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 6,966 services to 211 victims in the Sexual Trauma Program. This quarter:

• The Center worked with a parent whose son was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance when he was ten years old. The client’s son gave his testimony by video-tape and was able to provide details of the abuse.  The perpetrator admitted to the horrific crime, was prosecuted, and was sentenced to approximately 18 years in prison.  The parent has been trying to work through the trauma that she has sustained since learning of her son’s abuse and has been receiving therapy and supportive counseling at the Center. The client has expressed sincere gratitude for Center staff and the services she has received.
• The Center worked with a client whose two children were sexually assaulted by a family friend. The children were very emotionally disconnected and it was difficult for them to disclose their trauma for the first time. During the interview, the client was feeling suicidal and had to be brought to a hospital to be evaluated. The client felt comfortable with staff and requested the advocate accompany them to the hospital, in which the Center obliged. The advocate was present throughout the interview and provided supportive counseling, validation, safety planning (with both the client and the parents), and self-care following the interview.

Quotes:

• “The Center has helped me so much.”
• “I can’t talk to anyone else about this because they don’t understand what it’s like when your child goes through this.”
• “I feel so much better that I was able to talk about my trauma.”
• “I feel safer after coming here for services and help."
• “You have helped me and my family during this difficult time.”
• “I don’t know where I would be without you all.”
• “I wish more people knew about everything you do here for people like me."