Project Report
| Nov 28, 2023
The Center provides over 6,000 services to 175 sexual trauma victims
The Center for Safety & Change, Inc. (“the Center”) is a nonprofit agency whose mission is to provide critical services and support to women and all victims and survivors of gender-based violence and other crimes while working toward justice by creating social change. The Center is the sole provider of services to domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and all other crime victims in Rockland County, NY—there are no other resources for victims in the county. The Center is the sole domestic violence residential and non-residential services certified by NYS Office of Children and Family Services in Rockland County, NY (“Rockland”) and is Rockland’s only NYS Office on Victim Services designated Victim Assistance Program. In addition, all of the Center’s staff are certified and trained by the NYS Department of Health, all staff and volunteers are certified rape crisis counselors, and the Center serves as Rockland’s only Rape Crisis Program and operates Rockland’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner services. Finally, within the last four years, the Center became the largest non-profit provider of immigration legal services in the county, and the largest provider of family law services specifically for victims in the county.
- Staff provided supportive services for a 15 year old female who was victim to sexual molestation as a 5 year old child perpetrated by her mother. The child did not disclose the sexual abuse until recently. This client has been referred to the Center through word of mouth. Client’s grandmother reports the young girl has been struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Client has been hiding her trauma for years and is currently looking for help processing her emotions. There has been a lot of psychoeducation provided to the client in an attempt to help her normalize her trauma responses. The Center has provided the client with individual therapy, hotline support, advocacy, EMDR, and grounding techniques.
- A Center Counselor met a client at the Emergency Room in the hospital. The client stated that he was sexually assaulted by a stranger he met on a dating app the night prior. The client said that he reported it to the police. The counselor explained all the Center's services, such as forensic exam, filing for an OVS claim, counseling, and therapy services, accompaniment, and the Center’s 24/7 hotline/webchat/text line. The counselor also discussed the possibility of PTSD and some grounding techniques that can be utilized should symptoms arise along with positive coping strategies. The counselor provided crisis intervention, counseling, and a safety plan. The counselor also provided a comfort kit.
- The Center is currently providing therapeutic services for a client who experienced past sexual trauma 4 years ago when her husband was out of town on a work trip. The client stated she had been experiencing symptoms such as hypervigilance, nightmares, and flashbacks. The client has been consistently receiving therapy weekly now for about 6 weeks. During the sessions, therapist uses CBT and DBT through a trauma informed approach. The client has responded positively to these modalities. The therapist often conducts breathing techniques to ground the client during sessions. The client continues to respond positively to therapy and has stated that her weekly therapy sessions have been greatly beneficial to her healing and overall well-being.
The Center offers a comprehensive continuum of programs and services that are available in 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.