Health Care

BRAVE (Buffalo Rising Against Violence at ECMC) is a HVIP (Hospital Based Violence Intervention Program) that provides in house advocacy to victims of violence. BRAVE advocates meet violently injured patients being treated in the Emergency Department (ED) who have been intentionally shot, stabbed and/ or injured. Patients are supported throughout their hospital course. BRAVE then collaborates with community partners to provide further case management in a collaborative effort to prevent community violence and to heal the individuals and communities most impacted.

BRAVE is a hospital based violence intervention program. We provide support to all victims of violence that present to Erie County Medical Center in an effort to reduce retaliation, reinjury and promote alternatives to violence. Services include: -Crisis Support to patient and family -Liaison between patient/ family and your health care team -Safety planning -Link to mental health and substance abuse services -Collaboration with community partners -Crime Victims Compensation

The Bronx District Attorney's Office's Crime Victims Assistance Unit provides advocacy and therapy to crime victims in the Bronx to assist them to cope and heal n the aftermath of their victimization.

Center for Elder Law and Justice's Elder Advocacy Program provides free legal services to individuals 55 and over residing in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties who have experienced elder abuse. Our services include needs assessment, legal representation in civil matters related to the underlying abuse, including obtaining Orders of Protection, bringing eviction and ejectment proceedings, accountings and special proceedings related to Powers of Attorney, and revocation and appointment of Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy. The EAP also works with law enforcement and Adult Protective Services to advocate for prosecution and work collaboratively toward the elder abuse survivor's desired outcome.

Through a trauma-informed lens, we provide advocacy, case management, and therapy for child crime victims and their non offending family members. We also offer case management to adult crime victims and their non offending family members. We provide educational outreach and primary prevention to the community through trainings and other tools. We offer several different support groups that run at different times of the year.

The Crime Victims Center (CVC) provides trauma-informed, comprehensive support and services to child and adult victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and all violent crime as well as to elderly, minor, or disabled victims of crime, and victims’ non-offending family members. The Agency, a certified Rape Crisis Center, operates a 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline, as well as 24-hour Violent Crime and Hate Crime Hotlines, provides crisis intervention, criminal justice and family court advocacy, accompaniment to medical facilities, free individual counseling and legal services to victims, information and referrals to essential resources and assistance with completion of applications for reimbursement of medical and essential property loss expenses related to crime. The CVC’s prevention department offers age-appropriate educational programs in person, and now via Zoom due to COVID, including sexual assault and relationship violence prevention for all age groups including Pre-K through high school, college, and adult audiences and a free online classroom through our website. The CVC also provides training of professionals concerning sexual assault issues. In addition, the CVC provides Megan’s Law community and law enforcement support services through its sex offender management program designed to keep the sex offender registry up to date, resulting in a reduction in recidivism. This program includes a 24-hour helpline.

Provide assistance and guidance to victims of elder abuse especially those who have experienced financial fraud and exploitation.