Meet Our Team: Christeen Badie

At DC Forensic Nurse Examiners (DCFNE), our team is made up of more than just nurses! Meet Christeen Badie, MSW, LGSW, our Program Manager for partnerships.

Tell us a little bit about your background in the field of sexual assault and domestic violence.

I started working with survivors of domestic violence in 2011 at a culturally specific non-profit that focused on serving the African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities in all five boroughs of New York City. I specialized in providing services to families who spoke Arabic and had child welfare involvement as a result of domestic violence. Following that experience, I attended graduate school, and during my first field practicum I trained service providers throughout the state of New Jersey about commercial sexual exploitation of children. I also worked in Newark, New Jersey, where I provided clinical services to children who experienced sexual abuse.

What drew you to your position here at DCFNE?

I applied to work at DCFNE because I believe in the mission of reducing the impact of violence. The first few days after an assault are critical to the recovery of a survivor, and I wanted to work at an organization that focused on providing the best possible aftercare.

What is your favorite part of your role as Program Manager?

My favorite aspect of my role is the opportunity to work to reduce barriers of entry to care. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about this critical issue. Through partnership building and community awareness, I am able to have the opportunity to make a difference in how survivors access our services. When I hear that survivors feel empowered when accessing care and during their exams, it truly makes my day!

Tell us about the accomplishment you are most proud of related to your work here at DCFNE.

Since I began working at DCFNE in April of 2018, I’m most proud of the impact made by increasing community knowledge about forensic nursing care. I have learned through my partnership work that many providers, both medical and non-medical, were not aware of the specialized care forensic nurses provide to survivors every day. During my time at DCFNE thus far, I have been able to reach more than 35 organization and nearly 1000 people through educational presentations and events, ensuring that professionals have the knowledge needed to explain, empower, and refer survivors of sexual assault or intimate partner violence for forensic nursing care. I am proud to be part of an organization that is dedicated to offering compassionate care to survivors in the aftermath of a traumatic experience. Our nurses are truly leaders in this field and we are always looking for ways to improve, in order to best serve survivors.