THE ADVOCATE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE, RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ELDER ABUSE
The Advocate Program provides immediate, face-to-face intervention, support and information to victims/survivors and family members affected by family violence, rape and sexual assault and elder abuse. The Advocate Program provides these services through 24 hour hotline, 24 hour immediate response to local hospital emergency departments, follow up case management services, individual counseling and advocacy.
The Advocate program is staffed by 16 full time, 3 part time, and 3 stipend positions, as well as 55 dedicated volunteers. The Advocate Program staff consists of a Program Coordinator, a Supervising Counselor, a SAFE Program Coordinator, 5 family violence case managers, a Dating violence and Sexual Assault Case Manager, a Part Time Homeless/Dating violence Case Manager, a Full Time and a Part Time Sexual Assault case manager, an Elder Abuse Case Manager, a Program Training Specialist, 2 Program Therapists, a Full and a Part-Time Court Victim Advocate, a part time night advocate, and 2 stipend program assistants.
The Advocate Program understands the need to work collaboratively with the various disciplines that work with victims of violence in our community. To address this need the Advocate Program have staff is located within Buffalo Police Dept. Sex Offense Section, Town of Tonawanda Family Offense Unit, and Buffalo City Court -Dating violence Part. We also have a collaborative project with KALEIDA nurses who also respond to their ER's on a 24/7 basis.
- Volunteer hospital advocates help Crisis Services provide 24-hour immediate response to 11 local hospital emergency departments for victims for family violence, rape and sexual assault and elder abuse. The role of the advocate is to offer support, crisis intervention, follow-up services and referrals.
- Court advocates assists victims through the legal proceedings. The role of the advocate is to offer intervention and support to individuals working through the legal process.
The Advocate Program conducts educational presentations, professional training and in-services on topics including but not limited to rape/sexual assault, dating violence, family violence, elder abuse, sexual harassment, drug facilitated sexual assault, effects of dating violence on children and teen dating violence. The Advocate Program understands that it takes courage to ask for help and begin the process of recovering from violence in one's life.
