Latest News & Events

Nancy Mazzola (left) from the Marcie Mazzola Foundation presents VIBS Executive Director, Pamela Johnston with a grant for supplies for the new quarters of VIBS' Children's Program.

 

 

VIBS Celebrates 16th Annual Golf Classic
This year's Golf Outing took place on Thursday, October 13th at the beautiful Huntington Crescent Club. A special thank you to our honorees, Robert A. Benrubi of NuHealth and Ken Gaul of Woodhaven Center of Care and our Golf Committee Chair, Diane Caputi. Thank you to all of you who participated to help make this year's outing a success.

 

 

 

VIBS Spring Benefit
This year's Benefit, held on June 2nd at the Thatched Cottage in Centerport, was extra special as VIBS celebrates its 35th anniversary. We were please to honor Gladys Harrington, Annabel Caner and Ruth Reynolds with Lifetime Service Awards. Gladys and Annabel have been long-time, loyal supporters of VIBS and Ruth (VIBS' Director of Advocacy) has been with the agency for over 25 years. The Community Service Award went to Todd Jusas of Juiced Technologies. Todd is also a very loyal supporter of VIBS' work. Congratulations to all.


Carla Jennings (VIBS Board Member and Spring Benefit Chair)


VIBS Board Co-President, Elena Fortune-Jones (left) and Honoree, Gladys Harrington

Honoree, Ruth Reynolds (left) and VIBS Executive Director, Pamela Johnston

Honoree, Annabel Caner (left) and Elena Fortune-Jones

Community Service Award Recipient, Todd Jusas

 

 

 

VIBS' Elder Abuse counselors Gail and Claudine received the Elder Abuse Service Team Award, at The 27th Annual Child Abuse & Neglect/Family Violence Volunteer and Professional Recognition Day Award Ceremony on April 29th sponsored by: The Suffolk County Advisory Board on Child Protection and the Suffolk County Task Force to Prevent Family Violence. The awards took place at the Suffolk County Legislative Auditorium in Hauppauge, presented by presiding officer William Lindsay.

 

 

VIBS Hosts Eighth Annual Book Luncheon
Our Book Luncheon was held on April 13th at beautiful Oheka Castle. This year, we featured author Teri Coyne and her debut novel The Last Bridge. Thank you to all who attended and supported the Book Luncheon to help make it a tremendous success.

(Book Luncheon pictures to follow)

 

 

 

VIBS values its many years of support from the United Way of Long Island!

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIBS' Director of Advocacy, Ruth Reynolds Honored
The County Executive's Task Force on the Prevention of Demestic Violence is honoring Ruth Reynolds, VIB's Director of Advocacy, at their annual dinner at the Dennison Building on Wednesday, October 20th. Following the award presentation and dinner, everyone attending will go outside to view purple light turned on to the building, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

 

Commemoration Day
This year's Commemoration Day took place on October 7th. Survivors, advocates, public officials and supporters came together in Hauppauge to honor those who have experienced domestic violence, and to remember those who have lost their lives.

NYS Senator Brian X. Foley was among the speakers that paid tribute.

Assembly Member Philip Boyle paid tribute

The Commemoration Tree: For 20 years participants have tied purple ribbons to the tree

The Clothesline Project is an expression of women's experience of violence

White t-shirts honor women who were killed

 

 

 

 

 

SANE Center established at Stony Brook University Medical Center
A SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) Center has been established at Stony Brook University Medical Center. The SANE Center at Stony Brook is a collaboration among VIBS, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook University Medical Center the Suffolk County Police Department, and the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. It is the fourth SANE Center to be established with VIBS in Suffolk County since 1999, joining Good Samaritan Hospital, Mather Hospital, and Peconic Bay Medical Center.
"It is a pleasure and honor to participate in this celebration of the opening of Stony Brook University's SANE center." "Establishing a SANE Center is a significant commitment for a hospital. It involves setting aside valuable space, medical direction, nursing care and direction, and cooperation with other systems, such as law enforcement and community based organizations, whose priorities and expertise may be different. It works because of the commitment to the survivors of these crimes."
-Pamela Johnston, VIBS Executive Director

 

 

 

 

Senators Caesar Trunzo & John Flanagan Obtain Funds
for a New Building for VIBS.

At a reception on September 5, VIBS thanked Senators Caesar Trunzo and John Flanagan for obtaining $500,000 to enable VIBS to purchase a building in which to house programs for survivors of family violence and sexual assault. Senator Trunzo praised VIBS' work and took the opportunity to announce an additional grant of $250,000. Pictured are President of the Board Lynda Perdomo-Ayala, Senator Trunzo, Senator Flanagan, and Executive Director Pamela Johnston.

 

Senator Kenneth P. LaValle presents a grant for $30,000 for VIBS' programs.

Executive Director Pamela Johnston thanks Senator Owen Johnson for obtaining $135,000 toward the purchase of a building to house VIBS' programs.

Assembly Member Patricia Eddington visits VIBS and presents a big check to represent the $10,000 grant she obtained for VIBS' program.

NYS Assembly Member Phil Ramos and Suffolk County Legislator Ricardo Montano visited VIBS to support services to survivors of family violence and sexual assault.

 

L.I. Fund for Women & Girls Honors
Pamela C. Johnston
The Long Island Fund for Women & Girls honored VIBS' Executive Director at its 13th Annual Women Achievers Against the Odds Awards Breakfast on Nov. 7, 2007.

Long Island Fund Breakfast Honorees & Board Co-Presidents, (l-r) - Marsha Jones, Michele Devine(Board),
Pamela Johnston, Shirley Strum Kenny, Diane Cohen (Fund Exec. Director), Marcia Welsh (Board)

Splashes of Hope Transforms - SANE Centers
VIBS is pleased to announce that Splashes of Hope has created therapeutic murals for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Centers at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center. Splashes of Hope is a non-profit organization that creates beautiful murals for medical settings as tools for pain management, therapeutic distraction, soothing visualization, and focal points during necessary procedures. The newly "Splashed" SANE centers will be more calming to traumatized victims of sexual assault.

T-Mobile Supports VIBS
VIBS is pleased to announce a partnership with wireless services provider T-Mobile. A generous $10,000 grant from T-Mobile will underwrite VIBS' 24-hour hotline. In additional, the company has provided support for the development and distribution of 15,000 pocket Hotline cards, containing important emergency information and phone numbers for victims of domestic and sexual violence. These holtline cards wll be distributed at schools and community groups throughout the county.

It is essential for victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to know how to get immediate access to protection, shelter, counseling and other services. VIBS is extremely grateful to T-Mobile for helping make the women and children of Suffolk County safer.

Steve Twardy (left) of T-Mobile USA and VIBS (Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk) Executive Director Pamela Johnston display the pocket card

VIBS Receives Grant from - The AllState Foundation
The Allstate Foundation recently provided VIBS Family Violence & Rape Crisis Center with a $5,000 grant for its "Every Penny Matters" financial education program. Recognizing that survivors of domestic abuse often lack the economic skills and resources to sustain themselves and prepare for futures of economic independence, the Allstate funding will further enhance VIBS services to its clients. Allstate recognizes that women who have economic skills are more likely to be able to leave abusive situations and sustain themselves and their families on a long-term basis.

VIBS currently offers a three week education program for victims of abuse that includes safety planning and self-care. The issue of financial self-care will now be introduced and 150 clients will learn how to assess their financial status, become financially literate and take steps to protect their assets. The "Every Penny Matters" program will help domestic violence survivors repair damaged credit, learn to budget and develop personal financial management skills. The user-friendly program is geared towards people who may be assuming financial responsibility for the first time.

By incorporating the "Every Penny Matters" curriculum into existing, successful VIBS programs, clients will develop an additional sense of hope, independence and empowerment in order to realize their own futures free of violence.

VIBS Receives Grant from the Long Island Fund For Women & Girls
VIBS has created a pilot program in response to the need for Spanish speaking advocates and counselors to improve services to Suffolk's Latina community, and the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls has provided a $2,500 grant to undertake this effort. In order augment existing services to Latina victims of domestic and sexual violence, VIBS partnered with Touro Law School's innovative Long Island Public Interest Center, to both enhance direct services to those in need and provide educational opportunities for law students.

VIBS counselors and advocates will be at the law school, located across from the Cohalan Court complex in Central Islip, 20 hours per week to assist Spanish-speaking victims of domestic violence and sexual assault,. Additionally, a bilingual, bicultural project advocate will be on site for 10 hours per week to provide information about the victim's rights and options, explain the court and other criminal justice system processes, and assist victims in completing petitions for orders of protection, provide direct court accompaniment and an emergency preprogrammed 911 cell phone.

 

Support from Our Legislators
The Board and Staff at VIBS are grateful for the support of the following state and county legislators for obtaining funds for essential services in 2006 and 2007:

Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington and VIBS Executive Director Pamela Johnston with donated cellular phones		Senator John Flanagan and VIBS Executive Director Pamela Johnston
Senator Owen Johnson and Executive Director Pamela Johnston		Senator Cesar Trunzo and Pamela Johnston
Legislator Joseph Caracappa		Senator Owen Johnson
Legislator John Kennedy		Senator Kenneth LaValle
Legislator Ricardo Montano		Legislator Lynne Nowick
Assemblyman Marc Alessi		Senator Caesar Trunzo
Legislator Vivian Viloria Fisher		Assemblyman Steve Engelbright
Legislator Jonathan Cooper		Legislator Ricardo Montano
Senator John Flanagan		Assemblywoman Patricia Eddington
Assemblyman Andrew P. Raia		Assemblyman Phil Ramos
Legislator Lou D'Amaro		Legislator Thomas Barraga

Book Info

Clinical Applications of Drama Therapy in Child and Adolescent Treatment Editor(s) - Anna Marie Weber, Craig Haen

Director of VIBS Children's Services, Anna Marie Weber is a gifted drama therapist with expertise in treating severe cases of child trauma from domestic violence and sexual assault. She has co-edited a book containing a rich compilation of leading-edge theory, methodology and practice in the field of drama therapy.

Buy This Book »