Crime Victims Treatment Center Inc

THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS (LAV) GRANT PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 20121, IS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY AID VICTIMS (AGES 11 AND OLDER) OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING BY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR COMPREHENSIVE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS IN LEGAL MATTERS RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THAT ABUSE OR VIOLENCE. LEGAL ASSISTANCE INCLUDES ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN: A) FAMILY, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, HOUSING MATTERS, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE, OR PROTECTION OR STAY AWAY ORDER PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS; B) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND POST-TRIAL MATTERS (INCLUDING SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION) THAT IMPACT THE VICTIMS SAFETY AND PRIVACY; C) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, OR OTHER PROCESSES INTENDED TO PROMOTE VICTIM SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND AUTONOMY; AND D) POST-CONVICTION RELIEF PROCEEDINGS IN STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, OR TERRITORIAL COURT WHERE THE CONVICTION OF A VICTIM IS RELATED TO OR ARISING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, OR SEX TRAFFICKING. 34 U.S.C. 12291(A)(24)(C) AND (D). THROUGH THIS NEW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROJECT, CRIME VICTIMS TREATMENT CENTER, INC., WILL PROVIDE A RANGE OF LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND STALKING ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS OF NEW YORK CITY AND THE SURROUNDING REGION. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREA: INCREASE LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS WILL BE DEVELOPED DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD: A LEGAL PROGRAM BROCHURE AND OTHER OUTREACH MATERIALS.

ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION - SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINERS PROGRAM - THE CRIME VICTIMS TREATMENT CENTER (CVTC), A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN NEW YORK CITY (NYC), SUBMITS THIS PROPOSAL WITH THE OVERALL GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED NURSES (RNS) IN NYC WHO HAVE RECEIVED SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION IN – AND ARE THUS PREPARED TO OFFER – TRAUMA-INFORMED FORENSIC EVALUATION AND MEDICAL CARE TO SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, LEADING TO IMPROVED HEALTH AND LEGAL OUTCOMES FOR SURVIVORS. NYC CURRENTLY HAS 20 SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINER (SAFE)-DESIGNATED HOSPITALS TO SERVE A POPULATION OF OVER EIGHT MILLION INHABITANTS AS WELL AS TENS OF MILLIONS OF VISITORS EACH YEAR. THESE HOSPITALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPORTING THE FORENSIC AND MEDICAL NEEDS OF SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO ENTER THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED) FOR CARE, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CARE FALLS PRIMARILY ON THE FORENSIC NURSE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO CHOOSE TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE ARE OFTEN NOT AWARE OF WHICH HOSPITALS HAVE RECEIVED SAFE DESIGNATION, OR MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE/UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO A FACILITY THAT HAS SUCH DESIGNATION. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY SURVIVORS NEVER SEEK MEDICAL OR FORENSIC CARE, DUE TO FACTORS THAT INCLUDE LACK OF INFORMATION, FEAR OF NOT BEING BELIEVED, FEAR OR RETRIBUTION, AMONG MANY OTHERS. FOR THOSE WHO DO MANAGE TO SEEK CARE, MOST PRESENT AT WHATEVER MEDICAL CENTER IS CLOSEST AND/OR WITH WHICH THEY ARE MOST FAMILIAR, UNDERSCORING THE NEED FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING WORKING ACROSS THE NYC HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPE. TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RNS TRAINED AS SAFE/SANES ACROSS NYC, IMPROVING THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE OF TRAINED SAFE/SANES THROUGH ONGOING TRAINING AND SUPPORT, AND IMPROVING TREATMENT, CARE AND OUTCOMES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ACROSS NYC, CVTC WILL DRAW ON OUR 40+ YEARS AS A HIGHLY RESPECTED COMPREHENSIVE VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER IN NYC; OUR LONGSTAN DING PARTNERSHIPS WITH HOSPITAL EDS ACROSS NYC’S MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS DOZENS OF VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS; AND OUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN TRAINING AND SUPPORTING FORENSIC EXAMINERS SINCE 1997, WHEN WE BECAME NYC’S FIRST PROVIDER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINATIONS (SAFE).

THE CRIME VICTIMS TREATMENT CENTER WILL SUPPORT THE WIDE RANGE OF BASIC YET CRITICAL NEEDS OF CRIME SURVIVORS WHO SEEK TRAUMA-FOCUSED HEALING SERVICES SO THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. SURVIVORS OF CRIME SERVED BY CVTC ARE LOCATED ACROSS ALL FIVE BOROUGHS OF NYC, AS WELL AS THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. SERVICES WOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED TO INCARCERATED SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT ACROSS THE 14 NEW YORK STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND 2 FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WHERE CVTC PROVIDES VIRTUAL COUNSELING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES. SERVICES WILL INCLUDE ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSPORTATION, FOOD, CLOTHING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL NEEDS, RELOCATION/RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, JOB-READINESS, AND TRAUMA HEALING MATERIALS (E.G., BOOKS, ART THERAPY SUPPLIES).