Alliance: Newsletter: Summer 2008: Alliance News
Newsletter: Summer 2008: Alliance News
Benedict J. Monachino, Chairman of the Board of Directors the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault |
Alliance Board Members
Ben Monachino joined the Board of the Alliance in 2005 and became chairman in 2007.Ben brings with him a professional commitment to The Alliance's mission based on several years as an attorney in the criminal justice system working as a Principle Law Clerk to a Supreme Court Justice and a Commissioner with the NYS Crime Victims Board. His work assisting innocent victims of crime with their medical compensation benefits first introduced him to The Alliance.
Also a Professor of Business Law at St. Joseph's College, Ben runs a private practice in general commercial and business law. In March/April, the New York State Bar Law Journal published Ben's article on the excellent work of the Crime Victims Board in enhancing rights of crime victims.
"My interest in the plight of crime victims...strengthened my resolve to bolster the work of community-based advocacy programs working to help victims overcome their trauma," Ben told us. "It was this awareness that attracted me to the important work of the Alliance."
"Since joining the Alliance Board, I have been part of the atmosphere of trust and respect for each other's skills. The spirit of cooperation has made my job as Chairman easier." Ben added. "I'm proud of what we have accomplished and honored to be a member and Chairman of the Alliance's Board."
Alliance Receives Grant
The Alliance received a grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to improve detection, collection and utilization of DNA in cases of sexual assault. The grant will be used, in part, to create fellowships for medical providers. See page 4 for the full story.More About the Youth Action Council
Members of YAC are on the move. Trained to provide their peers with information about services, they have developed an assembly in their schools, participated in SAY SO! and presented at the Brooklyn Association of Teen Educators 15th Annual Youth Conference and Theatre Festival. We are very proud of their accomplishments.A study guide to accompany the video "It's Not About Sex" was developed by members of Alliance's YAC and other students working with the Educational Video Center. Learn more about the project and EVC at [1] www.EVC.org.
New Staff At Alliance
Meghan O'Connor, MPH, LMSW (Director of Programs) Five years of working on the issue of violence against women, both internationally and within the US has prepared Meghan for her position with the Alliance. As a mental health professional, she has advocated for as well as counseled survivors of sexual and domestic violence. At the Alliance she finds "...an opportunity to translate research into practice in a field so desperately in need of that." In her spare time, Meghan enjoys running and competing in triathalons.
Sultan Torshkhoev, M.D. , MPA Sultan holds the newly created position of Health and Forensic Services Project Director. In this position, he works in collaboration with NYC health care providers developing new programs and initiatives, manages existing health and forensic projects, and supports health care partners. Sultan, a native of Chechnya earned his MD in Russia and spent 4 years working in hospitals in the Chechen war region. Before joining the Alliance, Sultan earned an MPA degree from NYU's Wagner School of Public Services.
Program Terminated
The Long Island College Hospital is discontinuing its counseling and education services to rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors as of 6/30/08. The LICH RCIP/VOVP opened in 1984 as the only rape crisis program and the first Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program in Brooklyn.
The Alliance will continue to work with LICH and other service providers in Brooklyn to ensure that the best care is available to survivors.
New Program Opens
Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island recently received its designation as a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Program from the New York State Department of Health. We applaud their efforts to improve services to rape victims as the only program in Staten Island.
ARISE
A new coalition in NYC, ARISE (Action Research for Immigrant Social Empowerment) addresses the issues surrounding gender-based violence among immigrant communities. Joining The Alliance in the coalition are, the Arab American Family Support Center, Garden of Hope, Planned Parenthood, NYC, Sakhi for South Asian Women and Sauti Yetu Center for African Women.
Study Reports Startling Results
The New York City media reported on results of the study, Partners and Peers: Sexual and Dating Violence Among NYC Youth carried out by The Alliance and the Columbia University Center for Youth Violence Presention. See more information about the study on page 1.
Alliance Announces Fellowship For Health Care Professionals
The Alliance proudly announces its creation of SAFE Career Development Fellowships. Funded by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Fellowships will support health care community leaders who would like to play a significant role in the fight against sexual assault.
Fifty awards will be presented in two rounds: 25 for Fall 2008 and 25 for Spring 2009. The award offers a challenging but rewarding package aimed at increasing the fellows' contributions to the fight against sexual violence in New York City.
The Alliance welcome applications from individuals who meet the criteria described on the website: www.nycagainstrape.com. Deadline for the fall is August 1, 2008 at 5PM and for the Spring is November 1, 2008 at 5PM.
For further information please see The Alliance's website
[2] ← previous article | next article →
[1]: http://www.EVC.org
[2]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_article_227.html
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