Our Bureau
Brooklyn, NY
NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County celebrated Kings CARES with an inaugural ceremony, recognizing the hospital’s survivor-centered program that has expanded access to trauma-informed follow-up care and support services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence since its launch earlier this year.
Kings CARES was established to ensure survivors of gender-based violence are able to receive coordinated, compassionate care beyond their initial medical treatment. In its first six months of operation, the Kings CARES clinic has seen nearly 50 patients. Through partnerships with healthcare providers, advocacy organizations, and community agencies, the program connects survivors with follow-up medical care, counseling, specialty referrals, and other essential resources. These integrated services are designed to support their recovery and well-being at all stages of their recuperation.
Beyond clinical services, Kings CARES provides on-site social services to help survivors navigate the challenges that may follow an experience of domestic or gender-based violence. Through coordination with Family Justice Centers across all five boroughs, survivors receive assistance with safety planning, advocacy, and connections to additional community resources. The program also assists eligible patients with insurance enrollment and coverage navigation to help reduce barriers to accessing needed services.
Kings CARES reflects NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County’s ongoing efforts to address the complex needs of survivors by providing comprehensive support that extends beyond the initial point of care and meets the needs of every individual.
The ceremony celebrated the partnerships that have made Kings CARES possible, bringing together healthcare leaders, community partners, advocates, and elected officials who share a commitment to improving access to survivor-centered care. The event underscored the importance of strong collaboration in creating a coordinated network of support for survivors. The event featured remarks from Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, representatives from the Mayor’s Office, and leaders from NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, who emphasized the importance of ensuring survivors have access to comprehensive care and resources. The continued growth of Kings CARES reflects the leadership and dedication of Dr. Priyanka Datta, Dr. Keesandra Agenor, and Dr. Elias Youssef, whose commitment helped bring the program to life and expand access to compassionate, trauma-informed support for survivors.
“Kings CARES was established to address a critical gap in services for survivors of violence by providing specialized medical and forensic follow-up care in an outpatient setting,” said Priyanka Datta, MD, Medical Director of Kings CARES and Director of the Clinical Forensic Medicine Fellowship at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “What distinguishes the practice is its coordinated, multidisciplinary model, developed in close partnership with the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence, District Attorney’s Offices, law enforcement agencies, healthcare partners, and community organizations. By integrating medical care, forensic documentation, and connection to supportive services, Kings CARES improves access to comprehensive, trauma-informed care and reduces the burden on survivors to navigate multiple systems on their own.”
“It has been a long time coming, we finally have a safe, dedicated space where survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and gender-based violence can be seen, heard, and know that Kings cares,” said Keesandra K. Agenor, MD, Medical Director of Brooklyn Sexual Assault Response Teams at NYC Health + Hospitals. “The Kings CARES Practice is a true testament to what our medical community can accomplish when we treat survivors of trauma beyond their presenting injury, and keep the patient at the center of the care we provide from the sliding doors of the emergency room and beyond.”
“Kings County Hospital continues to demonstrate its commitment to patient-centered care through the establishment of the Clinical Forensics Medicine Fellowship and the Kings CARES Outpatient Practice,” said Elias Youssef, MD, Chief of Emergency Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “Together, these groundbreaking initiatives will continue to provide unparalleled, trauma-informed care for victims of violence and abuse.”
“Kings CARES demonstrates our commitment to providing coordinated, patient-centered care that extends beyond the hospital walls,” said Sheldon McLeod, Chief Executive Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. “Together with our community partners, we are expanding access to the services survivors need to heal and thrive.”
“Survivors of intimate partner violence require holistic support that extends beyond traditional medical care to also includes follow ups, safety planning, community resources and more,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “Kings CARES’ survivor-centered and trauma-informed approach is exactly the model that allows for full recovery and long-term well bring for victims, which is also the focus of my office’s Gender Based Violence Division. We are proud to partner with this program and look forward to continue collaborating on this essential work.”