Northern Arizona Center
Against Sexual Assault - (NACASA)
North Country HealthCare is a federally-qualified 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. We serve adult and adolescent victims.
We serve Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties as well as the Navajo and Hopi Nations, and Grand Canyon National Park in four sites within those counties. We are staffed by 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 (SANEs) 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 any time.
Medical forensic examinations are paid for by the county attorney’s offices or federal jurisdictions. If someone has been a victim of sexual assault, he/she can make a report to law enforcement or call our crisis hotlines if unsure about talking to law enforcement. Contacting the police after a sexual assault can be frightening and difficult. NACASA partners with advocacy agencies to provide information regarding options, crisis intervention and support.
Volunteer/Donate
We have a wide range of ways to volunteer or donate. Please call Jen Runge at 928-522-9460 for more information on how to get involved.