Collaboration with Rural and Remote Communities to Improve Sexual Assault Services

After a recent sexual assault, clients in rural and remote communities do not typically receive comprehensive services. They experience delays with staff shortages and unfamiliarity with procedures, negative responses to disclosure such as disbelief, and may be turned away or required to travel elsewhere away from their support systems. These experiences increase their risks for mental health disorders and chronic diseases, placing a significant burden on the client's health and on the community. A participatory action approach was used in five Canadian communities to find collaborative solutions to their challenges. Mixed methods were used to collect data on the impact of community identified interventions on knowledge, service quality and comfort in providing services. Interventions included support for multidisciplinary advisory teams, resource development, and education sessions for service providers. The Enhanced Emergency Sexual Assault Services (EESAS) education selected by communities provided trauma informed knowledge of collaborative and comprehensive services in their community. Both focus group and survey data demonstrated increased collaboration and shared knowledge, enhanced communication, and improved services such as provision of increased privacy for clients. Knowledge increased in all key areas of services and service quality. Limited data suggests the changes are sustained for at least 6 months post-training. The combined findings of qualitative and quantitative data support the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary community development program. The increased knowledge, comfort and teamwork have potential to improve services clients receive and therefore the health of both the individuals and the community.