Safe Horizon

In 1975, a pilot program began in New York City's court system that addressed the need to assist criminal court witnesses who had been intimidated or who felt too threatened to testify in court.[http://www.safehorizon.org/page/who-we-are-35.html#sthash.aUZYS17W.dpuf Safe Horizon's description of their work] Three years later, that pilot program became the Victim Services Agency, officially incorporated May 26, 1978, and offering a broader array of services that helped more victims of crime and abuse. Lucy N. Friedman was Safe Horizon's founding executive director.[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/ask-about-the-citys-after-school-programs/comment-page-1/ New York Times City Room interview] By 1981, the Victim Services Agency provided programs for victims of domestic violence, offering them shelter, counseling, and concrete support. Over the next three decades, the Victim Services Agency began various other programs to assist victims and their families during times of crisis. In 2000, the Victim Services Agency became Safe Horizon.

Today, Safe Horizon is the largest organization helping victims of crime and abuse in the United States,{{Cite web |url=http://www.cooley.com/68509 |title=Cooley LLP website |access-date=2015-02-05 |archive-date=2014-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031223137/http://www.cooley.com/68509 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.bridgespan.org/getattachment/f29549e0-9c9a-46e3-a6b5-298ca230cd58/Profile-Safe-Horizon.aspx The Bridgespan Group's February 2007 Assessment] helping more than 250,000 children, adults, and families each year. Since 2008, Safe Horizon has been under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Ariel Zwang.[http://www.fastcompany.com/1800281/ariel-zwang-wields-private-sector-tactics-create-safe-horizon-women-children Fast Company profile of Safe Horizon's CEO Ariel Zwang] Stephanie March has served as a member of Safe Horizon's Board.

Safe Horizon's stated mission is to provide support, prevent violence and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families, and communities[http://www.safehorizon.org/page/about-us-1.html Safe Horizon's About Us Page]

Safe Horizon operates four hotlines: a 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline;[http://nownyc.org/service-fund/get-help/domestic-violence/ NOW NYC's Domestic Violence Get Help Page] a Crime Victims Hotline; a Rape, Sexual Assault, and Incest Hotline; and a Centralized Helpline. These hotlines are multilingual, with over 150 languages available.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140122220504/http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1467/crime-victim-assistance New York City government resource list for crime victims]

Safe Horizon helps tens of thousands of domestic violence survivors every year, through hotlines, court programs, community offices, and shelters.[http://www.naswnyc.org/?446 National Association of Social Workers article] Safe Horizon is the U.S.'s largest operator of domestic violence shelters,[http://www.safehorizon.org/page/domestic-violence--abuse-50.html Safe Horizon's website] with nine shelters located throughout the five boroughs of New York City. A domestic violence shelter was named in honor of Safe Horizon Board Member Steven C. Parrish in 2008.

In 1996, Safe Horizon opened the United States's first fully co-located Child Advocacy Center.[http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/reunion/program-spotlight-safe-horizon%E2%80%99s-manhattan-child-advocacy-center Joyful Heart Foundation's Spotlight]

Safe Horizon is the U.S.'s largest operator of child advocacy centers in an urban setting,[http://www.safehorizon.org/page/child-advocacy-centers-30.html Safe Horizon's page on Child Advocacy Centers] with five fully accredited Child Advocacy Centers, located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and the Bronx.[https://web.archive.org/web/20141031200013/http://nynp.biz/index.php/breaking-news/9015-safe-horizon-child-advocacy-centers-receive-national-accreditation New York Nonprofit Press article 'Safe Horizon Child Advocacy Centers Receive National Accreditation']

Safe Horizon has helped victimized children overcome the trauma of abuse, partnering with the Yale Child Study Center on a new treatment, the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI).[https://web.archive.org/web/20141109071549/http://www.nccev.org/research/697_166355_FINAL%20WHITE%20PAPER.pdf Yale Child Study Center Report] CFTSI, a short-term therapy treatment that involves the participation of the non-offending caregiver, has been found to remarkably reduce the trauma symptoms of abused children.[http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/02/a-brief-therapy-helps-heal-trauma-in-children/ New York Times Blog Post 'A Brief Therapy Heals Trauma in Children']

Safe Horizon's Anti-Trafficking Program (ATP) meets practical needs for victims of human trafficking, such as food, clothing, and shelter, as well as legal assistance. ATP was established in 2001{{Cite web |url=http://www.humantrafficking.org/organizations/329 |title=Human Trafficking Organization List |access-date=2015-02-05 |archive-date=2006-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720122151/http://www.humantrafficking.org/organizations/329 |url-status=dead }} and has helped clients and provided intelligence to authorities allowing law enforcement to locate traffickers since its very beginnings.{{cite web |title=A Slow War on Human Trafficking (Published 2006) |website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609220305/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/28litraf.html?pagewanted=print |archive-date=2021-06-09 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/28litraf.html?pagewanted=print}} Florrie R. Burke helped to found ATP.

ATP has represented the victims in several high-profile cases in recent years, including María Ríos Fun[https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/nyregion/housekeeper-accuses-a-peruvian-diplomat-of-human-trafficking.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A9%22%7D New York Times article 'Housekeeper in New Jersey Accuses Peruvian Diplomat of Human Trafficking'] and Sangeeta Richard [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/nyregion/fury-in-india-over-diplomats-arrest-in-new-york.html New York Times article 'Fury in India Over Diplomat’s Arrest in New York'][https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/nyregion/claims-of-diplomats-mistreating-household-staff-are-far-from-the-first.html New York Times article 'Claims of Diplomats Mistreating Household Staff Are Far from the First'][https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/11/world/asia/indian-diplomat-flies-home-after-indictment-in-us.html New York Times article 'Indian Diplomat Flies Home After Indictment in U.S.']

ATP is supported by the federal Office of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime.[http://ojp.gov/ovc/pubs/reporttonation2013/hum_traff.html Office Of Justice's Office for Victims Crime Report] Safe Horizon is a member of Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women.[http://gaatw.org/members/the-americas/140-membership/north-america/616-safe-horizon Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women members list]

Safe Horizon's Streetwork Project provides homeless youth with food, clothing, shower and laundry facilities, HIV testing, counseling, emergency shelter and more. Staff work with clients towards long-term housing solutions and treatment for medical and mental health problems.{{cite web |title=A Warm, Safe Holiday for Homeless Youth (Published 2009) |website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617113314/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/nyregion/26bigcity.html |archive-date=2022-06-17 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/26/nyregion/26bigcity.html}} Ali Forney was a client of Safe Horizon's Streetwork Project.

Safe Horizon operates four Community Program offices, in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan (which also serves the Bronx).[http://www.safehorizon.org/page/court--community-services-19.html Safe Horizon's Community Programs address page]

Safe Horizon's Counseling Center is an out-patient mental health clinic focused specifically on treating survivors of trauma.{{Cite web |url=http://newyorkcity.ny.networkofcare.org/mh/services/agency.aspx?pid=SafeHorizonCounselingCenter_754_2_0 |title=Network of Care directory |access-date=2015-02-05 |archive-date=2014-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031221132/http://newyorkcity.ny.networkofcare.org/mh/services/agency.aspx?pid=SafeHorizonCounselingCenter_754_2_0 |url-status=dead }} It is the only New York State-licensed mental health clinic specializing exclusively in treating traumatized victims of crime and abuse.[http://www.safehorizon.org/page/counseling-18.html Safe Horizon's website]

In addition to ATP's legal work for victims of human trafficking, Safe Horizon's Domestic Violence Law Project (DVLP) and Immigration Law Project (ILP) provide low-cost and free legal aid for victims of domestic violence[https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/15/opinion/l-domestic-violence-694274.html New York Times op-ed] and immigrant victims of abuse or torture.

Since its inception, DVLP has provided legal advocacy and representation to thousands of low-income victims of domestic violence in family justice proceedings such for orders of protection, custody, support, and divorce proceedings. DVLP also advocates for clients within the criminal justice system.[http://www.lawhelpny.org/organization/safe-horizon-domestic-violence-law-project?ref=qCg8X LawHelpNY.org listing]

Safe Horizon's Project Safe provides free lock changes to victims of crime who have reason to believe the perpetrators may have access to their homes.[http://manhattanda.org/resources-general-crime-victims Manhattan District Attorney's Office resources list]{{failed verification|date=April 2020|reason=No mention of this service at the linked page}} In most cases, lock changes are available within 24 to 48 hours.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140122220504/http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1467/crime-victim-assistance New York City government resources list]

From September 11, 2001, through June 2008, Safe Horizon provided disaster relief to the victims of 9/11 and their families through the Family Assistance Center.[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/05/nyregion/charity-overwhelmed-in-bid-to-meet-attack-victims-bills.html New York Times article 'Charity Overwhelmed in Bid to Meet Attack Victims Bills'][https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/26/nyregion/26disaster.html?pagewanted=print New York Times article 'Disasters Haven’t Abated but Cash Has, Groups Say'] As one of the largest charities assisting victims,[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/14/nyregion/nation-challenged-compensation-victims-families-lack-voice-effort-coordinate.html New York Times article 'A NATION CHALLENGED: Victims' Families Lack Voice In Effort to Coordinate Relief'] Safe Horizon provided counseling to hundreds of thousands of those affected, and hundreds of millions in relief dollars.[https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/nyregion/09charities.html?pagewanted=print&position= New York Times article 'With Funds Winding Down, Questions Remain About Longer-Term Needs']

{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New York City

Category:Organizations established in 1978

Category:Domestic violence-related organizations in the United States

Category:Child abuse-related organizations

Category:Organizations that combat human trafficking

Category:Homeless shelters in the United States

Category:Women's shelters in the United States

Category:Charities based in New York City

Category:Violence against women in New York (state)

Category:Human trafficking in the United States

Category:1978 establishments in New York City

Category:Women in New York City