The Hennepin Assault Response Team - HART

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The Hennepin Assault Response Team - HART

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Hennepin Assault Response Team - HART, Medical and health, 701 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN.

The Hennepin Assault Response Team (HART) and the Train to Retain: Forensic Nurse Education Program work together to provide specialized medical care to survivors of violence across Minnesota and to advance the field of forensic nursing.

12/14/2025

Ever wondered what a day looks like for a Forensic Nurse Examiner? Here's a glimpse:

1. On-Call at Home, 8 AM
Our FNE begins their on-call shift at home. They are on call from 8 AM - 8 PM.

2. A Call Comes In, 10 AM
The hospital operator tells the FNE that a patient has arrived who is interested in a medical forensic exam. The FNE gathers supplies and drives to the hospital.

3.Meeting the Patient, 11 AM
The FNE meets the patient at the hospital and obtains informed consent. Based on the patient’s wishes, the FNE makes a plan for the medical forensic exam.

4. Patient Discharge, 5 PM
The exam has been completed. The patient leaves, and the FNE stays to wrap up documentation and evidence packaging.

5. Back On-Call, 6:00
The FNE goes home and is back on-call for the last two hours of their shift. They may be called to do another exam.

If you're an RN and this sounds like something you'd like to do, get in touch!

12/12/2025

It's time to debunk some more sexual violence myths!

Myth 1: Drugs like GHB and Rohypnol (roofies) are the most common substances used in drug-facilitated sexual assault.
Truth: Alcohol is the most commonly identified substance in drug facilitated sexual assault.

Myth: It is a victim’s responsibility to report their assault to protect others.
Truth: Reporting an assault is a deeply personal decision and should never be seen as the victim's responsibility. Reporting doesn’t always increase safety for the victim or others.

Myth: Medical forensic care (having a ‘rape kit’ collected) is only for women.
Truth: Anyone can be a victim of violence, so anyone can receive medical-forensic care. The care you receive will be tailored to your identity and experience.

Myth: Victims of sexual assault will cry when they talk about what happened to them.
Truth: Trauma impacts everyone differently, and there is no singular correct or typical emotional response. While some people may cry, other reactions like laughing, joking, being angry, or being emotionless are all normal, too.

Sexual violence is widely misunderstood, and dispelling these myths is crucial to creating a just world for victim/survivors.

12/03/2025

The team went to Kalispell, Montana, earlier this month for another Adult/Adolescent Clinical Skills Lab. This was our sixth lab in MT this year, for anyone who's counting! We're so grateful to Montana State University for inviting us back each time. And though we were there for a forensic nurse training, we somehow ended up at another fire station, just for fun. Next stops: Butte and Great Falls. Interested in a training in your area? Email Stephanie.Ellis@hcmed.org for more info.
Pictured L to R: Whitney, Abbie, Stephanie, Brittany

11/18/2025

This spring, our introductory, 40-hour, adult/adolescent didactic SANE training will become more accessible than ever. Instead of a weeklong class, you'll meet once each week on Wednesday for a full day of interactive instruction from our diverse slate of multidisciplinary speakers. Class starts at 8:00 AM and concludes at 5:15 PM, with plenty of breaks built in.

Session Dates:
1. April 15th, 2026
2. April 22nd, 2026
3. April 29th, 2026
4. May 6th, 2026
5. May 13th, 2026

Cost: $400. Grant funding may be available to reduce registration costs. Email Stephanie.Ellis@hcmed.org for more information.

To register, click the Linktree link in our bio, and then select, "SANE Training Catalog".

11/17/2025

Last week, two of our FNEs, Cindy and Brittany, spoke to over 70 St. Louis Park students on the topic of relationship violence in adolescence. Presentations like these are designed to give young people the knowledge and tools to cultivate healthy relationships with each other and to prevent sexual violence before it occurs. Thank you for your work, Cindy and Brittany!

11/08/2025

The Hennepin Assault Response Team (HART) in Minneapolis, MN, has two casual, non benefit earning opportunities currently available. Must be available to work primarily night shift (8 pm - 8 a.m.) and at least 40 hours per month and be able to respond within 1 hour to Minneapolis metro area hospitals.

Forensic Examiners provide medical forensic services to victims and suspects of sexual assault, human trafficking, and abuse. Forensic Examiners also help assault victims cope with the trauma and consequences of the assault. Victims receive assistance through 12 area hospitals 24 hours a day.

11/07/2025

Happy Forensic Nurses Week!

This observance honors the dedication and expertise of forensic nurses who play a crucial role in bridging healthcare and the justice system. Their compassionate, trauma-informed care supports survivors of violence, and their meticulous evidence collection and documentation aids in the pursuit of justice. We are grateful for their unwavering commitment to healing and safety, making a big impact on individuals and communities alike.

FNEs, your work truly makes a difference every day. Thank you for all you do!

10/29/2025

Breanna and Brittany were honored to table last night at the Plymouth Public Safety Department's Resilient Community Voices event in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It was an inspiring evening filled with connection, education, and healing.

Together with other local partners and attendees of the resource fair, they witnessed the powerful "Voices Wall" honoring survivors, and participated in meaningful conversations about prevention, intervention, and systemic challenges. The evening concluded with a restorative yoga session, emphasizing 'community healing through awareness and compassion'.

Thank you to everyone who attended and to the Plymouth community for hosting this important event.

10/26/2025

We were contacted by some of our hospital colleagues who were looking for resources for their patients experiencing relationship violence, so we created tear-off flyers to help connect patients and community members with critical support services:

• 24/7 crisis line support
• Medical care resources
• Advocacy services for shelter, protective orders, and emotional support

A huge shoutout to our amazing coworker Moranda for translating the materials into Spanish, ensuring these resources are accessible to more people in our community!

These posters are now available for placement in staff and patient-facing areas throughout our facility.

Help is always available. Minnesota Day One Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 1-866-223-1111 or by text at 612-399-9995.

10/24/2025

Does the thought of testifying as a forensic nurse send shivers down your spine? We're here to help! Attend our 2-day in-person training focused on improving the competence and confidence of forensic nurses participating in criminal trials as fact or expert witnesses.

Participants will learn about the criminal justice system, their role as a forensic nurse in a criminal trial, what to expect when prepping for trial with an attorney, how to respond to direct and cross-examination, and more. Participants will also have an opportunity to practice testifying in a courtroom (just like the one pictured) with attorneys and judges.

• February 26th - 27th, 2026; from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily
• Location: Minneapolis, MN
• Cost: $100
• 14.5 ANCC CE Provided
• For more information and to register, click "Full SANE Training Catalog" in our Linktree.

10/16/2025

As we continue to take time to recognize and amplify the issue of domestic and intimate partner violence this month, we wanted to draw attention to one of the more disturbing statistics that guide our work:

Someone who is strangled by their intimate partner is 750% more likely to be murdered by that partner in the future.

Strangulation is not "choking"; it is an incredibly harmful, and sometimes deadly, expression of power and control committed by those who perpetrate violence.

Our ask? Take strangulation seriously. If you are someone who has been strangled or you know someone who has, seek or encourage them to seek medical care. Strangulation can cause injuries that are not visible to the eye, and more serious complications may not present right away.

For forensic nurses, consider implementing a strangulation screening into your practice.

Want to know more? The best source of knowledge on strangulation is the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention. Visit www.allianceforhope.org

10/09/2025

We've been having a wonderful time this week hanging out at the Hopkins Fire Department for our 40-hour Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) class! Their donation of this space has already had a measurable impact. Since we didn't have the expense of space rental, we've been able to pay more speaker honorariums, which contributes to sustainability for our multidisciplinary team members who present at the class. Additionally, the space itself is beautiful, welcoming, and has all the conveniences needed to host a weeklong training, which supports learners' wellbeing as they wrestle with challenging topics.

Immediately after we took this photo, we got into the trucks, honked the horns, and turned on the lights, proving that absolutely no one is immune to the awe and wonder that fire trucks inspire.

Special shoutout to our FNE colleague Brittany, and her husband Anthony, who is a firefighter in the department, and firefighter Drew, who was key to helping us navigate the technology at the station.

Hopkins Fire Department , thank you for all the work you do.

Address

701 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
55415

Telephone

+16128735832

Website

https://linktr.ee/Hennepin_HART

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