New York launches initiatives to help domestic violence survivors – SILive.com
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York State has announced $6.5 million in funding that will allow state-licensed service providers to offer survivors of domestic violence and their families with options for assistance and support, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced.
Administered by the state Office of Children and Family Services, the $6.5 million will support two initiatives.
There will be $4.8 million allocated to 79 service providers statewide to provide housing for domestic violence survivors. That includes $9,608 for Seamen’s Society for Children & Families on Staten Island.
Another $1.7 million will be allocated to five non-profit organizations that offer domestic violence prevention programs. Each of these programs will receive $342,380, according to the state: Retreat, Inc. in East Hampton, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, Unity House of Troy, Vera House in Syracuse, and Family Justice Center of Erie County.
Additionally, Hochul proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She highlighted a new Technology Safety and Innovation for Survivors public awareness campaign, which will be coordinated by the state Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) and will shine a light on technology’s role in abuse.
“We have come so far since the time that my mother advocated for domestic violence survivors, but our mission to put an end to the abuse and suffering that too many have had to endure is far from over,” Hochul said. “Our systems must evolve and we must continue to offer innovative solutions to meet the needs of survivors and families, wherever they are.”
OPDV’s new social media campaign will highlight technology’s intersection with domestic violence and spread awareness on the forms of technology-assisted abuse.
While technology provides survivors with access to information, safety planning, and allows them to connect with support systems, abusive partners use it to cause further harm to their partners, according to the state.
In addition to the campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, the agency will sponsor a panel discussion featuring representatives from Facebook, Apple, Norton LifeLock, and experts in academia to discuss emerging risks related to technology-assisted abuse, as well as mobile advocacy and other innovations to help survivors. The discussion, “Balancing Technology Innovation and Safety in the Context of Gender-Based Violence,” is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 20. It is designed for service providers, advocates, and victim assistance professionals.
Later this month, OPDV will also release a new publication to help survivors and advocates understand technology-assisted abuse and provide concrete tools and steps to protect privacy and safety in a digital world.
The agency also launched its new website.
New York State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is available 27/7: 800-942-6906 (call), 844-997-2121 (text) or @opdv.ny.gov (chat).
Last year, the state and local hotlines received 252,535 calls for assistance.
The Office of Victim Services also funds a network of more than 212 community-based programs that provide direct services to victims of crime and their families. The programs also help any victim of crime apply for compensation and other assistance from the agency, which is a safety net for individuals who have no other resources.