Support rape victims ages 4 to 71 years old

The Center for Safety & Change, Inc. (the Center) is a nonprofit agency whose mission is to develop strategies to end gender-based violence and provide shelter and supportive services that empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and other crimes. Since its inception in 1979, the Center has been the sole service provider to victims of sexual assault and their families in Rockland County, NY. The Center's Sexual Assault Program includes a 24-hour rape crisis hotline, accompaniment to court and other appointments, legal services, trial preparation, counseling and therapy, a 15-bed emergency residential shelter, services for families of survivors, support groups, translation, transportation, and a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program at both of Rockland’s acute care hospitals.

Over the last three months (February-April 2018) the Center provided a total of 6,431 services to 212 sexual trauma victims/survivors. One of these survivors was a 13 year old girl who had been sexually assaulted by a family friend.  The Center’s Special Victim’s Advocate assisted the young girl in completing an OVS claim and also assisted her and her mother in finding affordable housing. In addition, the advocate was able to assist the client prepare for trial and provided accompaniment to sentencing as well.  Due to the bravery and strength of this young client as well as the collaboration between the Center, the District Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement, the perpetrator received 20 years to life in prison! This client expressed how thankful she was for all of us being supportive and believing her. This client continues to work with our agency and has been doing really well in her recovery process.

The Center often receives feedback from clients during their recovery process as well as when they have finished utilizing the Center’s services:

• “ I will always remember how nice everyone was to me at the hospital”
• “I like coming here, no one judges me”
• “I feel safe here”
• “Thank you everyone for believing me and helping me prepare for trial”
• “I could never thank all of you for the work that you do every day, you will never know how much I appreciate you guys”.
• “I know you have a lot of cases and I don’t know how you do it to help everyone, but you and this agency have helped me better my life. I don’t know what took me so long to get help”
• “You are our Family!”