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Crisis-services group tells Quartzsite council county lacks local SANE exams, seeks partnerships
Summary
Colorado River Regional Crisis Services briefed the Quartzsite council on victim services across La Paz County, saying the county has no local SANE facility or SANE-trained nurses and that survivors often must be transported to larger cities for exams. The agency described shelter, transitional housing and victim‑compensation assistance.
Lillian Perez, a community outreach educator with Colorado River Regional Crisis Services (CRRCS), told the Quartzsite Common Council June 9 that the agency serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking across La Paz County and is working to expand local resources.
Perez said CRRCS provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, legal advocacy, community-based advocacy and a four-unit transitional housing complex. She emphasized that the county currently lacks a SANE (sexual assault nurse examiner) facility and SANE-trained nurses, which often requires transporting survivors "to either Havasu, Yuma, Kingman, or Phoenix," potentially delaying evidence collection within the preferred 72-hour window.
"Within La Paz County, we do not have a SANE exam facility or SANE nurse," Perez said. "So when we are working with a sexual-assault survivor that is wanting to get an exam, we oftentimes have to transport out to either Havasu, Yuma, Kingman, or Phoenix. And that adds on to the 72 hours that they have to receive this treatment." She told the council CRRCS is working on grant opportunities to build local capacity and train nurses locally.
Perez described other programs including survivor-centered "capacity coaching," a justice response team, legal advocacy to assist with protection orders and help applying for crime victim compensation to cover medical bills and other expenses. She offered pamphlets and contact information to attendees and took questions from council members and local civic leaders.
The presentation concluded with council members thanking CRRCS for its work and a representative of the Woman's Club noting the organization's past support; Perez said CRRCS would be available to meet clients and to provide future outreach and educational programming.
