Kentucky SAFE Standard is a statewide initiative working toward consistent, survivor-centered standards for sexual assault medical-forensic care across Kentucky.

Where a survivor seeks care should never determine the standard of care they receive.

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 hospitals providing sexual assault medical-forensic care. The goal is not to make every hospital identical—it is to ensure every survivor can count on a consistent baseline of care.

A statewide minimum standard should include:

• Timely access to trained SANE care
• Appropriate medical-forensic equipment
• Consistent forensic photography practices
• Secure evidence handling and chain of custody
• Privacy, dignity, and trauma-informed care
• Immediate access to sexual assault advocacy
• Consistent medical care and services after the evidence-collection window

The goal of Kentucky SAFE Standard is to establish clear, consistent minimum standards for sexual assault medical-forensic care across Kentucky—so survivors can expect the same essential level of care regardless of which hospital they enter.

This means bringing hospitals, SANEs, advocates, healthcare leaders, policymakers, and survivor voices together to identify gaps, strengthen practices, and create a standard 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 when seeking sexual assault medical-forensic care.

Key areas of focus include:

• SANE availability and response
• SAFE room readiness and privacy
• Medical-forensic equipment and technology
• Forensic photography and documentation
• Evidence collection, security, and chain of custody
• Advocacy notification and survivor access
• Care and services beyond the evidence-collection window
• Financial protections and billing practices
• Statewide training, accountability, and quality review

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

Meaningful change requires the voices of those who receive the care, those who provide it, and those responsible for shaping the systems around it.

The goal is not to place blame. The goal is to build a better, more consistent standard of care for every Kentucky survivor.

Kentucky SAFE Standard welcomes collaboration from survivors, advocates, SANEs, healthcare professionals, community partners, and others who share the goal of strengthening sexual assault medical-forensic care across Kentucky.

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