Press Contact: Safe Horizon 2 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor New York, New York 10007 www.safehorizon.org Jessica Rothchild Communications Manager Phone: (212) 577-7719 Fax: (212) 577-3897 Email: jrothchild@safehorizon.org Safe Horizon: At a Glance WHO IS SAFE HORIZON? Safe Horizon is the nation's leading nonprofit victim assistance, advocacy, and violence prevention organization. Founded in 1978 as Victim Services, the mission of Safe Horizon is to provide support, prevent violence, and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities. With an annual budget of $52 million, Safe Horizon serves more than 350,000 New Yorkers each year, through more than 80 programs in community offices, courts, police precincts, shelters and schools. Safe Horizon's 900 staff members provide a range of assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, the September 11th attacks, elder abuse, stalking, trafficking, and torture. Services include crisis intervention, counseling, information and referrals, education and training, mediation, advocacy, and practical emergency assistance. PROVIDING 24-HOUR LIFELINES TO CRIME VICTIMS Safe Horizon runs the New York City Domestic Violence Hotline; the Sexual Assault, Rape, and Incest Hotline; the September 11th Support Hotline; and the Crime Victims Hotline. Safe Horizon's 24-hour hotlines currently receive calls from more than 300,000 New Yorkers each year who have been victims of crime and abuse. Hotline crisis intervention specialists answer calls related to domestic violence, crime, sexual assault, and the September 11th attacks. Callers are assisted to safety and are provided support and access to resources including emergency lock replacement, food, transportation, shelter, and referrals to programs that can further assist them. HELPING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, STALKING AND RAPE Safe Horizon offers a comprehensive range of services including counseling, advocacy, intervention, and support to meet the needs of victims and their families. These programs include 24-hour hotlines, short-term counseling, batterers intervention programs, and emergency lock repair and replacement. Safe Horizon is also the largest provider of domestic violence emergency housing in the nation. In addition, Safe Horizon staff work at police precincts to assist police in responding to domestic violence calls. The Domestic Violence Law Project helps survivors obtain orders of protection and pro-bono legal assistance in divorce cases and custody matters. Safe Horizon's Anti-Stalking Program was the first New York State victim assistance program focusing on the crime of stalking. Safe Horizon's Anti-Stalking Program provides victims of stalking with risk assessment and safety planning, short-term individual counseling, crisis intervention and emotional support, advocacy within the criminal justice system, and assistance in documenting stalking incidents. Safe Horizon's Rape Crisis Programs provide victims of sexual assault and their families with individual and group counseling, advocacy, practical assistance, emergency assistance, and accompaniment to grand jury. HELPING YOUTH PREVENT AND COPE WITH VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIVES Many youth are victims of gang violence, bullying, child abuse, and relationship abuse. They witness domestic violence and are exposed to violence in their community. Safe Horizon's school-based programs teach students, teachers, and parents conflict resolution, one-on-one peer education, mediation, and leadership development. Safe Horizon's programs for youth give them an opportunity to increase their self-esteem and reduce the violence in their lives. Safe Horizon's Streetwork Project provides homeless youth with social services and resources that promote health and safety for this population. HELPING COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUALS IMPACTED BY CRIME AND ABUSE Safe Horizon Community Offices offer crisis intervention, practical assistance, referrals, and counseling for victims of crime including domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, robbery, burglary, muggings, assault and rape. At the same time, Safe Horizon's Counseling Center is the only New York licensed treatment program for people who are survivors of violent crime and domestic violence. Safe Horizon also provides communities in crisis with support and training on the impact of trauma and how to cope with it. HELPING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE COURTS Safe Horizon operates over 30 court-based programs throughout the five boroughs which provide crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy for people needing orders of protection and/or help with court-ordered restitution. Safe Horizon's Children's Centers provide free, supportive, educational child-care for child victims and witnesses who must appear in court. The Families of Homicide Victims program has advocates who will help families in court, keep them apprised of criminal proceedings, and provide them with long-term individual and group counseling services. In Brooklyn and Manhattan, Safe Horizon provides mediation programs for resolving disputes outside of the court process. HELPING CHILDREN LESSEN THE TRAUMA OF ABUSE In Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, Safe Horizon Child Advocacy Centers provide a safe, child-friendly environment to minimize the trauma of the investigation of child sexual and physical abuse. These centers house representatives of the New York Police Department, Administration for Children Services, Safe Horizon Child & Family Victim Assistance Unit, Offices of the District Attorneys and representatives of Child Abuse Centers from area hospitals. PROVIDING ADVOCACY AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES Solace is a Safe Horizon program that works with refugees and survivors of torture and war. People who come to this country to escape these hardships are offered help in coping with the impact of their experience and their adjustments to their new environments. Safe Horizon's Immigration Law Project provides free and low-cost services to victims of crime, torture, and abuse in immigration proceedings. EASING THE PAIN OF THOSE IMPACTED BY SEPTEMBER 11TH Since, September 11, 2001, Safe Horizon has responded to the needs of individuals affected by the World Trade Center attack by providing them with both financial and emotional support. Safe Horizon is currently operating Borough Assistance Centers in all five boroughs where individuals and families who lost loved ones, as well as those who were injured, displaced from their home, or lost their job, can receive individual and group counseling, financial assistance, and referrals. In addition, Safe Horizon has received more than 100,000 calls on the September 11th Support Hotline from people in need of immediate support and referrals for long-term assistance. TRAINING FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CORPORATIONS Safe Horizon offers training programs for corporate clients and service providers. Courses offered include Domestic Violence, Conflict Resolution, Understanding the Dynamics of Rape and Sexual Assault, Vicarious Trauma, Working with Homicidal and Suicidal Clients, among others. For more information, or to discuss an article, contact Carol Schneider at cschneider@safehorizon.org Back to Media Kit List