The Safe Center LI Inc

TSCLI'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER OPENED IN 1980 AND IS THE ONLY STATE-CERTIFIED SHELTER FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN IN NASSAU COUNTY. INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SEEKING SAFETY FROM DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE ARE ABLE TO FIND SAFE HOUSING TO STABILIZE AND BEGIN PLANNING THEIR FUTURE FREE FROM ABUSE. THE SAFE HOME INCLUDES SPECIALIZED STAFF SUCH AS ADVOCATES, CASE MANAGERS, AND COUNSELORS FOR BOTH ADULT AND CHILD SERVICES IN THE RESIDENCE TO HELP SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THEIR HEALING. THE SAFE HOME CAN HAVE UP TO 17 ADULTS AND CHILDREN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THEY MAY STAY FOR A MAXIMUM OF 90 DAYS WITH POSSIBLE EXTENSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEW YORK STATE LAW.

TSCLI IS A LEADER IN THE FIELD IN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED, COLLABORATIVE MANNER. TSCLI HAS OVER FORTY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE ARRAY OF DIRECT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES. TSCLI HAS ALSO DEVELPOPED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, NASSAU COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, NASSAU COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, NASSAU COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICE, NASSAU COUNTY PROBATION, NASSAU COUNTY COURTS, AND LOCAL MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO ENSURE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS NEEDS ARE MET. TSCLI OPERATES THE ONLY 24/7 HOTLINE IN THE COUNTY RESPONDING TO VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. THE HOTLINE RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS/SURVIVORS THAT IS CRITICAL TO MEETING THEIR CRISIS, INFORMATION, AND REFERRAL NEEDS. THE HOTLINE CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS TO SAFETY, SUPPORT, ACCURATE INFORMATION, AND A SPECTRUM OF CRITICAL SERVICES. IT IS THE GATEWAY TO WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE COURTS, HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, AND OTHER CONCERNED PROFESSIONALS DIRECT VICTIMS/SURVIVORS FOR PROTECTION AND ASSISTANCE. THEY ARE THE DISPATCH FOR TSCLIS VOLUNTEER HOSPITAL ADVOCATES WHEN A VICTIM/SURVIVOR OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE PRESENTS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE HOTLINE ALSO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO FOLLOW UP WITH DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS AFTER POLICE INTERVENTION TO ENSURE THEY ARE CONNECTED TO SERVICE IN THE ACUTE PHASE FOLLOWING A DOMESTIC INCIDENT. TSCLI IS ALSO THE HOME OF THE NASSAU COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER (CAC). THE NASSAU COUNTY CAC WAS FIRST ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL CHILDRENS ALLIANCE IN 2005 AND RECENTLY REACCREDITED IN JANUARY 2022 WITH NO RECOMMENDATION FOR IMPROVEMENT, THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE ENDORSEMENT. THE CAC IS A CHILD-FRIENDLY FACILITY RESPONDING TO CHILD ABUSE THAT IS CHILD-FRIENDLY AND IN WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHILD PROTECTION, PROSECUTION, MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL, AND VICTIM ADVOCACY PROFESSIONALS WORK TOGETHER TO INVESTIGATE ABUSE, HELP CHILDREN HEAL FROM ABUSE, AND HOLD OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE. ONE OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CAC IS TSCLIS FORENSIC INTERVIEW PROGRAM. A TEAM OF STAFF FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS MEET WITH A CHILD AT THE REQUEST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND/OR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE TO CONDUCT A CHILD FORENSIC INTERVIEW FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL OR SEVERE PHYSICAL ABUSE. THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS CONDUCTED IN A DEVELOPMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND LEGALLY SOUND WAY TO GATHER FACTUAL INFORMATION REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE. THE STAFF WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH INVESTIGATIVE, PROSECUTORIAL, AND SUPPORT SERVICE DISCIPLINES. THE AGENCYS ADVOCACY AND CASE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF ABUSE FROM THE EARLY STAGES OF DISCLOSURE THROUGH THE LIFESPAN OF THE CASE, AS NECESSARY. ADVOCATES AND CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND REFERRALS, GUIDANCE ON NAVIGATING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MEDICAL SYSTEMS, ADDRESSING CONCRETE NEEDS, ACCOMPANIMENT TO INTERVIEWS, EXAMS, AND COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND ADVOCACY WITH OTHERS INCLUDING INVESTIGATIVE, PROSECUTORIAL, AND SUPPORT SERVICE PROFESSIONALS. STAFF ALSO PARTICIPATE IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) MEETINGS SUCH AS THE CAC AND RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT MDT. TSCLIS CLINICAL DEPARTMENT HAS THREE PROGRAMS INCLUDING A CHILDRENS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM. THE CLINICAL STAFF WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE HISTORIES AND THEIR NON-OFFENDING FAMILY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS REDUCING TRAUMA SYMPTOMS AND INCREASING PROTECTIVE FACTORS. THE CLINICAL TEAM OFFERS INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND GROUP COUNSELING OPTIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY. SOME OF THE CLINICAL PROGRAMS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM (MDT) MEETINGS SUCH AS THE CAC AND THE RAPE/SEXUAL ASSAULT MDT. IN 2024, AN OMH LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC WAS OPENED IN ADDITION TO OUR GRANT BASED SERVICES TO EXPAND HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS COULD BE SEEN AND ADDING PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES AS A SERVICE OPTION.THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROGRAM INCLUDES SUPERVISORY AND NON-SUPERVISORY CASE MANAGEMENT STAFF THAT RESPONDS TO CONFIRMED AND HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THIS INCLUDES BOTH SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING. THE CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM WORKS WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO EDUCATE ON RISK FACTORS, PROVIDE ADVOCACY, AND SCREEN AND INTERVENE WITH THOSE REFERRED. THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF REFERRALS INCLUDE SAFE HARBOUR REFERRALS WHICH FOCUS ON CONFIRMED AND HIGH RISK YOUTH. ONE STAFF MEMBER WILL BE PRESENT 1-2 DAYS A WEEK AT DSS TO WORK WITH CPS, ONGOING, AND FOSTER CARE CASEWORKERS TO COLLABORATE ON THESE CASES.THE AGENCY ALSO HAS A RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES CASE MANAGERS, HOUSING SPECIALISTS, AND A VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST. THE TEAM RESPOND TO THE HOUSING NEEDS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS, PRIMARILY DOMESTIC AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. THE TEAM HAS BUILT A NETWORK OF LANDLORDS TO WORK WITH THE PROGRAM TO PLACE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF HOUSING RESULTING FROM THE ABUSE. THE PROGRAM HELPS PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AS THE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY WORK TO BE MORE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT AND TAKE OVER THE LARGER PERCENTAGE OF RENT PAYMENTS. THE VOCATIONAL SPECIALIST IS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH RESUME BUILDING, JOB SEARCHING, INTERVIEW SKILLS, AND JOB COACHING. TSCLIS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH PROFESSIONALS FROM DIVERSE DISCIPLINES INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING TRAININGS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. TRAININGS EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PROFESSIONALS TO IDENTIFY VICTIMS/SURVIVORS AND CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.