Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program
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ServicesAll SAVI services are confidential and free of charge:
Counseling, Referrals, and Support Services for SurvivorsSAVI offers free and confidential counseling to survivors of rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence. We also provide services to friends and families of survivors. Counseling is important immediately after the assault. Counseling is also immensely valuable no matter how long ago the assault occurred. Counseling sites are located at The Mount Sinai Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital Center, the Queens District Attorney's Office, and The Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens. Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) ProgramSpecially trained Sexual Assault Forensic (SAFE) Examiners are on-call to respond to survivors of sexual assault presenting at the Mount Sinai Medical Center's Emergency Department. Sexual assault examinations require the integration of specialized knowledge of genital anatomy and physiology, human sexual response, common sexual response, common sexual assault injuries, specialized health care treatment, forensic science and criminal justice. This knowledge is not often included in basic education in medical and nursing curricula. SAFEs receive comprehensive training to facilitate best practice medical and psychological care for the treatment of survivors of sexual assault, performed in the context of forensic evidence collection. SAFE Examiners are medical professionals currently licensed as a nurse, doctor and/or physician assistant. SAFE Examiners work collaboratively with a team of responders in these cases, including Emergency Room Attending Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers and Advocates. Emergency Room AdvocacyTrained Volunteer Advocates are on-call around the clock to provide immediate crisis intervention, emotional support and information to female and male survivors of rape, sexual assault, incest, and domestic violence, and to their families and friends. SAVI Advocates are available in the following emergency rooms: ManhattanHarlem Hospital QueensElmhurst Hospital Center Regaining control is an important of the recovery process. SAVI Advocates and staff are here to support a survivor's decisions. New York State Crime Victims BoardSAVI assists survivors in filing compensation claims with the New York State Crime Victims Board. The New York State Crime Victims Board was created under Article 22 of the Executive Law to compensate innocent victims of crime for out-of-pocket expenses that are not reimbursed. Since its establishment on August 1, 1966, the Board has provided substantial financial relief to victims of crime and their families by reimbursing crime-related expenses, including medical and funeral expenses, loss of earnings or support, counseling, crime scene clean-up expenses, the cost to repair or replace items of essential personal property, reasonable court transportation expenses, and the cost of residing at or utilizing the services of a domestic violence shelter. If you are an innocent victim of a crime within New York State you may be eligible to receive benefits. New York State Crime Victims Board Web SiteEducation and TrainingSAVI provides workshops or trainings for schools, businesses, or community groups. Professional sensitivity trainings for medical, social service, and law enforcement personnel also available. For more information please contact Angela Cummings at angela.cummings@mssm.edu. Legal AdvocacyThe SAVI staff provides support and information to survivors as they interact with the police and the criminal justice system. Free and Confidential Support GroupsThroughout the year, SAVI offers short-term groups for adult survivors of rape, domestic violence, and childhood sexual abuse. Please call (212) 423-2140 to inquire about these and other groups that may be in development. |