RESTORING HOPE FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE
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APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
& SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
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A Letter from our Executive Directors...
We are happy to be sharing this
April 2017 Newsletter with you.
The work of The Safe Center has been growing and expanding as you will see
from the articles within.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and
Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
You will see that we are implementing several initiatives to recognize these very important issues. The Safe Center continues to work towards restoring hope for victims of abuse, reducing trauma to victims and preventing family and interpersonal violence in all its forms.
We are excited
about the work in which our Education Department and our Rape and Sexual Assault Program are engaged with local Colleges and Universities. We are assisting Adelphi, Hofstra, Molloy, Nassau Community College and CW Post as well as the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point in addressing issues related to sexual assault and harassment on campus, and are heartened by the commitment of these institutions to prevent such crimes and protect the rights of all students.
We hope you enjoy the Newsletter and thank you
for your interest in and support of The Safe Center.
-Cindy Scott & Sandy Oliva,
Executive Directors,The Safe Center
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This Month at The Safe Center...
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Taste That Jazz!
Thank you to all of you who supported our 2017 Food, Beverage,
and Dessert Tasting Event, Taste That Jazz on April 3rd.
The event was the most successful ever with over 300 in attendance.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our generous sponsors, vendors,
in-kind donors, guests, entertainers and volunteers.
to our event photo gallery and digital journal.
The
Many Faces of Family
Violence Conferen
ce
On
Friday,
April 7th
The Many Faces of Family Violence Conference
will be presented
by The
Safe Center,
The Nassau County
Executive's Task Force on Family Violence and LIU Post.
Keynote Speaker: Lundy Bancroft
Mr. Bancroft has over 25 years of experien
ce in the fields of abuse, trauma and recovery and has pu
blished 5 books including the best-sellers The Batterer as Parent and
Why Does He
Do That?
Registration for the Conference is now closed.
if you would like to be added to the wait list.
Wednesday, April 19th
Learn how to prevent child sexual abuse
at home,
at school
and in the community.
Sign up for our free ENOUGH ABUSE training today.
Denim Day
Wednesday, April 26th
The Safe Center will host our first Denim Day event,
an international campaign to honor Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
To RSVP to the event email
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Our C
hi
l
d
A
dv
ocacy Center
What is a Child Advocacy Center?
Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) are county-level partnerships between the agencies tasked with responding to child abuse allegations. CACs provide child and family-friendly settings where children can feel safe to talk to specially-trained investigators about abuse allegations, and where service providers can help children and their families recover in the aftermath of abuse.
The Safe Center houses the Nassau County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a partnership between Nassau County Police, Child Protective Services, the District Attorney's Office, County Attorney's Office, Nassau University Medical Center/NUHealth, and The Safe Center LI.
These partners form the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) at the CAC and collaborate to investigate allegations of sex abuse, severe physical abuse and human trafficking.
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Healing Starts at the
Child Advocacy Center
(names in this story have been changed)
Juan
,
age 5, lived in an apartment in Nassau County with his family.
He was new to Nassau County and since school did not start until the fall, he did not have friends in the area. However, Juan became fast friends with the neighbor's son, Michael, who was
the same
age as Juan.
They frequently went over to the other's apartment to play Legos and video games. Juan's parents were grateful for this friendship and were happy to have Juan go to Michael's...
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"90% of abusers are known to their victims prior to
the abuse. Most victims of abuse don't tell right away.
Delayed disclosure is common,
and many victims don't disclose into adulthood."
-Blanca
Bilingual Child Victim Advocate,
The Safe Center
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of Rape or Sexual Assault
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
In honor of survivors of Sexual Assault, The Safe Center will be participating
in several events throughout Nassau County to raise awareness.
Through collaboration with local universities and colleges, the Safe Center will be participating in Take Back the Night events.
Take Back the Night
is an international event held to raise awareness and work towards ending sexual violence through participation in marches and survivor speak outs.
The Safe Center will be hosting it's first
'Demin Day' on April 26th from 12-3pm.
Denim Day
was first started in April 1999 after a Chief Judge in the Italian Supreme Court overturned a case arguing that "because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer a rape case but consensual sex."
Women began to protest by wearing jeans to work.
Clients from The Safe Center have decorated jeans and we will be unveiling their artistic creations.
The event will include a screening of the Netflix Original Documentary Audrie and Daisy,
a film abo
ut the community response to rape, and will be followed by
a panel discussion with professionals from The Safe Center.
To RSVP to the event email
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Believe and support survivors.
For example,
thank survivors for sharing their stories.
-
Respond to victim-blaming
jokes or other problematic comments and behavior
s.
- "Sexual assault is never the survivors' fault."
- Refocus accountability on the individuals who commit these crimes.
- Post links to educational resources about sexual violence prevention.
- Find some HERE from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
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How Brains Are Affected by Abuse
Recent research in brain science and genetics is showing us that child abuse can have a profound effect on health throughout a person's life span.
The more types of abuse or dysfunction that you grow up with, the greater your risk for a whole set of poor health outcomes including mental illness, addiction, and even physical disease.
In fact, the ten most popular causes of disease and death in the United States are linked to trauma in the early years of life.
All of this is based on a landmark study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE study).
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In 2016, our Child Advocacy Center
investigated more
than 800
allegations of child abuse.
Photo's of the brightly painted Child Advocacy Center at The Safe Center.
Child Clients Served at CAC in 2016 (by age)
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United States Merchant Marine Academy
Making Strides Against Sexual Assault
Athletes from USMMA pictured above with The Safe Center Educator
The Safe Center
has been working closely with the US Merchant Marine Academy, helping them as they work to strengthen their response to campus sexual assault and supporting their efforts to create a USMMA campus experience that is safe for all students.
We are proud to stand with the US Merchant Marine in working to stop rape and sexual assault.
"You are making a difference in the lives of many people
and I thank you for it."
-Coach Sean M. Tedesco
Assistant Athletic Director,USMMA
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Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A)
Child Abuse
presented to Nassau County's Multidisciplinary Team
o
n Sexual Abuse
at The Safe Center.
These dedicated community members have been standing up for child vic
tims of sexual abuse
on
Long Island for
20 year
s.
"We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children
to not feel afraid of the world in which they live."
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A Day in the Life of a Forensic Interviewer
Forensic Interviewers are Child Advocacy Center (CAC) staff me
mb
ers
who ar
e spec
ially trained to speak to children about allegations of abuse
.
"I wear multiple hats throughout the day, and at
tim
es I ha
ve to be a coordinator,
communicator, mediator,
counselor and facilitator."
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In Remembrance of Sister Catherine Mezzacapo
Sister Catherine
Mezzacapo, CSJ, whose decades of victim services leadership and hands-on efforts included a l
ong stint as a Board Member of The Safe Center predecessor, the Coalition on Child Abuse &
Neglect (CCAN),
died on Feb. 19, 2017 at the age of 98.
Known
and beloved to all as "Sister Cappy," she was among CCAN's founding members in 1979 and undert
ook a foun
dational survey of the medical profession on its' responses to child abuse suspicions.
She held a Social Work Masters Degree from Adelphi University, among other degrees.
She was a respected for her nurturing and supportive presence to children, parents, victims, and professional staff. She participated vigorously in events and worked on and hea
ded many Board of Directors working groups.
She is fondly remembered by all for her intelligence, keen wit, wink, smile and a sense of place, spirit and commitment.
Sr. Catherine was a professed member of the Community of
St. Joseph for 80 years.
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Upcoming Events & Trainings
THE MANY FACES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE CONFERENCE
Friday, April 7, 2017
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus
Registration for the Conference is now closed.
if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
DENIM DAY
FILM SCREENING
AND PANEL DISCUSSION
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
12:00pm - 3:00pm
The Safe Center
Denim Day is an international campaign every April
in
honor
of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
People are encouraged to wear denim (jeans)
in order to raise awareness.
This event will be open to the public.
To RSV
P to the event email
ENOUGH ABUSE TRAINING
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
6:30PM - 8:30PM
Board Room at The Safe Center
Learn how to prevent child sexual abuse
at home, at school and in the community.
Sign up for our free ENOUGH ABUSE training today.
This 90 minute training will give you the tools you need
to help create safer spaces for children to learn, play and grow
To register for a training, email:
[email protected]
HONOR A SPECIAL PERSON THIS MOTHER'S DAY
WITH THE GIFT OF GIVING BACK
How will you celebrate the caring and nurturing women in your life?
How about making a donation in honor of that someone special?
Your generous donation will not only warm someone's heart but will also help
The Safe Center restore hope to the mothers and families
in the communities we serve.
A card acknowledging your gift will be received via the mail by Mother's Day, May 8th.
Please donate by April 28th.
Acknowledgements for donations received after April 28th are not guaranteed for delivery by May 8th
When making your donation, please be sure to provide a complete address for your honoree(s).
MOTHERS DAY SHOPPING EVENT
Thursday, May 11, 2017
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Wit & Whim
Six Carltun Avenue,
Port Washington, NY
SWING FOR HOPE
ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
Monday, June 12, 2017
All-Day Event
Wheatley Hills Golf Club, East Williston, NY
Dinner tickets can be purchased separately.
 COLORS OF SUMMER
Thursday, June 22, 2017
6:00- 9:00 pm
Fashion Event & Fundraiser
in collaboration
with
Sample Sale of Port Washington
10% of purchases will be donated to The Safe Center
EVERY HOME A SAFE HOME GALA
Thursday, October 19, 2017
6:00-10:00 pm
The Garden City Hotel, Garden City, NY
For more information on how to support any of the above events, please contact Francine Medaglia at
516-465-4748
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