December 13, 2023

In This Issue...

PCCD Recognizes Winners of Governor's Victim Service Pathfinder Awards

On November 30th the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) honored winners of the annual Governor’s Victim Service Pathfinder Awards for notable contributions to their communities and the victim service provider field. The awards were administered by PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services (OVS) on day two of the three-day Pathways to Victim Services Conference.

The Governor’s Victim Service Pathfinder Award categories, winners, and video profiles of the winners are outlined below:

Allied Professional Award: Jalla Atkins

Individual Organizational Capacity Building Award: Beth Struman

Individual Direct Service Award: Erin Milbourn

Survivor Activist Award: Deborah Irby

Examining Implicit Bias To Improve Service Training Provision Course Is Now Available On The PA Victim Services Training Website

The Examining Implicit Bias to Improve Service Provision Course was released to the PA Victim Services Training Website on November 30, 2023. This course is designed to provide an interactive overview of what implicit bias is and how it can impact systems dedicated to providing services to crime survivors in Pennsylvania. The material examines the nature of implicit bias, the correlation between implicit bias and outcomes for survivors, and personal accountability to address our own implicit bias.

In order to access please visit the PA Victim Services Training Website.

If you have any questions please reach out to PVSTsupport@psu.edu.

RASA/VOJO Virtual Quarterly Meeting - February 9, 2024

The Office of Victims Services (OVS) is pleased to announce the first of our 2024 Quarterly Meeting series on February 9^th, 2024 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. This meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. All project directors, victim advocates, and project staff working within the Rights and Services Act (RASA) and/or Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) funding streams are welcome to attend.

These meetings provide an opportunity to ask questions, to learn about new topics and updates, and to network with other advocates and OVS staff members.

If interested in attending the meeting, please use the following link to register and also to submit the topic(s) or question(s) you would like to see covered in the meeting: OVS Quarterly RASA/VOJO Virtual Meeting Registration.

Registration will close on January 17^th, 2023.

Please continue to check our OVS Newsletter for updates future RASA/VOJO Quarterly Meetings throughout 2024.

For questions or additional information, please contact Maria Katulis at mkatulis@pa.gov.

Annual STOP Muskie Report

The STOP Program Reports/Muskie Reports for calendar year 2023 will be due on a yet to be determined date in March 2024.

The reason for the delay in the due date is because the Muskie School of Social Work and the Office on Violence Against Women are launching an updated web-based tool for progress reporting. The web-based tool is not complete, but you can review a sample of the updated Muskie Report here. There are some new demographic categories and questions. Please note that PCCD has been told that subgrantees will not be penalized if, on the 2023 Muskie Report, they do not have data to report for these new items.

PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services strongly suggests that subgrantees review the sample form, identify any additional data requested that is relevant to your county’s STOP project, and formulate a plan for collecting that data beginning January 1, 2024. In the meantime, subgrantees should continue with their current data collection strategy through the remainder of 2023.

The PCCD OVS will provide updated information on the revised reporting form, submission tool and due dates as we learn additional details from OVW.

If you have any questions, please contact your grant program contact.

New Chief Executive Officer Of Respect Together

Longtime Harrisburg local and community activist takes the helm of leading national anti-violence organization based in Central PA.

Please click here to read.

Coordinating Safety

Communities across the country have been harmed by violence for decades, and government leaders have struggled to deliver impactful solutions. Community organizers working to address violence have long recognized that a different approach is needed—one that comes from a deep understanding of a community’s needs, uses data to guide strategies, and prioritizes prevention and intervention rather than punishment. One innovative way for governments to incorporate these tenets into policy and practice—and to provide better, more sustainable support to community-based efforts—is by building centralized local offices of violence prevention or neighborhood safety (OVP/ONS). This report summarizes the current state of OVP/ONS nationally and identifies promising practices and recommendations to create and support these offices.

Please click here to read.

The Pain And Trauma Last Longer Than A News Cycle

White House Gun Violence Official believes feds can stem bloodshed.

Please click here to read.

For A Male Sexual Assault Survivor, Justice Won In Court Does Not Equal Healing

It took eight years and the #MeToo movement for Sam Schultz to tell police they were sexually assaulted, and five more years for the attackers to plead guilty. Schultz has been saddled with worries from other gay men that talking about sexual abuse in their community will hurt the fight for LBGTQ+ rights.

Please click here to read.

UnMasking Hope: Extraordinary Stories Of Trauma Survivors On Their Journeys To Find Hope

A documentary about the lasting impact of trauma has on survivors, their families and communities.

Please click here to access.

SAAM 2024: Building Connected Communities

The theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024 is Building Connected Communities, a campaign that helps us reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment in our communities. We must strive to create strong, connected communities that take care of one another. Communities that make decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of all members are critical to ending sexual violence worldwide.

Please click here to read.

What Is Flexible Financial Assistance And How It Can Be Equitably Dispersed To Survivors Of Intimate Partner Violence

Domestic violence impacts survivors in many ways, including their economic stability. Survivors experience economic challenges that can include loss of income, damaged property, and/or coerced debt.

Please click here to read.

How Lethality Assessments Can Help Prevent Domestic Violence

Research shows using lethality assessments at domestic violence scenes can save lives.

Please click here to read.

A Guide For Community Youth Advocates To Support Latin@ Survivors

This tool will serve to:

Equipt community youth advocates with culturally responsive strategies to navigate systems to support youth Latin@ survivors of IPV.

Increase knowledge of barriers to improving the health of Latin@ survivors of IPV.

Mobilize advocates to promote holistic and sustainable support within families and communities.

Please click here to read.

Upcoming Trainings & Events

PennCAC is offering an ongoing opportunity for CAC professionals and their MDT partners to gain ongoing CSEC education through CSEC OFFICE HOURS.

Office hours are offered twice per month and are staffed by lived experience experts, lived experience experts offer a powerful voice for change.

Please click here to register.

Stalking Awareness Month: Now I Speak

Jan 11 2024 3:00PM

In honor of the 20th anniversary of Stalking Awareness Month, survivor Anna Nasset will provide an overview of and discuss some of her story as a survivor of stalking, including her experience with victim services.

Please click here to register.

Human Trafficking Response Academy

NOVA's HTRA is an introductory to intermediate-level course for victim advocates and allied professionals working with survivors of human trafficking.

The HTRA will take place Monday, January 22nd - Thursday, January 25th, 2024 and will be 3 full days and 1 half day of training. Access to Zoom is required for enrollment and participation in the course.

Please click here to register.

Victims Compensation Assistance Program Online Trainings

The following trainings will be held on January 4, 2024.

Medical Expenses Clinic - 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
"Wow, That's Covered by Compensation" – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The following trainings will be held on January 10, 2024.

Myths of Compensation - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Crime Scene Cleanup Expenses Clinic - 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

The following trainings will be held on January 18, 2024.

· Stolen Benefit Cash Expenses Clinic - 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
· Transportation Expenses Clinic – 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The following trainings will be held on January 22, 2024.

· Loss of Earnings Clinic - 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
· Motor Vehicle-Related Crime Expenses Clinic – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The following trainings will be held on February 1, 2024.

· Relocation Expenses Clinic - 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
· Counseling Expenses Clinic – 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The following training will be held on February 6, 2024

Basic Compensation - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

All trainings count towards 1 hour of the required RASA/VOCA/VOJO training hours, except Basic Compensation which counts towards 2 and DAVE training which counts towards 2.25.

Please click here to register.

Employment Opportunities

Please click here to view current job opportunities.

Please click here to view current employment opportunities.

The next OVS Newsletter will be published on December 27, 2023. If you would like any training events, fundraisers, or notable news published in this newsletter, please submit them to Lea Dorsey at ledorsey@pa.gov by Wednesday, December 20, 2023.