Beauty for Ashes

We thank God for opening the door for our church to minister through the Victim Advocate Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Advocacy Program, which serves survivors of sexual violence with Christ-centered compassion, dignity, and trauma-informed care, in partnership with Westchester Medical Center.

Our team has successfully completed the certified 30-hour Rape Crisis Counselor Training through Westchester Medical Center’s SAAVE Victim Services Program, along with required in-service training to ensure continued competence. In addition, our team has completed training through the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP), gaining core competencies in victim advocacy, crisis intervention, assessing victim needs, understanding the criminal justice system, victims’ rights, victim compensation, human trafficking, teen relationship abuse, services for children and youth, and specialized considerations for survivors with mental health or substance use challenges.

Our advocates are also certified New York State Mandated Reporters, ensuring compliance with state laws regarding the reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. This certification reinforces our commitment to legal responsibility, ethical practice, and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

Our ministry provides on-call advocacy support, responding to calls from police departments through Westchester Medical Center following domestic or sexual violence incidents. Advocates gather information from responding officers, complete required lethality assessments, assist with safety planning, and connect survivors to medical, legal, and community resources.

We provide immediate crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, prayer, and the calm, supportive presence of Jesus during medical and forensic examinations, always honoring each survivor’s voice, choices, and personal journey toward healing.

Working collaboratively with healthcare professionals, law enforcement agencies, and the rape crisis hotline, we support a coordinated community response that prioritizes survivor safety, confidentiality, and respect.

Rooted in faith and guided by the love of Jesus, our mission is to bring comfort, hope, and restoration to survivors during moments of profound vulnerability, empowering them to move forward with strength, dignity, and renewed hope in Christ.