Providing Care, Compassion, and Counseling for Victims of Violence and Sexual Abuse
Sexual assault and child abuse are public health concerns that have not benefited from the kind of innovation that has improved the quality of care in so many other areas.Grantee Name
Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc
Funding Area
Special Projects Fund
Publication Date
January 2010
Grant Amount
$150,000
Grant Date:
January 2007 – December 2008
Sexual assault and child abuse are public health concerns that have not benefited from the kind of innovation that has improved the quality of care in so many other areas.
Southern Tier Health Care System addressed the problem of inadequate medical and social services for victims of violence and sexual abuse by implementing a Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner program and a Child Advocacy Center to serve Allegany and Cattaraugus counties.
Outcomes and Lessons Learned
- The Southern Tier Health Care System Child Advocacy Center opened its doors on September 25, 2007.
- The Center provided services to 227 children, though it was only predicting to see 50 children during its first year of operation.
- Of those 227 cases, 45 were accepted for prosecution; of those 45 cases accepted for prosecution, 18 were convicted.
- The Center was able to teach more than 1,000 people about sexual and physical abuse and the services it provides through community outreach, training initiatives, and the creation and dissemination quick reference guides.