A Community Solution
Posted: Tue May 05, 2026 9:17 am
Council Members–
Over the last few months, our community has engaged in discussions as a result of the threat that The SAFE Alliance would stop providing forensic exams for victims of sexual assault. We have kept the survivors of sexual assault our priority. That has been our focus. This has not been about any single entity or the way thing have been done in the past.
I’m pleased to say that today we have a hospital-led plan developed by Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health, and St. David’s HealthCare to ensure sexual assault survivors continue to have access to critical forensic exam services across the hospitals. I am thankful that our hospitals have worked to get us to this point.
This plan ensures that the hospitals fulfill their legal obligation to provide access to the needed forensic exams in Austin either directly or by referral to another provider, and it allows us to go forward with a long-term, sustainable solution.
You can read more here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 091355.pdf
I want to thank ACM Stephanie Hayden-Howard and Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Stirrup, as well as Deputy City Manager Jon Fortune. They’ve worked hard. And Kachina Clark, head of the City’s Victims Services Division, has been very helpful. Additionally, I want to thank Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White, St. David’s HealthCare, and Brave Alliance for stepping up in a difficult situation and staying focused on what matters most--a solution to ensure SANE services continue to be available in our community.
Thank you all for your attention to this matter, that we can all agree is an important service to our community.
Thanks–
Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson
Over the last few months, our community has engaged in discussions as a result of the threat that The SAFE Alliance would stop providing forensic exams for victims of sexual assault. We have kept the survivors of sexual assault our priority. That has been our focus. This has not been about any single entity or the way thing have been done in the past.
I’m pleased to say that today we have a hospital-led plan developed by Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White Health, and St. David’s HealthCare to ensure sexual assault survivors continue to have access to critical forensic exam services across the hospitals. I am thankful that our hospitals have worked to get us to this point.
This plan ensures that the hospitals fulfill their legal obligation to provide access to the needed forensic exams in Austin either directly or by referral to another provider, and it allows us to go forward with a long-term, sustainable solution.
You can read more here: http://assets.austintexas.gov/austincou ... 091355.pdf
I want to thank ACM Stephanie Hayden-Howard and Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Stirrup, as well as Deputy City Manager Jon Fortune. They’ve worked hard. And Kachina Clark, head of the City’s Victims Services Division, has been very helpful. Additionally, I want to thank Ascension Seton, Baylor Scott & White, St. David’s HealthCare, and Brave Alliance for stepping up in a difficult situation and staying focused on what matters most--a solution to ensure SANE services continue to be available in our community.
Thank you all for your attention to this matter, that we can all agree is an important service to our community.
Thanks–
Kirk
On Behalf of Mayor Watson