By Nicole Allegrezza
STAFF WRITER
Young women ages 20 to 24 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault, followed by those ages 16 to 19, according to the United States’ National Crime Victimization Survey.
The new Safe Center LI in Bethpage is an organization that provides aid to children and adults who are victims of abuse.
On Tuesday of last week, the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect merged together to form The Safe Center LI.
“Their ability to even more effectively respond to preventing domestic and family violence has now been strengthened by formally merging their programs,” announced Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive.
The resulting agency is expected to be one of the nation’s premier facilities serving victims of abuse. The site features the Nassau County Multidisciplinary Team, made up of the county’s Special Victims Squad, Child Protective Services Units, Nassau University Medical Center’s Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Unit, and the District Attorney’s Office.
“Everybody knows that government alone can’t solve every problem and that’s why the progressive, groundbreaking collaboration we have here is so important,” announced Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. “Thanks to The Safe Center, victims have a place where they can get much of the help they need under one roof and where they can get help in a way no single agency can offer on its own.”
The Safe Center LI will also house the Child Advocacy Center of Nassau County with legal counseling; mental health, rape, and sexual assault services; emergency and transitional housing; and education outreach. The facility is designed to meet the specific needs of any and all victims of abuse.
Students in need of these services should report an assault to law enforcement as well as to campus security, according to Kaitlyn Pickford, The Safe Center’s assistant director of education.
Pickford also assured the public that even if a victim accepts a sexual offense evidence kit — a collection of materials used by medical personnel for gathering and preserving physical evidence following an allegation of sexual assault — doesn’t mean that they have to press charges. Instead, they have a few days to decide, during which the hospital or The Safe Center will hold on to the kit.
“I think that is really an important piece for college students to know that they don’t have to go through the universities system if they want to report a sexual assault,” said Pickford.
In 2012, six sexual offenses were reported on Hofstra’s campus, three of which occurred in residential facilities, according to the most recent Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Public Safety failed to comment due to classes being out of session.
“Assaults anywhere, including on campus, are a problem. Often, victims are afraid to report what has happened for fear of reprisal or sometimes, even worse, blame and prejudice on the part of officials and/or friends and family members,” said Dr. Mary Ann Allison, associate chair of Media Studies. “Rape is a violation of the spirit as well as the body. It is important for anyone involved in a rape to get help.”
The services offered by The Safe Center LI are free and confidential. For those who are victims or know a victim of abuse, you can call The Safe Center LI’s 24/7, multilingual domestic abuse hotline
at 516-542-0404.
