RISE moves to CRMC

Volunteers sought

By FRITZ MAYER

HARRIS, NY — Cindy Zingher had some anxious days last year when the future of the Rape Intervention Services and Education (RISE) program was in doubt. The program had operated in Monticello since 1987 through a relationship with Planned Parenthood of Mid-Hudson Valley, but that relationship was coming to an end.

Zingher, who serves as program manager, was concerned about where RISE’s clients could turn. In dealing with victims of sexual abuse, RISE forms relationships that can last for many years as cases work their way through the legal system and clients work their way through recovery.

Fortunately, RISE found a new home at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC). The hospital has assumed oversight and fiscal responsibility of the RISE program, and will conduct grant writing on RISE’s behalf. The new offices were officially put into use last week.

Steven Ruwoldt, CEO of CRMC, said, “RISE is such an important program for Sullivan County. Not only does RISE provide assistance to victims of sexual abuse, but the program also provides prevention education. CRMC is committed to advancing services to the community, and this is an excellent opportunity to ensure that RISE continues its invaluable program to the residents of Sullivan County.”

Zingher said that the need for RISE in Sullivan County is as great as ever. Statistics indicate that one out of three females and one out of six males are the victims of sexual abuse. Nationally, the incidents of reported sexual abuse have been going down in recent years, and credit for this trend is given to educational programs in schools and the work of rape crises centers such as RISE, but Zingher said she is not seeing a reduction in incidents in Sullivan County.

The hospital is a good location for RISE because about 12 to 15 victims go to the hospital every year to obtain a rape kit. And the offices in the hospital will also be used by law enforcement officials to interview minors who have been victims of sexual abuse, which is a more comfortable environment than the sheriff’s office or police station.

RISE serves anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, either presently or in the past. A significant part of the clientele are women who were abused as children. Zingher said she doesn’t know why, but when many woman enter their 40s, they decide it’s time to stop being a victim and deal with their past, and RISE provides a way for them to do that.

But the bulk of the program’s clients, from 60 to 80 percent, are minors. And the overwhelming majority has been victimized by someone they know. Zingher said that in the 12 years she has been with RISE, she has only seen three cases where the victim was raped by a stranger.

Zingher said, “We make relationships with children, and go to court with them because it’s very frightening to go to the grand jury and tell your story. If the case goes to trial, the perpetrator is right there in the room with them and that’s really frightening. A lot of times it doesn’t get that far; it goes to plea bargain, and in those cases we help with victim impact statements.”

The work that RISE does requires a lot of volunteer help, and Zingher said she doesn’t have enough of that just now. Volunteers perform a number of duties, but one of the most important is manning the rape hotline in the evenings, overnight and on weekends.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information on services offered, e-mail RISE@crmcny.org or contact the RISE office at 845/794-3300, ext. 2442.