Newsletter: Summer 2005

This issue is available for download in PDF Format (307.12K)

Alliance News

Alliance Board member Larry Busching joins the New York City Law Department as Chief of the Family Law Division. The Alliance staff wishes him the best in his new position. [more]

Boys will be Men : The Pause Button Campaign

The Alliance created the Pause Button campaign to assist in preventing sexual violence by reducing perpetration. Its goal is to change attitudes among boys 11 to 13 years old that could contribute to sexual assault perpetration as boys mature. The campaign aims to reinforce boys' positive masculinity, respect boys' own moral compasses, and show boys how to not cross the line and sexually assault a peer. [more]

FHP Report

Since its inception nearly 10 years ago, the Forensic Healthcare Program (originally the Rape Crisis Consortium) has worked to create best practice standards for care of sexual assault victims, and to tailor these practice standards to fit the realities of New York City. A growing handful of our hospitals provide Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) services, scattered throughout the five boroughs in no systematic fashion. To date, there has been no initiative to ensure that every victim receives this care, despite overall acceptance that SAFE services are beneficial for victims, and help busy city emergency departments to provide quality care. [more]

Policy Update

Thanks to a law passed last year, since April 2005 the NY State Crime Victims Board (CVB) has been providing direct reimbursement to hospitals for sexual assault forensic health care exams. This protects personal privacy for victims, while reimbursing providers when the victim does not have access to private health insurance or chooses not to use private health insurance. Direct reimbursement forms are included in new NYS Sexual Offense Evidence Collection kits. To learn more, visit CVB online at www.cvb.state.ny.us/FRE.htm or contact them at 1-800-247-8035 ( TTY: 1-888-289-9749), cvbinfo@cvb.state.ny.us, or New York State Crime Victims Board, Attn: FRE Processing, 845 Central Avenue – South 3, Albany, NY 12206. [more]

Quarterly Meeting Review

The June quarterly meeting began with reports from individuals, borough task forces and citywide committees, highlighting current issues. One issue participants were particularly concerned about was maintaining a focus on the continuum of care for the sexual assault survivor. Current funding streams focus on acute care, and limit the intermediate and long-term services included in the comprehensive treatment model. Most advocates support a holistic model which responds to the survivor’s long- and short-term, psychological, emotional and medical treatment needs. [more]

Singapore Visit by St. Vincent’s Social Worker

In early 2005, I was able to take advantage of an exciting opportunity to spend two weeks providing consultation and training on rape and childhood sexual abuse to social work, medical, and criminal justice staff in Singapore. The Singapore Health Ministry funds “Visiting Experts” to provide medical training in Singapore. This was the first time that a medical social worker was funded by this program. [more]