The Weight of Witness: Reflections of a SART Coordinator

By Katelyn Page

Being a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) coordinator is a role that carries immense responsibility and emotional weight. It’s a position that demands not only organizational skills and extensive knowledge, but also a profound capacity for empathy and resilience. Even with these demands the rewards are significant: witnessing survivors reclaim their power, contributing to systemic change; the challenges are equally profound. Through these ups and downs, it is important that we continue to learn and lead with trauma-informed practices:

• Continuously educate yourself and your team on trauma-informed care principles.
• Ensure all interactions with survivors are sensitive, respectful, and empowering.
• Keep abreast of the latest research, best practices, and legal changes related to sexual assault response.
• Attend conferences and workshops to enhance your knowledge and skills.

One of the most difficult aspects is the constant balancing act. You’re simultaneously a support system, a case manager, and a liaison between agencies. You navigate the complex legal system, ensuring survivors’ rights are protected while coordinating with law enforcement, medical professionals, and victim advocates. Each case presents unique challenges, requiring a tailored approach and unwavering attention to detail. It is increasingly important to build strong interagency relationships. There are many ways you can do this, here are a few to start with:

• Cultivate collaborative relationships with law enforcement, medical professionals, and victim advocates.
• Regular communication and training sessions can foster understanding and streamline processes.
• Provide regular training and support to your team members, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Delegate tasks effectively and recognize the contributions of your team.
• Practice great communication: survivors, law enforcement, medical professionals, and other advocates, all require clear and concise communication.

We are privy to the most intimate and harrowing details of survivors’ experiences. We listen to stories of betrayal, violence, and profound pain. While we strive to maintain professional boundaries, the emotional toll of bearing witness to such trauma can be heavy. We need to ensure we are taking care of our own emotional well-being so we can continue to effectively support others.

• Vicarious trauma is real. Implement consistent self-care practices: therapy, mindfulness, exercise, hobbies, and strong personal boundaries.
• Create a supportive network of colleagues and mentors for emotional processing.
• Acknowledge that progress can be slow and that you can’t solve every problem.
• Celebrate small victories and focus on making a positive impact within your sphere of influence.

Despite the challenges, there are moments of profound hope and inspiration. Seeing the positive impact of our advocacy and the changes we help implement within the system fuels our determination to keep fighting.

This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GK-04024-RURA awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.