SANE Trainees
Financial Support & Mentorship
Fostering a Community of Practice in Trauma-Informed Care
Mission
Increase the number of trained and certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners in the region by fostering a supportive Community of Practice. We advance compassionate, trauma-informed care and expand access to forensic examinations for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Vision
To empower Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners through education, mentorship, and collaboration to deliver trauma-informed, evidence-based care that strengthens the health and resilience of the communities they serve.
Dual Certified SANEs Providing Care for All Ages — Because Survivors Shouldn’t Have to Travel
About the Program
- Who We Are: A university-based community dedicated to supporting Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs).
- What We Do: Educate, mentor, and collaborate to strengthen SANE skills and workforce capacity.
- How We Do It: Applying evidence-based, trauma-informed care principles through specialized training.
- Why We Do It: To sustain a skilled, resilient SANE workforce dedicated to trauma-informed care and healing.
- What We Offer: Financial assistance, mentorship, and program support for SANEs and health care facilities delivering trauma-informed care. Support for Healthcare facilities – medical equipment.
- Our Goal: Train and certify 54 nurses across pediatric ,adult, and adolescent populations, while also supporting current SANEs in certification renewal.
Ready to advance your skills? Apply today to enroll in one of these six certification pathways and become a leader in trauma-informed care!
- Adult SANE Certification (CA-SANE)
- Pediatric SANE Certification (CP-SANE)
- Dual SANE Certification Adult & Pediatric (CA-CP SANE)
- Adult Renewal Certification
- Pediatric Renewal Certification
- Dual Renewal Certification
Certified SANEs
Financial Support & Resource
Experienced SANEs
Professional Development Support
Support for Health Care Facilities
To strengthen trauma-informed care capacity across South Texas, the program provides medical equipment and institutional support to partnering hospitals, ensuring SANEs can deliver high-quality forensic and compassionate care.
Laredo Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Jorge Leal thanked TAMIU for donating the forensic equipment to support the hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, stating that as a designated Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) site in Laredo, this equipment will enhance the care provided to survivors of sexual assault—right here in our community.
"This donation is more than equipment—it’s an investment in the healing and dignity of survivors," Leal said, "We’re especially proud that our SANE nurses are TAMIU graduates, making this contribution a meaningful full-circle moment of care and service. We appreciate TAMIU's continued support in advancing both healthcare education and patient care in the region."
Community & Impact
Testimonials
Participants share how the TAMIU-SANE program offers flexibility and access to SANE experts, mental health training and financial support.
Denise Alvarez
“I felt when this opportunity came up, I had to jump on board to help, so that way we can help our community here in Laredo.”
Amy Guerra
“With TAMIU, it was a great opportunity. As nurses, you should always be seeking more experience, different opportunities for you. Here with TAMIU, there’s no cost to us for us to do this.”
Sister Rosemary Welsh, executive director of Casa de Misericordia, underscored the progress made through the TAMIU-SANE initiative.
“For many years, I witnessed the lack of an adequate health care response for individuals who have experienced a sexual assault in our community. This has been from my perspective as Director of Outreach Services at Mercy Clinic and Executive Director of Casa de Misericordia Domestic Violence Shelter in Laredo, Texas. Individuals would need to travel to San Antonio or Corpus Christi to receive the care needed, and sometimes they were not able to travel. Over the years, attempts were made to look for solutions to this trying and difficult reality of the individuals. I have been a member of the TAMIU SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Stakeholder group since 2018, and I believe if not perfect by any means we have turned the corner in our unified Health Care response to the issue of sexual assault. I have attended several trainings, Boot Camps with other Healthcare Professionals, Law Enforcement, and Court Officials. I have experienced a collaborative effort to really make a difference for those needing an empathetic, compassionate, and professional response at a time of crisis in their lives.”
Dr. Severita Sánchez, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Laredo-Webb County, focused on the importance of building local capacity.
“The SANE program at TAMIU is vital," Dr. Sánchez said, "By training local nurses, Laredo is building a future where every survivor has access to skilled and compassionate care.”
Isela S. Dabdoub, CEO of SCAN, emphasized the value of trained SANEs during survivors' most vulnerable moments.
“Our community is so fortunate to have trained SANE nurses to provide complete and compassionate care to sexual assault survivors at a time when the survivor is most vulnerable and highly distressed,” Dabdoub said.
- Pelvic Examinations Workshops using mannequins and standardized patient simulations to build hands-on skills in a safe, supportive environment.
- Clinical Simulation Experience guided by experienced preceptors and mentors, focusing on trauma-informed, simulation-based learning.
- Courtroom observation experience to prepare for expert testimony and build confidence as expert witnesses.
- Flexible online learning options designed for working nurses, blending self-paced coursework with in-person simulation experiences.
- Attendance at Conferences and Professional events, fostering connections with peers and leaders in forensic nursing.
- Case Review and Continued Education opportunities, ensuring ongoing professional growth and quality care.
- Mentorship and Preceptorship Roles, allowing experienced SANEs to share expertise and guide new SANE trainees
- Active Participation in Community Initiatives, representing the SANE Community at local and regional events, dedication to advocacy and awareness.
- Mental Health Support Services to promote the well-being and resilience of SANEs working in emotionally demanding roles
- Assistance with Office of Attorney General applications, helping SANEs navigate certification requirements.
- Financial Support to remove financial barriers so trainees can focus on becoming skilled, confident SANEs.
- Personalized Support from Office staff, providing guidance, timely reminders, and assistance throughout your training and certification journey.
Contact & Apply
For questions or program inquiries, contact Maria Del Rosario Benavides, TAMIU-SANE Program Manager, 956-326-2575 or email maria.benavides@tamiu.edu
Experience the TAMIU-SANE Community of Practice
Funding Acknowledgment
We acknowledge the generous support of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which makes this work possible. We also extend our sincere thanks to our local and external partners and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) for their collaboration, dedication, and essential roles in supporting survivors.
This project is supported by HRSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number 2T96HP32498-07-00 and title Advanced Nurse Education – Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program (TAMIU-SANE Project) for a grant amount of $1.47 million. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.