Lauds Exemplary Support for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Victim Services Programs
In recognition of the critical and ongoing work of Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) to support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, County Executive Ken Jenkins presented WMCHealth with a special award at the County’s Police Training Center in Valhalla. The award was accepted by Dr. David Lubarsky, President and CEO of WMCHealth, on behalf of the Medical Center’s Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Advocacy Program. The award spotlights their two essential programs: providing forensic exams for all victims of sexual assault in the County, and administering a hotline that connects law enforcement with victims and advocates when they respond to high risk incidents of domestic violence.
The ceremony took place as part of the County’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT) quarterly meeting. DVHRT is facilitated by the Westchester County Office for Women (OFW) with the mission of mitigating the catastrophic violence that can occur within intimate partner relationships. It brings together the key County departments of Probation, Public Safety, Community Mental Health and Social Services with domestic violence service providers, the District Attorney’s Office and the law enforcement liaisons -- representing 45 police departments across the County who handle the DV cases -- to educate and increase safety for victims and families.
DVHRT provides intensive safety planning and vital resources while working with law enforcement and Probation for enhanced offender accountability through specialized training. It began as a five-town pilot program and has expanded throughout the entire County over time. In 2024, DVHRT became New York State’s model for coordinated community response to domestic violence. To date, they have trained over 5,000 members of law enforcement in best practices for interviewing victims; and DVHRT is on the curriculum for the training academy for all recruits and those in service.
In 2014, WMCHealth responded to the OFW’s request to handle all forensic exams for sexual assault victims, resulting in a very successful program. Since 2019, WMCHealth has developed and staffed the Lethality Assessment Program hotline (LAPline) that law enforcement reaches out to when they respond to and determine a domestic call is high risk and potentially lethal. They are able to put the victim on the phone with a specially trained advocate who provides immediate safety planning and resources at the scene. Subsequently, all cases get referred to advocates for follow up, and are coordinated and reviewed by the OFW staff and the District Attorney’s Office.
Jenkins said: “I am deeply grateful for WMCHealth’s investment in resources and staff by for the benefit of the County’s sexual assault and DV victims. Their work and their commitment make our DVHRT work possible. When we called on them in 2014 to manage the sexual assault forensic exams, they answered. When we called on them in 2019 to implement the LAPline, they stepped up again. Westchester is fortunate to have this world-class medical institution in its backyard. I have no doubt that under the new leadership of Dr. Lubarsky, their unwavering support of some of our most vulnerable residents will continue.”
Westchester County Office for Women Director Robi Schlaff said: “We thank the Medical Center for their continued commitment to sexual assault and domestic violence victims in Westchester County. Their professionalism, compassion and highest standard of care is something we are grateful for on behalf of all those affected by family violence. In 2019, we asked them to handle the hotline for police when they respond to a domestic event. They said ‘yes’ and have been doing it ever since. Without them and their advocates, we would not be able to have our domestic violence high risk team.”
Lubarsky said: “This recognition is not just a moment of pride for the WMCHealth Network—it’s a powerful reminder of the patients we serve and the lives we strive to protect every day. We thank County Executive Jenkins for his unwavering support of programs like SAAVE that protect and uplift the most vulnerable members of our community, including survivors of sexual and domestic violence. WMCHealth’s SAAVE program, brought to life by a dedicated team led by Program Director Licia Sandberg, supported more than 2,100 victims across the region last year. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for advancing legislation mandating that hospitals integrate these services—WMCHealth is proud to be ahead of this curve and is ready to serve as a resource to others across the state.”
DVHRT Project Director Chief David Ryan said: “The collaborative partnership between the County’s DVHRT and the Medical Center was critical from the start in order for this initiative to be successful County-wide. The Medical Center is the only facility we could identify that could provide advocacy 24/7 365 days a year and handle a high volume of calls. The fact that they have taken over 5,000 DVHRT calls and provided close to 80,000 minutes of safety planning speaks to the quality of their work and the number of lives they’ve saved. Our team, and more importantly all victims, are truly indebted to the Medical Center, its staff and its leadership for taking on this responsibility.”
Village of Elmsford Chief of Police and DVHRT Liaison Thomas Proscia said: “Having worked with the Domestic Violence High Risk Team on a few occasions, I can attest that they are a valuable resource for any police agency and, more importantly, they are a fierce advocate for victims of domestic violence. We at the Elmsford Police Department deeply value and appreciate our partnership with the Domestic Violence High Risk Team.”
To access the services provided by the Office for Women for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, please call (914) 995-5972.