Newsletter: Author: Harriet Lessel, CSW

Prior to founding the organization, Harriet spent ten years at the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) in Brooklyn managing the oldest, largest and most comprehensive hospital based rape crisis and domestic violence program in New York. Under her leadership, the program grew from a one- person operation with a $20,000 budget to a staff of seven and a budget over $400,000. In addition, she developed the first Sexual Assault Examiners program in Brooklyn which provides specialized medical and nursing personnel to provide the medical/forensic examination to rape victims in the Emergency Department. She has been active in city and state-wide anti-sexual violence and crime victims coalitions.

Ms. Lessel received her Masters Degree in Social Work from Columbia University in 1982. She is a certified social worker in New York State. Prior to her work in the anti-sexual violence field, she worked with adolescents in delinquency prevention programs in the Bronx and northern Manhattan and in the Adoles.

Articles

July 17, 2004: Every Victim

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) programs, as they are known in NY, have come to national prominence as one way to accomplish the collaboration between victim advocacy, healthcare and the criminal justice system promoted by the Violence Against Women Act. But top quality medical care and forensic evidence collection do not routinely occur in hospital Emergency Departments. As the standard of care for rape victims is raised exponentially, it becomes imperative to develop ways to ensure that every rape victim in New York City has access to this new standard. Here are some critical issues that must be included in the dialogue on this pressing concern. [more]

July 25, 2003: Ask the Alliance

Nearly a year ago I became a victim of a crime. I was drugged with GHB and raped. ... I am looking for ideas of ways to speak out on this issue, as a survivor. [more]

September 17, 2002: Ask the Alliance!

Is it true that victims of rape can end up having to pay for their own medical and forensic treatment? Rape is a crime, so wouldn't the cost be covered by the criminal justice system? [more]

June 21, 2002: Communication Is Key

The need for accurate information about rape and sexual abuse was demonstrated by the results of a recent poll conducted for Lifetime Television. It found that a majority of Americans continue to believe victim-blaming rape myths. This reality supports the need for the Alliance’s Communications Committee. [more]

April 15, 2002: A Separate Reality : Programs Commit to Improving Services to Adolescent Survivors

Straddling the worlds of child and adulthood, adolescents inhabit a distinct reality and have specific developmental needs. When they are victims of sexual assault or abuse, teens are generally treated in programs that focus on either children or adults because there are very few specialized treatment programs for that age group. [more]