Restoring Dignity – Advocating for Justice – Helping to Heal
At Victims Assistance Services, it is our belief that through education, advocacy, and the raising of public awareness, we can over time alter the cultural context that allows interpersonal violence to flourish, mitigate the shame-inducing stigma of victimization, and provide former victims the opportunity to regain a sense of dignity and wholeness.
Victims Assistance Services (VAS) provides free, comprehensive and compassionate services to crime victims and their families, friends and loved ones. VAS also works to end violence through community action, public policy and culture change, and through prevention education programs in schools and in other community venues.
Who is eligible for VAS services?
Any adult, teen or child affected, directly or indirectly, by domestic or dating violence, rape or sexual assault, stalking, homicide or DWI, elder abuse, child abuse, physical assault, bullying (including cyber-bullying), harassment and hate crimes, sex and/or labor trafficking, physical assault, burglary, identity theft, and other crimes.
Services Include:
- 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline
- Crisis Intervention
- Counseling
- Specialized Trauma Therapies
- Safety Planning
- Support and Therapy Groups
- Certified Rape Crisis Advocates in Hospital Emergency Rooms
- SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner) Forensic Examiner Training
- Accompaniment and Advocacy throughout the criminal justice process from initial police report through court process and all follow up support and services; Victim
- Impact Statement and VINE registration (in the event of a successful prosecution)
- Assistance obtaining Orders of Protection and accessing shelter
- Elder Abuse Awareness trainings in the community
- Prevention Education presentations
- Assistance completing OVS (NYS Office for Victim Services) applications for Victim Compensation and Emergency OVS awards (for HIV prophylactic medications)
- Assistance with filing for OVS funeral expense compensation for victims of homicide
- Referrals to specialized legal assistance through partner agencies for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence and undocumented crime victims
Download: Crime Victims Bill of Rights
VAS SITE LOCATIONS – Click Here
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, call Victims Assistance Services…
NEW TOLL-FREE HELPLINE NUMBER: (855) 827-2255
All services are free and confidential.
Close to half of our staff is Spanish speaking and culturally informed
VAS collaborates closely with sister agencies throughout the county, including:
Community Resource Center
Hope’s Door and My Sisters’ Place Domestic Violence Shelters
Pace Women’s Justice Center
Victims Assistance Services Advocates are also available at the Family Justice Center, the White Plains Court, Westchester Medical Center and through the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Contact:
Samantha Favara, LMHC
Interim Program Director
Email: sfavara@westcop.org
Phone: (914) 345-3113, Ext. 308