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Welcome to the KCIT 2024
Year in Review Update!
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Join us as we reflect on this past year...
and our gratitude for all of YOU!
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VOLUNTEER NEWS
We finished the 2024 calendar year with 13 new volunteers! We are so grateful to each and every one of you and look forward to our continued growth as we expand our team in 2025.
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Nick Coleman has been an advocate at Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) since 2023. In his role, Nick helps survivors navigate medical and legal spaces while empowering them to make the best choices for themselves. He also provides crisis intervention, case management, training, and education for the community. Nick completed his degree in Rehabilitation and Human Services from Penn State University and has a background in Drug & Alcohol Counseling. | |
Alex Boyles joins us from Cambria County, where she works at Alice Paul House. Alex is a Victim Advocate, and has experience with a wide array of populations, from children and elders to veterans, incarcerated individuals, and those who have experienced arson or mass casualties. Alex has been involved, officially and unofficially, at Alice Paul House for over ten years, and as an advocate has been directly supporting individuals from all walks of life. | |
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1st Quarter
We started off our year with some partings, and a new beginning. Melissa McDermott stepped away from her role with KCIT and is now the Director of Education and Outreach at Women in Transition, based in Philadelphia. Melissa's contributions to KCIT were many, and we knew that she was on to great things at Women in Transition.
Melany Nelson returned to Northwest Victims Services as the Execut Director, an organization very dear to her heart.
Although Melissa and Melany are no longer working as staff, they are still part of our wonderful volunteer team.
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This change brought Beth Coutts to KCIT as Training and Outreach Specialist, and we all had a busy and wonderful first year together! Beth is a trauma informed practitioner and has over 16 years of experience supporting individuals and communities who have been impacted by crime. She hit the ground running, and between trainings, outreach, and helping to run our volunteer meeting, Beth fit right in and brought her very valuable fresh perspectives! | | |
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2nd Quarter
May kicked off our Post Service Intervention program with volunteers providing support to SANE nurses. KCIT staff had been providing support while this program developed, and May marked the start of utilizing our amazing volunteers as the responders. We'd like to express our sincere gratitude for the volunteers who took part! Thank you to: Keeley Rosenthal, Jamie Pfister, Danie Martin, Lauren Stabinsky, Karen Johnston, Angela Keen, Pat McLaughlin, and Audia Boyles.
For those volunteers interested in providing SANE support this year, we will be sending an email to the team.
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3rd Quarter
KCIT's second annual Volunteer Meeting and Training took place in Ephrata, PA in July, and hosted 24 Volunteers in person, with seven joining us virtually.
This year we continued our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, and the YWCA Tri-County presented their 'Diversify Ourselves" training for the team. Kelly Grosser and Kristie Piacine led participants in discussion and exercises to broaden cultural awareness.
It was a wonderful way to bring everyone together and thank our volunteers and advisors for their continued dedication and support.
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To learn more about the YWCA Tri-County Area, or YW3CA, visit their website here! | |
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Upcoming Training in March
7th, 14th, 18th, 21st (21st in Person)
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4th Quarter
KCIT is introducing hybrid trainings for the upcoming year based on post training surveys that were conducted over a three-year training period.
The first three sessions are virtual, and the final is the simulation day, in person. We will be conducting live sessions in three different areas of the state (Western, Central and Eastern). We look forward to connecting with our participants in 2025!
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Victim's Rights Rally 2024
In April KCIT attended the Crime Victims’ Rights Rally, where staff conducted outreach and the team provided companioning support for an emotionally moving day.
Powerful speakers, led by KCIT volunteer Melany Nelson, shared their stories and experiences.
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2024 PACASA Conference, Camp Hill PA
KCIT provided companioning for the PACASA, Pennsylvania's Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, 2024 Conference.
Beth Coutts and two volunteers attended to provide support for participants, and tabled to share KCIT information.
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KCIT Program Coordinator Donna Welsh attended the 2024 Bucks-Mont Collaborative Community Summit in May. Connections old and new were certainly a feature, as Donna was joined by KCIT Volunteer Melissa McDermott, Director of Prevention Education and Outreach at Women in Transition, and Stephanie Shantz, NOVA's Victim Advocate Coordinator. | | |
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KCIT's own Leslie Davila presented two trainings for NOVA in 2024, including "Ethical Considerations for Victim Service Providers" in June, and "Creating Supportive and Inclusive Workspaces: Validating Individuals and Promoting Well-Being" in October. KCIT is always happy to see our volunteers and connect with them in person!
Pictured are Leslie Davila, Donna Welsh, Beth Coutts, and Kelsey Dellaporte.
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We are excited to announce the return of our Volunteer Spotlight series! One volunteer will be featured quarterly and take part in an interview to discuss their experience and their KCIT involvement.
While this program re-launched officially in 2025, 2024 saw the efforts and filming.
Watch January's video here!
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ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
KCIT has been hard at work in 2024 preparing for increased volunteer numbers, a major push for outreach, and updated resources for current volunteers and trainees.
Our Volunteer Manual is undergoing updates and revisions to better serve our team, and honor our ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Volunteers Angela Keen and MaryClaire Mullen have generously donated their time, and we are so grateful! All volunteers will all be receiving an updated copy in the coming year.
Beth Coutts, KCIT's Training and Outreach Specialist, successfully connected with State Police, covering all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
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