Unlocking Your Legacy: Supporting Survivors Through Planned Giving

Debunking 5 common misconceptions about planned giving to help you create a legacy of compassion.

Did you know you can support Sanctuary’s mission and ensure its legacy by arranging a donation now to be allocated at a future date? You can accomplish this kind of planned giving in several ways, including making a bequest through a will or living trust or naming Sanctuary as a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy. Sanctuary’s website provides a lot of valuable information about these planned giving options.

However, there are many misconceptions about what planned giving looks like—see below for some of the most common myths debunked.

Myth #1: Only wealthy people can make planned gifts.

Planned giving is for anyone who wants to impact an organization, regardless of their wealth. Many planned giving options are accessible to donors of all financial backgrounds.

Myth #2: Planned giving is only for older donors.

Anyone can make a planned gift at any age. Younger donors may find it beneficial to start planning their giving strategy early in life to maximize the impact of their philanthropy.

Myth #3: Planned giving is too complicated.

Our website has many resources available to help donors easily navigate the process, understand the options, and make informed decisions.

Myth #4: Planned giving means giving up control of assets.

There are options that allow donors to retain control of their assets during their lifetime, such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts.

Myth #5: I have to talk to a lawyer about my planned giving decisions.

You don’t necessarily have to consult your lawyer before making decisions around planned giving. For example, you can designate Sanctuary to receive a portion of your retirement plan or life insurance policy. For more information on which charitable plan works best for you, visit the Sanctuary website and answer a few simple questions to point you down the right path.


Your legacy can shape Sanctuary’s future – visit our website to explore your options for planned giving and make a lasting difference today.

If you would like to talk to someone at Sanctuary about planned giving, please email Susan Puder at spuder@sffny.org to schedule a convenient time.

 

Domestic Violence Often Causes Traumatic Brain Injury — Why Is No One Talking About It?

Survivors are at a high risk of sustaining TBI — often due to repeated head injuries — yet the rate of diagnosis is significantly lower than that of football players.

TW: This article contains descriptive information about physical violence. Please engage in self-care as you read this article.


While traumatic brain injuries (TBI) among athletes, particularly football players, have garnered much attention in recent years, a critical and underdiagnosed group has mainly gone unnoticed: domestic violence survivors.

According to the CDC, TBI is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Yet, the prevalence of TBI among domestic violence survivors remains a largely under-addressed issue.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Causes & Symptoms

TBIs are life-altering injuries — resulting from a blow or jolt to the head or from an object penetrating the brain tissue —that can severely affect an individual’s mental and physical health.

In the context of domestic violence, TBI can occur due to physical abuse such as hitting, choking, or slamming the victim’s head against a hard surface. TBI can also result from strangulation, a common form of abuse among domestic violence survivors.

The symptoms of TBI can vary depending on the severity of the injury, but they can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, memory loss, and changes in mood or behavior. TBI can also result in long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical impairments that can devastate a person’s quality of life.

Domestic violence survivors who have experienced TBI may face additional challenges in recovering from their overall trauma. They may also require specialized medical care and rehabilitation services to address ongoing physical and cognitive impairments.

The Hidden Epidemic: TBI in Domestic Violence Victims

Survivors of domestic violence are at a high risk of sustaining a TBI, often due to repeated head injuries. Studies have reported a prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV)-related TBIs ranging from 19% to 75%, and as high as 100% in studies that only included survivors that reported injuries to the head.

However, the rate of TBI diagnosis among this population is significantly lower than that of athletes. This disparity can be attributed to several factors, including the stigma surrounding domestic violence that discourages survivors from seeking help. But this is also the direct result of a lack of awareness about the prevalence of IPV-related TBI among healthcare providers — When seeking emergency medical care, survivors of abuse are rarely screened for head injuries and TBI symptoms.

Furthermore, because of considerable symptom overlap, IPV-related TBI is often misdiagnosed as posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) or personality disorders. According to a peer-reviewed article in Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,

If traumatic brain injury is not considered a consequence of interpersonal violence, a victim’s behavior can be misunderstood by people with whom the victim interacts, including health professionals. Misdiagnosis of brain-injured behavior as a personality disorder can result in lack of assessment of a physical problem underlying the behavior. So-called difficult clients who are perceived as being noncompliant, bothersome, or extremely impatient are unlikely to be referred for advanced treatment, including neuropsychological or neurological evaluation or rehabilitation.

When TBI goes undiagnosed in domestic violence survivors, they may not receive the necessary care and support to recover. Misdiagnosis can also lead to an increased risk for further injury and worsening of existing symptoms — untreated TBI can contribute to chronic pain, mental health disorders, and an increased risk for substance abuse and suicide.

Survivors Deserve Better

The underdiagnosis of TBI among domestic violence survivors is a pressing issue that demands increased awareness and action.

Earlier this month, the New York State Department of Health and Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence announced new efforts to raise awareness of the prevalence of traumatic brain injuries among survivors of abuse and the critical role proper screening can play in health outcomes.

Victim advocates, healthcare providers, and law enforcement officials need to be aware of the potential for TBI among domestic violence survivors. Early intervention and appropriate treatment can help minimize TBI’s long-term impact and support the survivor’s journey to healing.


If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, know that there are resources available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential support and information 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

If you live in New York City, please get in touch with Sanctuary for Families to get help.


SOURCES

Banks, M. E. (2007). Overlooked But Critical: Traumatic Brain Injury as a Consequence of Interpersonal Violence. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 8(3), 290–298. https://doi-org.libproxy.newschool.edu/10.1177/1524838007303503

Kwako, L. E., Glass, N., Campbell, J., Melvin, K. C., Barr, T., & Gill, J. M. (2011). Traumatic brain injury in intimate partner violence: A critical review of outcomes and mechanisms. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 12(3), 115-126. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838011404251

Manoranjan, B., Scott, T., Szasz, O. P., Bzovsky, S., O’Malley, L., Sprague, S., Perera, G., Bhandari, M., & Turkstra, L. S. (2022). Prevalence and Perception of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Traumatic Brain Injury. The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation, 37(1), 53–61. https://doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000749

Silver, J. M., McAllister, T. W., & Arciniegas, D. B. (2009). Depression and cognitive complaints following mild traumatic brain injury. The American journal of psychiatry, 166(6), 653–661. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08111676

Valera, E. M., & Kucyi, A. (2017). Brain injury in women experiencing intimate partner-violence: Neural mechanistic evidence of an “invisible” trauma. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 11(6), 1664-1677. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-016-9643-1

In Loving Memory of Narkis Golan

Our statement on the passing of Sanctuary client Narkis Golan — survivor, relentless advocate, and devoted mother to Bradley.

All of us at Sanctuary for Families are heartbroken about the passing of one of our beloved clients, Narkis Golan. The devoted thirty-two-year-old mother of a six-year-old boy, Narkis died unexpectedly last week, in the middle of a legal battle to prevent her little boy, Bradley, from being sent back to Italy where she had been severely abused by his father, frequently in Bradley’s presence.

Even though the federal court judge presiding over the Hague Convention case brought by the father to force Bradley’s return to Italy had found, by clear and convincing evidence, that returning the child would constitute a grave risk of harm because of the pattern of severe domestic violence perpetrated by his father against his mother, the judge ordered Bradley’s return. That decision was appealed to the US Supreme Court, where Narkis prevailed unanimously on the issue of whether the judge was required to consider ameliorative measures that could protect Bradley’s safety in Italy. This Supreme Court decision constitutes an important legal victory that advances the rights of survivors in Hague cases nationally. Disappointingly, when the case was sent back down to the federal court judge, she inexplicably again ordered Bradley’s return to Italy. Although dismayed by the order, Narkis worked assiduously with her attorneys to overturn it, determined to protect Bradley’s safety. Just three hours before her death, she was speaking with her lawyers about the appeal.

Narkis and Bradley

With her family’s permission, we have spoken to reporters at Jezebel and NBC News about Narkis’s passing. We are comforted that Narkis’s voice continues to be heard and her heroic battle to protect her son is being recognized and honored. Please know that we are identifying additional ways to honor Narkis and her legacy and are working closely with her family members to ensure that Bradley is protected.

Our deepest gratitude to all who worked tirelessly on Narkis‘s case and accompanied Narkis in her pursuit of justice: Sanctuary board member and Paul Weiss partner Claudia Hammerman, who led the legal team at Paul Weiss that litigated the case tirelessly and brilliantly; Sanctuary pro bono partner and Morvillo Abramowitz partner Karen R. King, who argued the case of Golan v. Saada before the Supreme Court; Sanctuary staff, especially Nicole Fidler, Ruchama Cohen, and Lisa Vara; and all of the outstanding attorneys at Paul Weiss and Morvillo Abramowitz who worked on this case for more than three years.

 

Our Statement on the Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision

The Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade ignores 50 years of precedent and is a blatant attack on human rights.

Hon. Judy Harris Kluger, Executive Director of Sanctuary for Families, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:


“Today’s Supreme Court’s decision, decided largely on ideological lines, to overturn Roe v. Wade and Casey ignores 50 years of precedent and is a blatant attack on human rights. Many states are now free to impose bans on abortion with no exceptions, even for rape and incest. The three judges in the minority eloquently wrote that they dissent ‘with sorrow — for this Court, but more for the many million American women who today have lost a fundamental constitutional protection.’

Like domestic violence, abortion bans are about power and control. In allowing states to restrict women from accessing abortion, the Court is stripping away their bodily autonomy — leveraging its power to force women to carry unwanted, unsafe, or unviable pregnancies to term with utter disregard for what that means to their rights as equal citizens of this nation. 

Bans on abortion can mean a death sentence — for women with high-risk pregnancies whose doctors deny them life-saving medical care; for women resorting to unsafe methods out of fear of prosecution or due to a lack of alternatives; and for women in abusive relationships living in a country where homicide is the leading cause of death for pregnant women. 

This devastating decision comes right after the Court’s irresponsible ruling striking down a century-old New York law that limited the carrying of concealed firearms outside the home. This, despite the evidence that access to a gun makes it five times more likely that an abuser will kill their victim. 

As one of New York’s leading service providers for survivors of gender violence, we know how detrimental both rulings are to the safety and wellbeing of our clients and victims across the country. 

Today’s ruling grants more power to abusers who use sexual violence and reproductive coercion to control their victims. It also adds yet another barrier for survivors to whom abortion represents a lifeline and a path towards freedom from abuse. The Court’s ruling and the impending state bans will disproportionately affect women of color, trans and nonbinary people, women with disabilities, and those living in poverty who lack the resources to travel to states where abortion is legal. 

As horrifying as they are, these attacks on our rights will not deter us from our mission to build a world free from violence. Sanctuary stands more committed than ever to the Movement for Reproductive Justice and will prioritize access to abortion and gun control in our advocacy efforts.”

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For press inquiries, please contact us at press@sffny.org.