COVID-19 Updates
The New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault
In response to the developing spread of COVID-19 in New York and globally, the Alliance is advising staff and clientele to conduct all business remotely until further notice. As a public health organization, we want to take additional precautions to slow the spread of this pandemic and to ensure that none of our clients, staff, or their families are put at undue risk. We are encouraging staff and clients alike to follow CDC and WHO guidelines and practice social distancing wherever possible, including telecommuting and remote client sessions over phone and video. In accordance with this guidance, if you are able to conduct business or appointments with the Alliance digitally or by phone, we encourage you to do so. If you are feeling ill or have recently traveled to an infected region, please stay home and contact your healthcare professional or 311 for further guidance. Find more information on the disease as well as citywide protocols and services here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page
Our staff is available over email and via cell phone or web conferencing to serve your needs. We will continue to work regular office hours, 9am – 5pm Monday thru Friday. We are prioritizing email contact, but remain available by phone. Our phone lines will be forwarded to staff remotely, and all staff members who are healthy and able will continue to be responsive over both phone and email.
Our helpline remains open and will be checked regularly, as will our counseling and legal service phone lines and emails. Please do not hesitate to reach our counseling or legal services team via the contact information included below. Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily suspending walk-in hours. We are committed to prioritizing our survivor support and sexual violence prevention efforts, and we are working to maintain our services while mitigating risk. Our protocol will evolve over time as our information and understanding of this virus and transmission develops, and we will continue to update the public of those changes. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
—UPDATE (1/5/21) —-
As much of New York City remains shut down to prevent the spread of coronavirus, sexual violence is one issue that can’t be put on hold. We understand that with tighter restrictions in place, many survivors of sexual assault may be put into compromising and unsafe situations. While the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault’s office building is not open we have made several adjustments to protect victims and staff by focusing on phone calls and video conferencing to communicate with those in need.
We may be reached through email at survivorsupport@svfreenyc.org, phone at 212.514.SAFE(7233), or by chat through our website’s Survivor Resources page. At the moment the Special Victims Divisions within the NYPD are staffed and are available for assistance and police reports. In addition, many hospitals such as Mount Sinai, NYU, and many H&H Hospitals are open if survivors may require a forensic rape examination. Lastly, the criminal courts will be open for arraignments so that new cases may be dealt with although much of the other legal proceedings are postponed. For those looking for information on Orders of Protections, both criminal and civil orders will automatically be extended until a further date.
For Free Counseling or Advocacy
Email: survivorsupport@svfreenyc.org
Phone: 212.514.SAFE(7233)
Chat: Visit Survivor Resources
For Legal Services
Email: legalsupport@svfreenyc.org
Phone: 212-229-0345 x326
For SAFE and Trauma-Informed Training
Email: mcastro@svfreenyc.org
For Nightlife Trainings and Technical Support
Email: tbanuelos@svfreeny.org
For ‘Enough is Enough’ Technical Support
Email: tbanuelos@svfreeny.org
For Project DOT and Youth Groups
Email: mhenkhaus@svfreenyc.org
For Campus Sexual Assault
Email: sskaller@svfreenyc.org
For Policy
Email: rgeller@svfreenyc.org
For Development and Communications
Email: azeitzmoskin@svfreenyc.org
For Billing / Finance
Email: maravena@svfreenyc.org
For General Inquiries
Email: contact-us@svfreenyc.org
Phone: 212-229-0345
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Emotional Support for Medical Personnel
COVID 19 has affected us all directly or indirectly. It can be especially stressful for healthcare workers assisting COVID 19 patients. At NYCAASA we would like to extend our support to our partners and frontline workers who are working directly with COVID 19 patients. If you are having difficulty coping with stressors of helping those with COVID 19 or are feeling overwhelmed, please call or text (646) 946-0210 during 9am to 12pm on Mondays or 2pm to 5pm on Wednesdays.* We are staffed by licensed mental health professionals who will gladly assist in providing emotional support and help provide additional resources.
*Please leave us a message if calling outside of those hours and we will be sure to call you back.
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For Virtual Resources
Below are lists of virtual resources available to providers and the general public. These lists are being updated on a regular basis. If you would like to have something added, please send the information to webmanager@svfreenyc.org.
Resources that are applicable to the general public and to practitioners/advocates. Includes healthcare and mental health information and resources, self-care and healing, and information for children and families.
Virtual Resources (Practitioners)
Information for social workers, advocates, non-profit providers, therapists in their work with clients. Also includes information of different support spaces available to providers.
Updated information for courts and criminal justice system.
For SAFE Hospital Programming