Legacy and WNH to offer Sexual Assault Response Training


The Legacy Foundation has awarded William Newton Hospital (WNH) a $2,500 grant to host a Sexual Assault Education Conference presented by Special Agent Michael Prodan. The intensive 2-day event will take place November 6th and 7th at the Physicians Pavilion located on the WNH campus, and is open to local healthcare providers, law enforcement, educators, and area social service agencies.

"This training is the kind of project Legacy is happy to support. It will be convenient for and targeted to professionals in our area and assist them in providing the best care to the community and the region," said Pam Moore, Executive Director of Legacy. "That's a smart investment that will have continuing impact."

Classes focus on sexual assault response and investigation and will provide area agencies with a better understanding of the unique challenges these crimes present for victims, investigators, and prosecutors.

Courses have been tailored to the specific needs of the community and will focus primarily on the victimization of children and sexual assault investigation techniques. Unfortunately, in 2011 77% of sexual assault examinations performed at WNH involved children, with 45% of those involving children under the age of 5. In 2012, children made up a 60% majority.

With 35 years of law enforcement experience and over 23 years of investigating violent crimes, Special Agent Prodan is well equipped to help inform and empower local sexual assault responders. Prodan is one of only 34 worldwide graduates of the FBI's Police Fellowship in Criminal Investigating and Profiling and Crime Scene Analysis at the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. He has also attended training with the United States Secret Service at their National Threat Assessment Center in Washington, D.C. Agent Prodan is considered a nationally recognized behavioral analysis expert relative to violent crime and sexual offenders and was instrumental in the creation of the RESPECT team, a countywide coalition of healthcare providers, law enforcement, the county attorney's office, victim's advocates, and social service agencies. The RESPECT team focuses on providing support to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in South Central Kansas.

WNH has partnered with Legacy to provide an additional $600 in funding. This charitable commitment will allow the conference to be free to attendees not requiring professional education credit. Should individuals in attendance choose to receive continuing education hours; there will be a discounted fee of $50 per day.

"The RESPECT Team offers an invaluable service to our region," said Ben Quinton, CEO, William Newton Hospital. "We are grateful to Legacy Foundation for their generous support and are proud to be a partner in offering an opportunity for focused training to individuals who are tasked with investigating and combating the crime of sexual assault in our community; it is an incredibly important initiative."

Contact: Kaydee Johnson, William Newton Hospital - 620.222.6276



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