Blaine County’s Sexual Assault Response Team launches SAFE Program

HAILEY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Blaine County now has a place where sexual assault survivors can get tested locally and not have to go out to Boise to have it done.

“No one wants a sexual offender in our community, we want to hold offender accountable, we want our judicial system to work,” said Shannon Nichols, the Advocates Director of Development and Engagement.

For that to happen, Shannon Nichols, who works with sexual assault survivors, says getting a rape kit examination can be an essential step in getting justice.

However, that process has been complicated for survivors living in Blaine County.

“We would explain to the sexual assault survivor, ‘OK, if you want to have a forensic exam, this is what will happen. We’ll make the report to law enforcement, they’re going to drive you to Boise,‘” Nichols said. “Immediately, you can just see, they’ll shut down and be like, ‘I can’t do that.‘”

That is why the county established the Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Program, otherwise known as SAFE.

It provides free examinations locally. The Advocates, a nonprofit group that provides resources for sexual assault survivors, along with Blaine County’s Sexual Assault Response Team, helped make this happen.

Thanks to $45,000 in private donations, they trained six local nurses to administer the exams.

“We have incredible nurses who have stepped up to take voluntary call, because it’s not paid call,” said Shanna Angel, the Nurse Manager of the SAFE Program. “We all trained together; we did a 40-hour training which was really intense.”

Angel is one of the nurses volunteering. She said their training consisted of learning how to collect DNA evidence and photos and how to be empathetic when dealing with a survivor of assault.

“I think the training helped us realized that we are there for compassion and we are there to take the facts down, to let them tell what happened, provide them medical care for any injuries they have,” Angel said.

The Advocates work closely with local law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office if survivors want to take legal action. Otherwise, they can remain anonymous and look to The Advocates as a support system.

“Really, what we know is that survivors of sexual assault and rape, when they are given choices, when they are given autonomy to decide what that next step is, it really does start that healing process sooner,” Nichols said.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, you can find more information on how to report it and the “safe” program by clicking here.

Copyright 2025 KMVT. All rights reserved.