A Passion For Giving – EP 10: Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, Inc. (VIBS)
By Aline Wealth Management on September 1, 2020
Today we are speaking with representatives from Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, Inc. (VIBS), a family violence and rape crisis center that has been providing free and confidential services and programs to community members in Suffolk County, New York since 1976. VIBS, an affiliate of Independent Group Home Living (IGHL), provides specialized counseling, 24-hour hotline, court advocacy, and legal representation to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, human trafficking, and to Veterans suffering PTSD. Peter is joined by guests Reina Schiffrin and Michele Knapp.
Reina Schiffrin has been VIBS Executive Director since 2018. Reina holds a Master’s in Public Health and has over 30 years of experience working in the health care field including holding management positions at the Jack D. Weiler Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, and Columbia University Medical Center. From 2002 through 2016 Reina held the position of President/ CEO at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) where she also worked with a separate Board to plan and oversee the activities of the PPHP Action Fund which endorsed candidates on the local, state, and federal level.
Michele Knapp is an active member of the board of directors for IGHL, Long Island Community Hospital (formerly Brookhaven Memorial Hospital), and serves on the Advisory Council for Stony Brook University Hospital. Michele also serves on the board of Island Outreach Foundation and the Knapp Sweezey Foundation, both family foundations which focus their attention on causes related to education, healthcare, housing, environmental, quality of life issues, and general community needs within Suffolk County. Professionally, Michele has over 30 years of experience in the commercial and residential mortgage banking and finance space, formerly CEO of Safe Harbor Capital Group with operations in seven states on the eastern seaboard before retiring in 2010. Michele is a writer of 20 years for HOUSE magazine, writing a finance column and more recently travel, since retiring.
Reina and Michele join the podcast to discuss the vital work being done at VIBS. Work which has become even more important as domestic violence issues have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- What kind of services does VIBS offer to the community? Discover just how important this kind of advocacy can be.
- How has VIBS responded to the uptick in abuse during COVID-19? What are the challenges of outreach during a pandemic?
- What are some ways in which you can help someone who is a victim of sexual assault?
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