The SAFE Center of Iowa is striving to be Iowa’s #1 SANE certified resource for sexual assault care, advocacy, and training.
Clinical treatment and follow-up exams will reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections. Onsite counseling will improve mental health outcomes, decrease the risk of suicide, and decrease likelihood of post-assault substance use disorders. Co-located sexual assault advocacy will provide access to supportive resources that improve client social and economic stability.
Our vision is have a community free from sexual assault and violence, where every individual feels safe, supported, and empowered.
Our mission is to be Iowa’s experts in delivering coordinated, comprehensive, and compassionate care to survivors of sexual assault through clinical care, client support, and education.
Shannon Knudsen, BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P is the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator for both the Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and the Iowa State University/Story County SART. In her role, she coordinates collaborative care at each of the nine exam sites served by Mid- Iowa SART and two exam sites in Story County and develops policies and procedures and delivers training for SANEs.
With a nursing degree from Mercy College of Health Sciences and international certifications of SANE-A (for adults), SANE-P (for pediatrics), and as a Certified Forensic Nurse, Shannon brings extensive expertise in women’s health and forensic nursing to the state of Iowa. She has organized and led the 40-hour SANE training for aspiring SANEs and serves as a statewide technical advisor for sexual assault examiner programs through the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Abuse.
Shannon is also an adjunct assistant instructor at Des Moines University School of Medicine and a seasoned presenter. She has spoken at numerous conferences, including the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s statewide SART Summit, and trained law enforcement and military personnel. Additionally, she has contributed to educational programs at Drake University, Simpson College, and various high schools, and has been involved in training new SANEs through Iowa CASA and the University of Iowa.
Recognized for her expertise, Shannon frequently collaborates with community SARTs nationwide and provides expert witness testimony in court.
Ms. Knudsen was recently recognized by the Office of the United States Attorney in which she was presented the Victim Service Award for her exemplary efforts to bring justice to victims of crime.
Executive Director, Founder
BSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P
S.A.F.E. Center Allies are individuals and families who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the mission of the S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa through significant philanthropic support and advocacy. Allies play a vital role in advancing the Center’s work by championing survivor-centered care, strengthening statewide impact, and helping ensure the long-term sustainability of our services.
"Early in my legal career, I had the privilege to serve as a special prosecutor for sexual assault crimes. The care, treatment and support victims receive at the start has an enormous impact on our ability to hold perpetrators accountable for their crimes in the end. The S.A.F.E. Center will make our community safer and more just."
Margo, Joscelyn, & Don
"I have represented survivors of sexual assault in civil cases since 1984. I cannot count the number of times I have been told by survivors about 12 hour emergency room waits, apathetic and incompetent medical care, and poorly trained law enforcement officers. This Center will address all of those failures at once. I support it wholeheartedly."
We’re in our initial phase right now, and we are fundraising to build our first location! Donations will help us fund and open the first SAFE Center Site in Des Moines, and will continue to help us with operating costs to keep the center running effectively.
Over time, SAFE Center also plans to provide services in geographically distributed locations throughout the state. Each SAFE Center location will respond to the unique needs of the region it serves. Your contributions and donations will help us keep expanding our reach to more Iowans. So, become a part of something great, and donate!
Planned Locations Across Iowa
2010 & 2014
SANE Nurse Coordinator - Polk
Founding Executive Director Shannon Knudsen is a statewide expert on SANE Nursing and has served as the SANE Nurse Program Coordinator in Polk County since 2010 and Story County since 2014.
2023
SAFE Center of Iowa Starts
In 2023, Shannon gathered a team of experts and created SAFE Center’s first Board of Directors. The Board included representation from the Attorney General’s crime victim services program, crisis intervention services, law enforcement, the DCI crime lab, prosecuting attorneys, hospital administration, and SANE Nursing experts.
Looking Forward
Continued Partnership
SAFE Center will collaborate with donors and supporters to provide industry-leading training capabilities at SAFE Center’s Des Moines Metro location, positioning SAFE Center as the home for SANE Nurse training in the state. They plan to work in tandem to increase the number of SANE Nurses throughout Iowa.
