Delany-Brumsey assures NGBV remains distinct under OCS

As this transition moves forward, some organizational structures and leadership titles may change, but NGBV's mission and the critical programs and services it oversees will not.

NGBV will remain a distinct entity within OCS with dedicated leadership, a clear mandate, and a strong programmatic identity.

The expertise of the NGBV team, as well as all the teams that have been incorporated into OCS, will continue to inform decision-making, with direct and regular access to myself as the Commissioner, OCS leadership, and the Deputy Mayor of Community Safety.

Bringing NGBV into OCS also creates opportunities for stronger coordination across the city's community safety work.

Domestic and gender-based violence intersects with many of the challenges OCS is charged with addressing, including gun violence, mental health, crisis response, and support for victims and survivors of crime and violence.

NGBV.

His research on the relation between domestic violence and shooting incidents in New York City found that communities with high rates of gun violence also experience high rates of domestic violence.

We know that access to firearms can increase the risk of serious injury or death in abusive relationships, and firearms also can be used to threaten, intimidate, and control survivors.

Moreover, young people exposed to violence in the home are more likely to both experience and perpetrate violence, including gun violence, as they grow up.

Children exposed to domestic violence are almost three times more likely to experience domestic violence as adults, and childhood exposure to family violence is also a strong predictor of domestic violence perpetration later in life.

Bringing this work together creates opportunities to strengthen prevention and intervention efforts.

Further, survivors with mental health needs may face unique barriers to accessing both the domestic violence and mental health systems, particularly when navigating multiple systems that may not fully address their needs.

At the same time, domestic and gender-based violence can have significant and lasting impact on survivors'mental health.

Further connecting NGB's expertise with mental health and crisis response can help align services, provide more responsive and trauma-informed care, and address survivors'needs more holistically.

These connections reflect our vision for OCS.

A public health approach to safety that recognizes both the immediate and long-term impacts of violence, coordination across prevention, intervention, victim and survivor services, and crisis response will help us make a

use of the city's expertise and resources while helping keep domestic and gender-based violence central to our community safety work.