Retreat Garners Funding to Fight Back Against Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault

The East End has garnered federal funding to help in its fight against domestic violence and sexual assault.

According to New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele, New York State received $7.7 million in federal funding, allowing for funding of several new and existing programs that help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Among those receiving funding are:

The Retreat will receive $35,600, to partially fund one advocate and two counselors, one bilingual, for victims of domestic violence/sexual assault.

Also receiving $66,750 in funding is the Suffolk County Probation Department, to partner with the Victims Information Bureau, Retreat, Inc., Brighter Tomorrows and the Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence to fund a sexual assault nurse examiner program, including on-call pay, and to provide services to domestic violence/sexual assault victims.

The Suffolk County Police Department will receive $66,745 to upgrade panic alarms for domestic violence victims and provide on-call pay for sexual assault nurse examiners.

The Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk will receive $35,600 to fund a sexual assault nurse examiner program and to partially fund a coordinator and on-call pay.

The funding, provided through the federal Violence Against Women Act, will support advocacy, counseling and legal services; the salaries of nurses or other medical professionals who are specially trained to perform forensic exams on sexual assault victims; the salaries of police investigators, prosecutors and probation officers that specifically handle domestic violence and sexual assault cases; and training programs for law enforcement, judges and service providers, a release from Thiele's office said.

The State Division of Criminal Justice Services will administer the federal grant funding.