About Us
Safe & welcoming environment
Safe & welcoming environment
CVAC is a unique resource which offers a safe & welcoming environment for those who have been a victim of, or affected by crime. Our counselors and advocates provide free, trauma-informed supportive services with compassion to survivors.
Our Team Members
Our Team Members
Christine Battisti
Chief Executive Officer
Jessica Hyatt
Chief Operations Officer
Chelsey Smith
Chief Financial Officer
Madison Kerber
Administrative Assistant
Dan Lesch
Broome County CAC Director
Joanne Smith
Chenango County CAC Director
Susie Villarreal
Director of Clinical Services
Danielle Nuzzo
Director of Legal Advocacy
Kim Merrin
Crisis Response Coordinator
Haley Roma
Director of Education and Training
Hailey Harding
Community Engagement Specialist
Stephanie Mix
Education and Outreach Specialist
FAQs
FAQs
CVAC can offer support and services to any innocent victim of crime. Services include 24/7 crisis advocacy over the phone and in-person at the hospital, medical advocacy, crisis counseling, case management, legal advocacy, legal services, child advocacy center, and education/prevention on a variety of topics.
It’s always important to think ahead about safety, but especially so for those who have a violent partner, roommate, or family member. Many people think that safety plans are only for those attempting to leave an abusive relationship, but they can also be used to stay as safe as possible while remaining in the partnership.
Our safety plan can be found here (link) and is available to download. Use caution when creating a safety plan to avoid the abusive partner finding it.
You will meet one on one with a counselor for about 50 minutes, once a week. During counseling we will help you identify counseling goals, create safety plans, learn about the effects of abuse, and help you navigate and cope with the many systems you encounter as a victim (i.e. law enforcement, CPS, justice system, etc.)
A person can be protected from an abusive party via an Order of Protection (OOP) issued by Criminal Court or Family Court. OOp’s allow police to make immediate arrest if the conditions of the order are violated, and to add additional charges. When the OOP is issued by a criminal court judge, it may be issued without request from the victim and may be changed without prior notice given to the protected party. These are “one way” orders, meaning the protected party cannot violate the order.
Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact – including sexual assault and rape. This can include words and actions like sexual harassment, catcalling, and non-consensual sharing of private images such as “revenge porn.”
Sexual Violence Impacts Everyone
- Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 67 men in the U.S. have experienced rape or attempted rape some time in their lives (Smith et al., 2017).
- Anyone can experience sexual violence, including children, teens, adults, and seniors.
Victims Often Know the Person Who Sexually Assaulted Them
People who sexually abuse can be family members, friends, romantic partners, or other trusted individuals.
They may use coercion, manipulation, threats, or force to commit sexual violence.
Victims are NEVER to blame
It doesn’t matter what someone was wearing, how they were acting, if they were drinking, or what type of relationship they had with the person who abused them.
Sexual Assault is Often Not Reported
A person may not report what happened for many reasons, including:
- Concern they won’t be believed
- Fear of retaliation
- Distrust of law enforcement
- Shame or fear of being blamed
- Pressure from others
Healing and Justice Look Different for Every Survivor
- A survivor may or may not choose to move forward with the criminal justice system.
- Healing is an ongoing process. Everyone heals in their own time and their own way.
You Can Support Survivors
- Chances are you know someone who has experienced sexual violence even if they haven’t told you.
- They are listening to how you talk about the issue, and hearing that you understand and believe survivors may help them feel safe.
Embrace Your Voice
- Sexual violence thrives when it is not taken seriously and victim blaming goes unchecked.
- Your voice is essential in setting the record straight on sexual violence.
Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of behavior used by an individual to establish and maintain power and control over their intimate partner. The behavior includes abusive tactics, threats and actions that may or may not rise to the level of criminal behavior.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone. It looks different in every relationship and no one experiences it in the same way. Although it may look different, there is always an underlying theme of control. When one person tries to control their intimate partner, that isn’t love, it’s abuse. Abuse looks different for everyone. Not every abusive partner uses all of the tactics or uses them in the same way. Abuse may happen slowly and get worse over time. If one partner uses a pattern of behaviors to maintain power and control, that is abuse, even if it is not on this list. Below are a variety of tactics and behaviors that abusers may use:
Physical Abuse: Hitting; Kicking; Punching; Pushing; Biting; Strangling (“choking”).
Emotional & Psychological Abuse: blame, denial and minimization; Name-calling and put-downs; Playing “mind games” (“Gaslighting”); Humiliation.
Cultural Abuse: using victim’s cultural beliefs to coerce them into marriage, pregnancy; inhibiting connection to country of origin; Threatening deportation or immigration status
Financial Abuse: preventing partner from working; Taking partner’s income by giving “allowance”; Restricting access to family finances; Ruining partner’s credit; Controlling resources (gasoline, phone, food, medication).
Exerting Dominance & Privilege: Using partners’ gender identity, sexual orientation, economic status, age, ability, race, cultural identity and any other personal characteristics or protected class status to control them.
Threats, Coercion, Intimidation: using looks, actions or gestures to cause fear; Reproductive Coercion (forced pregnancy or termination of pregnancy, interference with birth control/STD protection; Threatening suicide or homicide.
Sexual Abuse: behaving or speaking to partner in a sexual manner without consent; Making/sharing sexual images without consent; Forced sex labor.
Technological Abuse: controlling and sabotaging a partner’s social media access; Using tracking devices to monitor partner; Sharing partner’s information without consent.
Isolation: controlling access to people and places; Monitoring conversations; Convincing partner that they have no one to turn to.
Spiritual Abuse: Misusing spiritual works to justify abuse; Coercing partner to submit to abuse as a form of obedience.
Stalking: Physically tracking/following victim with intent to cause fear and/or harm; Contacting victim through unwanted phone calls, electronic messages, and third parties.
Using Children & Pets: threatening to harm, kill or seek custody of children or pets; Using legal system to harass and stalk; Using attendance at school and community events to remain connected to the victim.
Child abuse and neglect are serious public health problems. They have long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and wellbeing. Child abuse is defined as any abuse or neglect of a child under the age of 18 by a parent, caregiver, or another person in a custodial role (such as a religious leader, a coach, a teacher) that results in harm, the potential for harm or threat of harm to a child.
Physical abuse is the intentional use of physical force that can result in a physical injury. Examples include hitting, kicking, shaking, burning, or other shows of force against a child.
Sexual abuse involves pressuring or forcing a child to engage in sexual acts. It includes behaviors such as fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual activities. Most cases of sexual abuse involve a close trusted adult or family member who abuses the child’s trust. Often, the child is pressured or talked into the activity, offered gifts, or asked to keep secrets, not physically forced into it.
Emotional abuse refers to behaviors that harm a child’s self-worth or emotional well-being. Examples include name-calling, shaming, rejecting, withholding love, and threatening.
Neglect is the failure to meet a child’s basic physical and emotional needs. These needs include housing, food, clothing, education, access to medical care, and having feelings validated and appropriately responded to.
Child abuse and neglect are common. At least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse or neglect in the past year in the United States. This is likely an underestimate because many cases are unreported. Children living in poverty experience more abuse and neglect.
Elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation are largely hidden by society and by the victims themselves. Older Adults are often reluctant to reveal abusive incidents, especially when the abuser is a family member. Even moreso, many health care, law enforcement, financial, and even aging service professionals may not understand or be able to recognize abuse, neglect or exploitation of those who are elderly.
The population of older adults is growing and Americans are living longer. By the year 2040, the number of Americans age 65 or older is expected to increase to 82 million. It is important to recognize that most older adults live outside of nursing homes, live alone, and continue to face chronic illnesses and other limiting conditions that decrease their independence.
Physical Elder Abuse: the non-accidental use of force that results in bodily injury, pain, or impairment. Examples include being slapped, burned, cut, bruised or improperly physically restrained.
Emotional Elder Abuse: willful infliction of mental or emotional anguish by threat, humiliation, intimidations, or other abusive conduct, Examples include frightening or isolating an adult.
Elder Neglect:
- Active Neglect: willful failure by a caregiver to fulfill the caretaking functions and responsibilities assumed. Examples include abandonment, willful deprivation of food, water, heat, clean clothing/bedding, eyeglasses or dentures, or health related services.
- Passive Neglect: non-willful failure by a caregiver to fulfill caretaking functions and responsibilities. Examples include abandonment or denial of food or health related services because of inadequate caregiver knowledge, weaknesses or disputing the value of needed services.
- Self Neglect: an adult’s inability due to physical or mental impairments, to perform tasks essential to caring for oneself. Examples include providing essential food, clothing, shelter and medical care; getting goods and services necessary to maintain health and general safety or managing financial affairs.
Financial Exploitation: Improper use of an adult’s funds, property, or resources by another individual. Examples include fraud, false pretenses, embezzlement, conspiracy, forgery, falsifying records, coerced property transfers or denial of access to assets.
Identity Theft: While older adults are not the exclusive target of identity theft, they are especially susceptible to victimization. Older adults tend to have more assets and readily available cash than others. Greater numbers of people have access to the personal information of vulnerable older adults- home health workers, nurses, family members, assisted facilities, etc.
When we hear about human trafficking, we think about the movie Taken, and scary strangers kidnapping people and selling them. In real life, trafficking can take many forms. Basically, trafficking is the use of coercion or force to make someone do something for the trafficker’s profit. When it comes to someone under the age of 18, this counts as trafficking whether the youth was willing or forced. Trafficking can include selling pictures, labor, or engaging in sexual acts for money, rent or other goods. Traffickers will look for and exploit vulnerabilities, like if someone is homeless, lonely, or being abused by another person.
Identifying Red Flags:
Watch out for red flags from someone you’re talking to online or in real life:
- “Do you have a pic?”
Think about it carefully before you send a photo. It may seem harmless, but once someone has your photo, they could potentially use it against you later on.
- “You seem sad, what’s bothering you?”
It makes sense for a friend to be concerned for you, but keep in mind that concern might be faked in an attempt to create a sense of care and trust.
- “I know a way you can make money fast.”
Anyone offering you a way to make money fast should probably not be trusted. Avoid getting caught up in a situation with someone you don’t know, especially if it includes sending photos or videos of yourself.
- “What’s your phone number/address?”
Personal info can be used to track you.
- “I love you.”
Everyone enjoys hearing the words “I love you” but sometimes people might use this to manipulate you into doing things you might not do otherwise. Be cautious with anyone who claims to love you really early on.
Thinking about sending a photo?
Ask yourself: Would I do this face to face? Would I be okay with this photo being posted in my school’s hallway? Do I feel pressure to send something? If so, who can I talk to about it?
See a classmate’s photo being passed around? If this were a photo of me, how would I want others to react? Tell a teacher or school counselor about the photo (you can ask them not to share who told them if you’re afraid about how others will react).
Someone sent you a picture you didn’t ask for? Tell someone you trust. Even if you’re upset, don’t pass the picture on. Consider blocking or reporting them.
If someone threatens to share your picture if you don’t do what they ask: Tell someone! You don’t have to deal with this alone. Document the harassment and consider blocking or reporting the person.
Stalking is defined as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Stalking is a pattern of behavior- unlike other crimes which involve a single incident. Oftentimes, it is made up of individual acts that could, by themselves, seem harmless but when taken in the context of stalking- could constitute criminal acts.
Examples of Stalking include but are not limited to:
- Someone repeatedly calls your phone, including hang-ups
- Someone follows you, and/or shows up wherever you are
- Sends unwanted gifts, letters, texts, emails, etc.
- Someone damages your home, care, or other property
- Someone monitors your phone or computer use (spyware)
- Someone uses technology to track where you go (hidden cameras or GPS)
- Someone drives by or lingers near your home, school, work
- Someone threatens to hurt you, your family, pets, friends, etc.
- Performs other actions that aim to control, track or frighten you
- Use of other people to try and communicate through children, family, friends
What can I do?
- Call 911 for immediate assistance. Trust your instincts and call for help if you feel you are in any danger.
- Alert Others. Tell trusted friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and/or HR department to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and so they don’t give out information to someone mistakenly.
- Document Every Incident. Make a log of encounters with the stalker, hang-up calls, and public sightings. Save all messages, emails, and your call history.
- End All Contact. Sometimes this is easier said than done but try not to answer calls or messages even if you are requesting that they STOP. Any contact, even in the slightest, may encourage the stalker to continue their behavior.
- Take Threats Seriously. A direct threat against you is an obvious sign of danger. A stalker can also use threats of suicide or self-harm to manipulate you into staying in contact or in a dangerous situation.
- Connect with an Advocate- A CVAC Advocate can help explain local stalking laws, help file for an order of protection and help you develop a safety plan.
- Prepare Your Children. Teach your children what to do if there is an emergency, like where to hide if there is danger in the house or how to call the police or another trusted person for help.
