Press Conference Acknowledging Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April 4, 2012- Family Services' administration and staff gathered Wednesday with other community leaders to acknowledge Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Brian Doyle, Family Services' CEO, and Joan Crawford, Deputy Executive Director, remarked that Sexual Assault Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to help the public understand the social norms that permit sexual violence to be as widespread as it is – and to engage bystanders to proactively work together to build a safer community. Also recognized for his work with victims of Crime was Dutchess County Chair of the Legislature, Robert Rolison. Sharon Doane, Family Services' Director of Forensic Services, presented Rob with the Fay Honey Knopp Award of Spirit and Humanity from the NYS Association of the Treatment of Sexual Abusers and the NYS Alliance of Sex Offender Treatment Providers.

Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Annual Meeting

William Spearance

The Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (CADVSA) recently held their annual meeting and awards ceremony at Vassar College. Awards were presented to William Spearance, former Coordinator of the Domestic Abuse Awareness Classes for Men Program at Family Services and former CADVSA Board of Directors member; and Kathleen Mannix, Administrative Judge at the Department of Labor and former CADVSA Board of Directors member. Special acknowledgments were also presented to John Penney, Editor, on behalf of the Poughkeepsie Journal, and Nilda Rivera of "Mark's Desserts by Nilda."

Nilda Rivera

This past April, Marks’ Desserts by Nilda distributed over 3,000 baked goods a week--including the company’s signature cookies, blondies, brownies, biscotti, and apple cakes--featuring labels with messages to raise awareness about sexual assault and where survivors can get help. Each label prominently displayed Family Services' Crime Victims Assistance Program’s 24-hour crime victims/rape crisis hotline (845-452-7272). April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Nilda Rivera, owner of Marks’ Desserts, volunteered her time and resources to bring this information to residents of Dutchess and surrounding counties. On October 19, Nilda was honored at the local Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault’s Annual Breakfast for her contribution to assist survivors and create awareness about violence against women in our community.