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Alliance: Newsletter: Summer 2007: Hospital Services for Sexual Assault Victims

Newsletter: Summer 2007: Hospital Services for Sexual Assault Victims

Pictured from left to right: Harriet Lessel, Deborah Fry, and Tamara Pollak

In April the Alliance released its groundbreaking findings on hospital services for sexual assault victims. Our research provides the most comprehensive data to date on such services, as well as the first citywide report from survivors themselves. Here are highlights from the press conference covered by the New York Daily News and two television channels, among others.

On the Findings: Alliance Executive Director Harriet Lessel

"Our research found that for rape victims, getting help in New York City depends on two factors: misfortune and luck. Misfortune because what services you get depend on where the rape happened. And luck because if you are lucky, you might go to a hospital with specialized treatment."

On the Data:Research Director Deborah Fry

"It is alarming to note that a sexual assault victim who is brought to 75% of the hospitals in New York City will go without specialized care. Currently, there are only 17 emergency departments in NYC that have SAFE programs. Most of these are located in Manhattan."

On the Implications: Education and Training Director Tamara Pollak

"We know that it doesn't make sense logistically to try to develop a SAFE program in every hospital in New York City. It does make sense to planfully design a SAFE program infrastructure that guarantees access to all victims."

On What It Means: Survivor Cheryl Wheeler

"I suspect more people in my situation would have a very difficult time explaining [what they need] without a victim's advocate."

The Alliance is the only organization of its kind in the country that conducts original, primary research. You can find the complete reports, How SAFE is New York City? Sexual Assault Services in Emergency Rooms and A Room of Our Own: Sexual Assault Survivors Evaluate Services, as well as links to the news coverage at:

[1] www.nycagainstrape.org/research.html

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[1]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/research.html

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