New training could help with violence and abuse care

The state of Alaska experiences some of the highest rates of domestic violence and sexual assault and abuse in the nation, yet most health care personnel are not trained to document and collect medical evidence crucial for aiding victims of assault and abuse. Creators of the Alaska Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy, who visited Wrangell last week, are trying to bridge the gap in training.

ACFTA provides free training to nurses and health care providers that “teaches medical providers the correct way to collect forensic evidence from the onset of care, as well as the necessary knowledge a...