The SAFE Alliance announced that forensic nursing services will resume at Eloise House through a new collaborative model that expands options and strengthens the support system for survivors of sexual assault. Exams are expected to resume on Jan. 3, 2027.
This comes after the SAFE Alliance ended its forensic exam program in May 2026 after falling short nearly $2 million in operating costs.
The SAFE Alliance announced today that forensic nursing services will resume at Eloise House through a new collaborative model that expands options and strengthens the support system for survivors of sexual assault. Exams are expected to resume on Jan. 3, 2027.
The partnership brings together specialized forensic care and ongoing survivor support services at Eloise House, reflecting a shared commitment to making compassionate, trauma-informed care available to survivors in Central Texas.
“When forensic examinations were discontinued earlier this year, we were clear that the existing model was financially unsustainable. We were equally clear that survivors deserved better than a system that depended on a single nonprofit absorbing the costs of an essential service,” Dr. Pierre Berastaín, CEO of SAFE, said. “This partnership represents meaningful progress toward a more sustainable approach. By bringing together TXFNE’s specialized clinical expertise and SAFE’s longstanding advocacy and support services, we are restoring an important pathway to care while continuing to work toward the shared responsibility this community needs.”
Under the new model, SAFE is partnering with Texas Forensic Nurse Examiners: Forensic Center of Excellence, which brings specialized forensic nursing expertise to Eloise House. The partnership combines TXFNE’s clinical capabilities with SAFE’s longstanding commitment to survivor advocacy, trauma-informed support and access to additional services.
The return of forensic nursing services to Eloise House is one part of the community’s broader effort to strengthen forensic care across Central Texas through a collaborative, multi-provider model. Long-term sustainability will require broader investment, stronger coordination and shared responsibility among health care systems, public institutions and community partners. SAFE is calling for continued collaboration among these stakeholders to develop lasting solutions that ensure survivors can access the care they need.
“TXFNE’s strength is the clinical expertise of our forensic nurse examiners,” Dr. Khara Breeden, founder and CEO of TXFNE, said. “Every exam is trauma-informed, thorough, and built to support both a survivor’s healing and the integrity of their case. When we enter a community, that standard of care comes with us. We are excited to bring TXFNE’s services to SAFE Alliance and the Austin community, our fifth community expansion, and to work side by side with a partner who shares our commitment to survivors. Together, we will make sure Austin survivors have access to expert, compassionate care when they need it most.”
SAFE has been the primary rape crisis center in the region for over 50 years. Over a decade ago, at the community’s request, SAFE expanded its services to include forensic exams, assuming significant financial and operational responsibilities that, by law, rest with hospital systems. Since the decision to end forensic nursing happened, Eloise House remained open, and SAFE has continued providing critical services to survivors, including 24/7 advocacy, crisis response, case management, therapy and other support.
Austin has now transitioned toward a collaborative, multi-provider system of forensic care designed to expand access, strengthen coordination, and give survivors greater choice. However, demand for examinations continues to exceed provider capacity, contributing to longer wait times and highlighting the need for specialized trauma care and alternatives to hospital-based settings. The return of forensic nursing services to Eloise House addresses these gaps by expanding community capacity and reconnecting forensic examinations with SAFE’s existing specialized expertise, comprehensive advocacy, and ongoing support for survivors with complex and intersecting needs.
“For a survivor of sexual assault, access to timely, compassionate care can shape what happens in the hours and months that follow,” Berastaín said. “Having more options for where and how to receive that care is meaningful, particularly when those services are connected to advocacy, counseling, and longer-term support. We welcome this growing network of providers, and we also recognize that our work is far from finished. Our community must continue building a system in which access to forensic care is dependable, coordinated, and sustained, regardless of where a survivor first seeks help.”
SAFE’s return to forensic nursing care is currently made possible entirely through the generosity of philanthropic supporters.
Republished from SAFE Alliance