Local Programs

Providing a 24-hotline, shelter, counseling, support groups, legal advocacy, teen dating abuse prevention and community education.

Through direct services, we support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking and human trafficking, in seeking safety, self-determination, and justice. We offer: Residential Services; Support Services; Counseling Services; Community Counseling and Advocacy; Children’s Counseling; Child Care Services; MSP/Child Protective Services Collaboration. We also provide the legal services and representation for family law matters (orders of protection, custody and visitation rights, child and spousal support, and abuse and neglect matters) in all Westchester County family courts. Immigration law attorneys assist clients with green cards, work permits, and other immigration benefits that will allow them to stay in the United States legally, including the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions, Petitions for U (U visa) and T (T Visa) Nonimmigrant Status, Battered Spouse Waivers, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), and Asylum cases.

Victims Assistance Services provides free, comprehensive and compassionate services to crime victims and their families, friends and loved ones. All services are free and confidential. Services include a 24-hour emergency hotline, crisis intervention, counseling and specialized trauma therapies, safety planning, support and therapy groups, accompaniment to hospital emergency rooms, SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) forensic exams, accompaniment and advocacy throughout the criminal justice process from initial police report until Victim Impact Statement and VINE registration (in the event of a successful prosecution), assistance obtaining protective orders and accessing shelter, home visits to vulnerable elders, and prevention education presentations. Clients receive help to complete OVS (NYS Office for Victim Services) applications and with requests for emergency OVS awards (for HIV prophylactic medications, crime scene clean-up and help with funeral expenses). Victims of domestic and/or sexual violence and undocumented crime victims also receive facilitated referrals to specialized legal assistance through partner agencies. Our Hope Chest Program provides emergency food and travel vouchers, and facilitated referrals can be made to a wide range of ancillary community services and resources. (VAS has Sites in Elmsford, White Plains, Yonkers, Peekskill and Mount Vernon, and VAS Advocates are also available at the Family Justice Center, the Yonkers Family Court, and through the Children’s Advocacy Center.)