Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I-Sag Harbor) today announced that New York State has received $7.7 million in federal funding that will allow the state to fund several new and existing programs that help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Of particular note are the following recipients: $35,600-The Retreat, Inc.
Partially fund one advocate and two counselors (one bilingual) for victims of domestic violence/sexual assault. $66,750- Suffolk County Probation Department
Partner with the Victims Information Bureau, Retreat, Inc., Brighter Tomorrows and the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence To fund a sexual assault nurse examiner program, including on-call pay, and to provide services to domestic violence/sexual assault victims. $66,745- Suffolk County Police Department
Upgrade panic alarms for domestic violence victims and provide on-call pay for sexual assault nurse examiners. $35,600- Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk
Fund a sexual assault nurse examiner program and to partially fund a coordinator and on-call pay. Funding through the federal Violence Against Women Act will support advocacy, counseling and legal services; the salaries of nurses or other medical professionals who are specially trained to perform forensic exams on sexual assault victims; the salaries of police investigators, prosecutors and probation officers that specifically handle domestic violence and sexual assault cases; and training programs for law enforcement, judges and service providers. The State Division of Criminal Justice Services will administer the federal grant funding. The New York State Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline (1-800-942-6906) offers help and information 24 hours a day, in English, Spanish and other languages. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can call 711.