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 provider of domestic violence residential and non-residential services certified by the NYS Office of Child and Family Services and the only New York State Office of Victim Services designated Victim Assistance Program in Rockland County. In addition, all of the Center’s sexual trauma staff are certified and trained by the New York State Department of Health, all direct service staff and volunteers are certified rape crisis counselors, and, within the last decade, the Center became the sole provider of services to victims of human trafficking.  The Center's Special Victims 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, the Center provided a total of 6,102 services to 212 victims in the Special Victims Program. This quarter:

• One of the Center's Bilingual Advocates provided services to a young girl who had been sexually assalted by her step-father. When the mother learned of the abuse, she had no idea how to handle the trauma the family and her daughter endured, how to speak to her daughter about it, and how to explain why the father was no longer present in the home. The perpetrator is now currently incarcerated, and the young girl has been receiving supportive counseling. The young girl is not currently ready to talk about the trauma and engage in therapy. The Center has helped the mother file for custody of both daughters, accompanies the family to court, providese transportation to and from court, and explains the family court proceedings. 

• A 9 yo girl who was referred to the Center due to sexual abuse, but she had retracted her story during the investigation and did not want to talk about what happened. Because she retracted her story, the family was able to reunite with the perpetrator. The non-offending parent requested counseling services for the child duebecause she wanted the child to talk to professionals, with the hope she would talk about what had occurred. She began receiving services and staff continued to safety plan and develop a relationship with the child. Initially, she was quiet and often would not talk about anything. She would end each session requesting wanting to return the following week. She asked to play music during sessions because as she said that music was something that made her feel better. Throughout the therapy process she would refer to herself as ugly and stupid and continued to look for approval and acceptance from staff. The staff continued to reflect her strengths and abilities in sessions. The child disclosed the sexual abuse to staff following an incident in which the perpetrator had called her names. A report was made to the State Central Registry and the advocate from the Special Victim Center provided support while the child went through the interview process. The Center also worked with the child's mother in order to help understand why children retract their stories and how to provide support so that child can recover from the trauma. The child was granted an order of protection and will continue therapy services at the Center.