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 offers a comprehensive continuum of programs and services that are availablein multiple languages to all victims, free of charge, regardless of age, citizenship, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, national origin, marital status, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. These services include, but are not limited to: 

• Information and Referrals: information about the criminal justice process, information about victims’ rights, referrals to other victim service programs, and referrals to other services, supports, and resources;
• Advocacy and Accompaniment:  victim advocacy/accompaniment to emergency medical care, victim advocacy/accompaniment forensic exams, law enforcement interview advocacy/accompaniment, individual advocacy, performance of medical forensic exam or interview, or medical evidence collection, immigration assistance, intervention with employer, creditor, landlord, or academic institution, childcare, transportation assistance, and translation/interpretation services;
• Emotional Support and Safety Services: crisis intervention, hotline/crisis line counseling, on-scene crisis response, individual counseling, support groups, therapy, and emergency financial assistance;
• Shelter and Housing Services: emergency shelter, transitional housing service, and relocation assistance; and
• Criminal and Civil Justice System Assistance: notification of criminal justice events, civil legal assistance in obtaining protection or restraining order, civil legal assistance with family law issues, immigration attorney assistance, prosecution interview advocacy/accompaniment, criminal advocacy/accompaniment, and other legal advice and/or counsel.

Over the last three months, the Center provided a total of 19,133 services to 214 victims in the Sexual Trauma Program. This quarter:

• Staff met a client who was sexually assaulted by her brother in law between age 11 and 14 years old. The client was not supported by her mother because the mother felt the daughter shouldn’t have allowed it to happen and, because she did allow it to happen, her neices and nephews will no longer have a father. Staff was present in her forensic interview and, throughout the last two months (both at the main office and at the client's school), provided supportive counseling, validation, safety planning, and coping tools. The client said she was stunned at the amount of care someone had given her.
• Staff provided services to a young female who was raped by two boys she knew from high school after going to one of their homes after meeting up at a bar. She has severe trauma symptoms and has trouble eating, sleeping, has lost interest in activities, and is having trouble in her family/friend/romantic relationships. She is being provided therapy, advocacy, and accompaniment to SVC, and vicarious trauma support for the four people who arrived at the hospital following her rape to support her.

Quotes from clients: 

• Sexual support group members: “ It feels good to know I’m not the only one.”   “Thank you everybody, it really helps.” “I’m so glad you are doing this group.” “It makes a difference to know we’re not alone.” It’s good to talk about these things in here.”
• “I’ve learned so much from coming here and speaking with you and the group, it’s really changed my life”
• "I feel safer after coming here for services and help"

Links:

• http://www.centerforsafetyandchange.org/
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