Get Help For Yourself

No one deserves to be a victim of domestic or sexual violence. You are not alone and this is not your fault. We are here to help you. On this website, you will find resources and information and learn how we can help . You can also call our 24 Hour Hotline for immediate help.

If you have been recently physically or sexually assaulted take the following steps…

Domestic or Dating Violence

  • Get to a safe place, call 911 if in immediate danger
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  • Call our 24 Hour Hotline to discuss legal, medical and safe housing options
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  • Seek medical attention for any injuries or if you were strangled as harm can be delayed
  • An advocate can go with you to the hospital 24/7
  • If you need to leave your home try to pack a bag with identification, prescription medications, any legal paperwork, keys to your car and house, any irreplaceable items

Sexual Assault or Rape

  • Get to a safe place, call 911 if in immediate danger
  • Avoid showering, changing your clothes, brushing your teeth, eating, drinking, or urinating
  • Call our 24 Hour Hotline to discuss the option for a Sexual Assault Nurse Exam (SANE) at Cayuga Medical Center
    • This exam is very time sensitive and needs to be completed as close to the assault as possible
    • Seeking a SANE Exam does not require you to report to the police however medical evidence can be collected and held at the hospital while you decide
    • Teens can have a SANE Exam completed without parental permission. Teens should call and talk with an advocate to discuss other confidentiality concerns.
    • Survivors can waive their health insurance and have the NYS Office of Victim Services pay for the SANE Exam
  • Discuss your legal and safe housing options with an advocate

Child Sexual Abuse

  • Get to a safe place, call 911 if in immediate danger
  • If the abuse has just happened, avoid showering/bathing, changing your clothes, brushing your teeth, eating, drinking, or urinating until speaking with an advocate or the police
  • Call our 24 Hour Hotline to discuss the options for medical care. For younger children it may not be ideal or necessary to immediately take them to the hospital for a Sexual Assault Nurse Exam (SANE). An advocate can talk through your specific situation to make the best plan for the victim.
  • Discuss your legal and safe housing options with an advocate
  • You can report abuse of a child to the NYS Registry for Abuse & Maltreatment at 1-800-342-3720

Parents

If your child has experienced domestic or sexual violence, you may have many concerns including how to talk to your child, how to keep your child safe, how to care for yourself, and what to do next. It can be a confusing time.  No family deserves to be the victim of domestic or sexual violence.  Reaching out for help can be the first step towards answers and healing. We are here to help you.  You can call our 24 Hour Hotline and speak to someone right now.  You can also learn more about your resources and our services.

Friends or Intimate Partners

It is difficult to see someone you care about in pain. If someone you know is the victim of domestic or sexual violence, you may feel worried and confused about how to help.  No one deserves to be the victim of domestic or sexual violence and this violence impacts you as well.  Reaching out can be the first step in learning how to best support your loved one and yourself. We are here to help you.  You can call our 24 Hour Hotline and speak to someone right now.  You can also learn more about your resources and our services.