North Arizona Center
Against Sexual Assault
North Country HealthCare is a federal 330 community health center that houses NACASA. NACASA is a rape crisis center providing 24 hour, 365 days a year availability for medical forensic examinations. We also offer medical and behavioral health follow up for patients. NACASA only takes patients 16 years of age and older.
We serve Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties as well as the Navajo and Hopi Nations, and Grand Canyon National Park. We have are staffed by volunteer nurses and doctors who are specially trained in medical forensics for sexual assault.
Services
A medical forensic examination is first and foremost a medical examination. Victims of sexual assault need comprehensive care to address both their physical and emotional traumas Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) are trained to provide both. During a medical forensic examination the victim of sexual assault receives a thorough head to toe examination during which all physical injuries are documented and biological evidence is collected that later is sent to the crime lab. The history of the assault is taken and documented by the SANE. Examinations take place in a quiet, confidential room without interruption. Patient care and comfort is the top priority. If it gets to be too much the patient can stop the examination process at anytime.
Medical forensic examinations are paid for by the county attorney’s office or the FBI. If someone has been a victim of sexual assault they need to make a report to law enforcement in order to receive an examination. Contacting the police after a sexual assault can be frightening and difficult. Victim/Witness Services of Coconino County has advocates available to assist victims through the process.
Volunteer/Donate
We have a wide range of ways to volunteer or donate. Please call Jessica Pope at 480.644.4025 for more info on how to get involved.