"SAFE NYC Initiative: The NYC Sexual Assault Services Partnership to Mobilize Resources to Ensure Victim-Centered Care for All"

Working with the New York Academy of Medicine and the Greater New York Hospital Association, the Health and Forensic Services Program at the Alliance spearheaded this initiative, which applies the public-private partnership approach to acute health care services for sexual assault patients. This public-private partnership approach involves cooperation among public and private sectors seeking to solve a shared problem and address a community need through a joint venture - ultimately benefiting the broader community. The SAFE NYC Initiative calls for universal access to patient-centered sexual assault acute health services for all sexual assault survivors in NYC.

• SAFE Centers of Excellence and SAFE Affiliated Hospitals to address the needs of walk-in patients through the design of Sexual Assault Health Service Delivery Cooperation Agreements, which, depending on local needs, could include transfer agreements and/or outsourcing arrangements. [What is a SAFECenter of Excellence?]
• Sustained training provided to SAFE clinicians.
• Monitoring of hospital services.
• Development of diverse and sustainable funding mechanisms to finance city-wide infrastructures.
• Increased public knowledge about SAFE Centers of Excellence and their locations.
• Emergency transport ambulance designation from the Fire Department of New York Emergency Medical Service (FDNY EMS). The designation was created for sexual assault as of June 8, 2008.

New Ambulance Routing Protocol for Sexual Assault Victims, starting June 8, 2008

After three years of collaboration between the Alliance, the Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee of the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City (REMAC/REMSCO), FDNY, and the Mayor's Office, starting June 8, 2008 sexual assault victims now have the choice of being transported to hospitals with special care and counseling. This collaboration was made possible by funding from the New York Community Trust (NYCT) and the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (NYS DCJS). As part of the new ambulance routing protocol, the option to go to a SAFE emergency department, instead of the closest emergency department, will be given to all sexual assault victims in stable condition being transported by the Fire Department's Emergency Medical Service (EMS) and other ambulance systems that are part of New York City's 911 system.

The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault applauds the City of New York and the FDNY for making sure that every rape victim they transport in the five boroughs of New York City will get to a SAFE Center of Excellence. The Alliance will continue working with all parties involved to ensure that the quality and standards in designated centers are maintained and that assistance and proper training to EMS personnel is ongoing.

See the Mayor's Office July 14, 2008 Press Release (Video).