, coordination, and survivor-centered practices throughout Kentucky's response to sexual assault.

From advocacy and medical care to SAFE examinations, evidence practices, follow-up services, and system accountability, our focus is on strengthening the entire response surrounding survivors and the professionals who serve them.

Where a survivor seeks help should not determine the minimum standard of response, support, and services available to them. 

Kentucky survivors may encounter different levels of medical-forensic care depending on where they seek help. Differences in SANE availability, equipment, forensic photography, evidence collection, privacy practices, advocacy access, and post-assault services can affect the care a survivor receives.

A survivor's access to comprehensive, trauma-informed medical-forensic care should not depend on their ZIP code, the hospital they enter, or the resources available that day.

Kentucky SAFE Standard is working toward a statewide minimum standard for the systems and professionals involved in responding to sexual assault. The goal is not to make every hospital, program, agency, or community identical—it is to establish a consistent baseline of response, support, and services that survivors can expect across Kentucky. 

A statewide minimum standard should include:

• Timely access to trained sexual assault advocates, support and SANE care 

• Appropriate medical-forensic equipment and resources

• Consistent forensic photography and documentation practices

• Secure evidence handling and chain of custody

• Privacy, dignity, informed choice, and trauma-informed care

• Clear guidance for care and services at and beyond evidence-collection timeframes

• Appropriate follow-up care and survivor resources

• Clear roles, communication, and coordination among responding professionals

• Accountability and quality-review processes 

The goal of Kentucky SAFE Standard is to establish clear, consistent minimum standards throughout Kentucky’s response to sexual assault—so survivors can expect a reliable baseline of support, services, and survivor-centered practices regardless of where they seek help.

This means bringing survivors, advocates, SANEs, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, policymakers, and community partners together to understand existing practices, identify gaps, strengthen systems, and develop practical solutions that can be implemented and measured statewide.

One standard. Across Kentucky. For every survivor.

Kentucky SAFE Standard is examining the policies, practices, resources, and systems that shape a survivor’s experience throughout Kentucky’s response to sexual assault. 

Key areas of focus include:

• Sexual assault advocacy access and response
• SANE availability and response
• SAFE room readiness, privacy, and survivor-centered practices
• Medical-forensic equipment and technology
• Forensic photography and documentation
• Evidence collection, security, and chain of custody
• Care and services at and beyond evidence-collection timeframes
• Financial protections and billing practices
• Communication and coordination among responding professionals
• Statewide training, accountability, and quality review

Kentucky SAFE Standard is intended to be built through collaboration with survivors, advocates, SANEs, healthcare professionals, hospitals, law enforcement, policymakers, community organizations, and statewide partners.

Meaningful change requires the perspectives of those who seek support, those who provide services, and those responsible for shaping and supporting the systems involved in Kentucky’s response to sexual assault.

The goal is not to place blame. It is to recognize what is working, understand where challenges or inconsistencies exist, and work together to build a stronger, more coordinated response for survivors across Kentucky.

A Note From Our Founder

Kentucky SAFE Standard began with a simple question: What should a survivor be able to expect when they seek help after a sexual assault in Kentucky? From access to an advocate and compassionate medical care, to a SAFE examination, evidence collection and security, privacy, informed choices, appropriate resources, and follow-up care, there are many people and systems involved in a survivor’s experience. Kentucky SAFE Standard was created to look at that entire process and explore how we can strengthen consistency, communication, resources, and support across Kentucky.

This work is not about blaming SANEs, advocates, hospitals, law enforcement, or any one profession or organization. These professionals are often doing incredibly difficult work within systems that may have different resources, procedures, capabilities, and challenges. I believe meaningful improvement comes from bringing those perspectives together—listening to survivors and professionals, understanding what is already working, identifying where gaps or inconsistencies may exist, and working collaboratively toward practical solutions.

I certainly don't have all the answers, and Kentucky SAFE Standard was never created with the assumption that I do. I am committed to asking the tough questions, researching existing standards and practices, learning from those working within these systems, and listening to the experiences of the people these systems are intended to serve. My hope is that Kentucky SAFE Standard can help bring people together around a shared goal: a strong, coordinated response where survivors across Kentucky can expect compassion, information, choices, support, and a consistent minimum standard throughout the process.

There is a great deal of work ahead, but I believe Kentucky has an opportunity to build upon the good work already being done while continuing to ask where we can do better. I am grateful to every survivor, professional, community member, and policymaker willing to be part of that conversation.

Heather Torrescano
Founder, Kentucky SAFE Standard
Every Survivor. Every Hospital. One Standard.

Kentucky SAFE Standard welcomes collaboration from survivors, advocates, SANEs, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, community partners, policymakers, and others who share the goal of strengthening Kentucky’s response to sexual assault.

Interested in supporting the work, sharing your expertise, or contributing your perspective? We want to hear from you.