Cayuga Counseling Services
17 East Genesee St.
Auburn, NY 13021

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Cayuga Counseling in the News

Senator Nozzolio Fights to Protect Child Victims of Sexual and Physical Assault

Auburn– Continuing his strong advocacy for children who have been the victims of sexual and physical abuse, State Senator Michael Nozzolio announced he has secured $175,000 in state criminal justice funding to establish the Child Advocacy Center of Cayuga County. Senator Nozzolio made the announcement at the Cayuga County courthouse today.

“One of the most horrific crimes that can be committed is an attack on a defenseless child,� said Senator Nozzolio, Chairman of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee. “The Child Advocacy Center of Cayuga County will provide essential services and programs that will allow child victims to receive the help and counseling they need to recover from their suffering.�

In 2007, there were 1,036 child abuse investigations and 136 sexual abuse investigations in Cayuga County.

The $175,000 state investment will be used for the purchase of a building in Auburn to house the Child Advocacy Center of Cayuga. Once established, the Child Advocacy Center will provide counseling services to children who have been the victims of sexual and/or physical abuse. The child, as well as non-offending family members, will undergo a reduced number of interviews and receive support, counseling and advocacy services under one roof.

Limiting the number of interviews on child victims has been shown to decrease the amount of trauma on the child, and result in better statements, better investigations, and increased likelihood of prosecution on the perpetrator. The coordination of investigation, prosecution, treatment and support is a best practice approach to dealing with children that are the victims of abuse.

Jon Budelman, Cayuga County District Attorney, said, “I would like to thank Senator Nozzolio for fighting for us in Albany, ensuring that the people of Cayuga County have the necessary resources to keep our community safe. As District Attorney, my role is to seek justice for those who have been victimized. An important part of that role is the prosecution of sexual offenders who prey upon our children. Along with all of our law enforcement agencies, our service providers and child protective services, our Office works diligently to hold these predators accountable to the highest degree provided by law.

“In prosecuting sexual abuse cases, we rely upon the most fragile members of our community, our children. To be successful, we need to minimize the trauma to the child, to minimize the number of times the child must relate the story of their abuse. We must also maximize our support of the child by bringing the counseling and support to the child, making the atmosphere less stressful, more secure, friendlier for the victims. We need to specialize the skills of those working on bringing these attackers to justice. The Cayuga County Child Advocacy Center will accomplish all of these objectives. I feel strongly that with the Child Advocacy Center bringing the District Attorney’s Office, our law enforcement agencies, child protective and care providers together, we can achieve our goal of making our community safer,� continued Budelman.

The Child Advocacy Center of Cayuga County will be staffed by a coordinator and a multi-disciplinary team comprised of officials from local, county, and state law enforcement, the Cayuga County District Attorney’s office, probation/parole, local school districts, human service agencies, child protective services, as well as specially trained nurses.

Dave Gould, Cayuga County Sheriff, said, “Cayuga County has had a Child Sexual Abuse Task Force since 1989 and our hope and dreams since that time has been to have our own Child Advocacy Center in Cayuga County. The Child Advocacy Center will aid the victims of child abuse in Cayuga County and the money received through the outstanding efforts of Senator Michael Nozzolio will certainly help towards finally obtaining our Child Advocacy Center. Senator Nozzolio has always been there for our Child Abuse Committee and has always been there for all our victims when they needed his assistance."

The Child Advocacy Center will also serve as the home of S.A.V.A.R., the Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resource, which aid victims of rape in Cayuga County. In 2007, S.A.V.A.R. provided 168 educational workshops and answered 172 hot-line calls concerning sexual assault.

In addition, the Center will have a staff person specializing in domestic violence from the Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency to better integrate and coordinate services between the two agencies.

Roger Mills, Chairman of the Cayuga County Legislature, said, “We are very pleased that Senator Nozzolio has secured funding for the Cayuga County Child Advocacy Center. Recent statistics show that more than 1,000 cases of abuse, neglect and mistreatment of children occur in Cayuga County each year. The Child Advocacy Center will provide a safe non-threatening environment for law enforcement personnel to interview children so the
perpetrators of these crimes will be more effectively prosecuted.�

Ray Bizzari, Executive Director of Cayuga Counseling Services, Inc., said, “When you think about a community coming together to make a great thing possible, you have to think of this
Child Advocacy Center. So many people over so many years have worked hard to make this happen and they remain committed to make sure that child/adolescent victims of sexual assault and physical abuse get the best chance this community can offer to keep them safe and help them heal. Today is a great day for Cayuga County.�

Senator Nozzolio is an outspoken proponent of victims’ rights and has been instrumental in fighting for increased penalties for sex offenders and improved services and support for crime victims. His numerous accomplishments on behalf of victims of sexual assault include the passage of Megan’s Law, the Sexual Assault Reform Act, the Sex Offender Reform Act, the Sex Offender Community Safety Act and the Domestic Violence Prevention and Family Protection Act.

“The men and women that provide support for victims of sexual and physical abuse are to be commended for their commitment and it is a pleasure for me to secure this important State funding to assist them in their efforts,� concluded Nozzolio.