April 9, 2025

In This Issue...

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Crime Victims Rally


In honor of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, the Crime Victims' Rights Rally was held at the Capitol Rotunda on April 7th.

View The Event Photos

Registration Now Open For 2025 Pathways For Victims Services Conference


Pennsylvania's Pathways for Victim Services Conference provides an opportunity for victim services providers and allied professionals to join for national keynote speakers, informative workshops, networking opportunities and the presentation of the Governor's Victim Service Pathfinder Awards.


To register for the conference: Pathways for Victim Services Conference Registration


You will receive notice when the conference app is launched so you can select your workshops!


Hotel Rooms are available at Kalahari Resort:

Standard rooms are at the discounted rate of $107/night and the includes the Resort Fee. (This is normally an additional $44.99 per night)


For additional questions, please contact the Pathways Conference Team at:

RA-CD-Pathfinder@pa.gov


2025 Pathways Agenda and Workshops


Attention VOJO Programs - VOJO Lapsing Funds Please Don't Forget To Use Your VOJO Funding By June 30,2025


Recipients of Fiscal Year 2024 VOJO (VJ) funds, denoted on your Award Letter as:

 

2024 VJ Award Amount $ XX

2024 VJ Project Period 1/1/2025-6/30/2025

 

OVS would like to remind subrecipients that VOJO funds not expended or obligated from the above funding source by June 30, 2025, will lapse.

 

As necessary, Project Modification Requests may be filed to avoid a lapse in unspent VOJO funds. Programs are encouraged to file a modification request by June 1st to ensure proper processing time by PCCD.

 

Any outstanding obligations as of 6/30/2025, should be reported in the Outstanding Subgrantee Obligations column on the fiscal report for the period ending 6/30/2025. An interim fiscal report will need to be submitted once the reported Outstanding Subgrantee Obligations are paid. A remark must be included noting the reported expenditures were attributable to the period 1/1/2025-6/30/2025.

 

Please reach out to the fiscal staff person listed on your grant should you need assistance. 


RASA/VOJO Quarter 1 Program Reports Due April 20,2025


Quarterly Program Reports for the 2025-2026 RASA/VOJO Funding Cycle are due April 20, 2025, covering the period January 1, 2025, through March 31, 2025. Please note that April 20th falls on a Sunday so please consider filing the report ahead of time.

 

Below are instructions and important reminders concerning the program report.  


NEW THIS QUARTER!

 

  • In Quarter 1, all victims are considered “New” victims. The number of new victims will be the same as the total number of victims served during this reporting period.

 

  • Programs are now required to use the RASA_VOJO 2025 Program Report Worksheet below for programmatic reporting. A copy of this worksheet is found in Egrants when initiating a new RASA/VOJO program report.

 

Please note there is no change to the data Victim Services Programs will collect and report on for approved RASA and VOJO activities. Thus, the methodology (i.e. database) used to store RASA/VOJO victim information and data is not affected by this change. 



RASA/VOJO 2025 Report


The worksheet has three (3) tabs located at the bottom left corner of the spreadsheet.


  • The first tab is the Instructional tab.
  • The second tab is the RASA Quarterly Report worksheet.
  • The third tab is the VOJO Quarterly Report worksheet.
  • Please complete the tab(s) according to approved grant activities. The worksheet has built-in features to include auto-calculation and error messaging to ensure accuracy and save time.
  • Once the worksheet is complete, please attached the form to the "Attachments Section" of the Egrants program report. When doing so, you will see the phrase, "Description is required to enable save button." Please identify the worksheet with the name of your program. Choose the "Select Attachment" button and select the file (worksheet) for upload and then select, "Save Complete."


In using this worksheet, data is no longer to be entered into these Egrants sections of the report:


  • RASA Victims Served - Adult System
  • RASA Victimization Types - Adult System
  • RASA Demographics - Adult System
  • RASA Services - Adult System
  • VOJO Victims Served - Juvenile System
  • VOJO Victimization Types - Juvenile System
  • VOJO Demographics - Juvenile System
  • VOJO Services - Juvenile System


REMINDERS: 

 

  • Please click “No” on Main Page where it asks if you’d like to make a “Final Report.”



  • You do not need to enter anything in the “Briefly List Activities Conducted During This Period” Section on the main page of the report. You may simply enter “Not Applicable” in this section on the main page of the report and save it. 

 

PCCD CONTACT INFORMATION:

 

It is very important to submit your program report in Egrants by the due date of April 20, 2025. If for any reason you are unable to enter your report data and submit the report by the due date, please contact the assigned Program Staff Contact listed for your grant in the Egrants system. 

 

  • Quarterly fiscal reports for RASA and VOJO grants will also be due in Egrants by April 20, 2025. If you have any fiscal report questions, please contact the fiscal staff person listed on your grant for assistance. 


  • If you need technical assistance with Egrants, you may contact the Egrants Support Line at (717) 787-5887 or by email at: RA-eGrantsSupport@pa.gov.

 

STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Survey


PCCD wants your input regarding how we distribute funding under the Federal STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program.


Please take this brief survey.


The data collected will assist Pennsylvania's Statewide STOP Implementation Planning Committee as it develops Pennsylvania's 2026-2029 funding and service priorities for STOP.


If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Novotny-Goles at (717) 265-8735 or nnovotnygo@pa.gov



Recordings Of PCCD's Consolidated Standards Are Available On PCCD's YouTube Channel


Pennsylvania has long been considered a leader when it comes to the OVS Consolidated Standards, in their design to deliver quality services and programming led by skilled advocates and staff.


To better inform the field, OVS has launched a series of recordings that walk program staff through each of the standards. These are short recordings, up to thirty (30) minutes in length, available on PCCD’s YouTube Channel: PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency (PCCD) - YouTube. Each recording counts toward OVS annual training requirements. Staff may listen to any number of recordings as they are released. 


The Standards are meant to be a guide for victim service professionals to promote excellent service delivery and to ensure the uniformity of services. The Standards provide the minimum expectations for service provision and ensure professionalism in a wide variety of victim service practices. 


The following recording is now available on PCCD’s YouTube Channel: 


Crime Victim Grievance Standard

AskEverytown


An AI-powered chatbot that provides in-depth answers on gun violence statistics, laws, and more.


Please click here to access.

As A Leader In The Anti-Violence Field, How Can I Build My Capacity To Navigate A Major Crisis Impacting My Organization, Staff, And The Survivors That We Serve?


Crises are often inevitable, and every organization endures some upheaval at some point in their lifecycle. How leaders in our movement navigate a crisis will determine the impact of such crises on the organization, as well as the advocates they employ and the survivors they serve.


Please click here to read.

What Generation Is Most Affected By Gun Violence?


Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that one age group is bearing a disproportionate share of our national gun violence crisis.


Please click here to read.

Gun Orders Rarely Use Firearms For Self-Defense


A Rutgers Health report finds that under 1% of gun owners use their weapon defensively each year.


Please click here to read.

Harrisburg's Remarkable Woman For 2025


Tiffiney Hall, a survivor of domestic violence is inspiring others and is Harrisburg's Remarkable Woman for 2025.


Please click here to read.

Upcoming Trainings & Events

Trauma Informed Interpretation


April 14, 2025

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm


Interpreters in victim services settings face unique challenges when navigating trauma-affected communication, which can compromise accuracy and potentially undermine victims' autonomy, decision-making, and safety.


This training covers topics such as the principles of trauma-informed interpretation, emphasizing victim autonomy and adherence to established Guiding Principles. Participants will learn the importance of accurately interpreting graphic content without alteration, understand the impact of trauma on communication, and explore ways to navigate cultural differences while maintaining professional boundaries. Finally, the training affirms the emotional and psychological impacts of working in this field, providing strategies to prevent vicarious trauma and preserve long-term emotional well-being for the interpreter.


Please click here to register.

Understanding Violence Against People with Disabilities and Deaf People


April 29, 2025, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm


People with disabilities are at significantly higher risk of domestic and sexual violence than those without disabilities. Survivors often face more frequent, prolonged abuse and multiple perpetrators. In this webinar, Activating Staff will explore the unique experiences of people with disabilities and Deaf Individuals - from the violence they face to the barriers in accessing criminal justice systems and victim services - and share strategies to improve responses and outcomes for these survivors.


Please click here to register.

Trauma Informed Care For Hospital Personnel & STOP Teams


May 29, 2025

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.


Overview

Sexual violence is a widespread public health issue with significant short and long-term health consequences. This webinar will focus on trauma-informed approaches for healthcare personnel to improve the coordination and care of acute sexual assault victims, as well as the relevance of these approaches in the context of all patients who may have a history of sexual violence.

 

It’s important to note that not all hospitals have forensic nurses available 24/7. This webinar will strive to increase the number of hospital staff trained on how to address sexual harm by incorporating six basic principles of trauma-informed care.

 

We will also share additional resources to assist with continued staff development aimed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to provide a safe and supportive environment to victims of sexual violence.

 

Speaker:

Dr. Tracey Vogel is an obstetric anesthesiologist in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received her MD degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed her anesthesia training at Stanford University in California. 

 

She received certification as a Sexual Assault Counselor at Allegheny County’s Rape Crisis Center PAAR (Pittsburgh Action Against Rape) several years ago, where she started her work in medical advocacy and education for adult survivors of sexual trauma. This education has inspired her to initiate programs to promote medical “centers of excellence” in providing trauma-informed care for obstetric patients.

 

​Her hospital-based work also includes involvement with quality assurance processes, education and training of nurses, residents, and medical students, and creation of care plans for high risk obstetric patients including those with prior sexual trauma, opioid tolerance and substance use disorders, and mental health concerns. 

 

Dr. Vogel is part of the governor’s HEAL PA Taskforce seeking to make Pennsylvania a trauma-aware state.

 

Objectives

  • Provide a clear explanation of trauma-informed care principles and their relevance in the context of sexual assault.
  • Demonstrate how to incorporate trauma-informed approaches into routine care, focusing on communication, empathy, and creating a safe environment.
  • Highlight the importance of coordinating with other professionals involved in the care of sexual assault victims, including law enforcement, victim advocates, and mental health professionals.

 

Target audience: physicians, RNs, APRNs, FNEs, and all hospital personnel that may interact with victims of sexual violence; advocates, law enforcement, and prosecutors.

 

This activity will be submitted to the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association Approver Unit is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.


Please click here to register.

Foundational Academy


July 23 - 25, 2025

All Academies are held in-person (with no virtual or hybrid option) at:

The Graduate Hotel

125 South Atherton Street

State College, PA 16801


Registration is free and hotel rooms, parking, and lunch are included. Participants are on their own in the evenings.


Registration for the July Academy will be open May 27-29, 2025 under the PDAI Training Calendar at www.pdaa.org. The information will also be distributed via email. Trainings are listed by date; you will need to scroll down to July to find the information. It will not be listed at the top with the Save the Dates.


Applications will be accepted for the above three days only. During this time, those who wish to attend the July Academy will be asked to apply for a spot. Information on funding and length of time at agency must be completed as part of this process. Registrations are no longer automatic. Instead, applications to attend will be prioritized by, but not limited to, length of time at agency and grant requirements. Applicants must be able to attend all 3 days of Academy in its entirety, as well as complete additional online work.


Once prioritized, the top 55 applicants will be notified of their acceptance into Academy. All others will be place on the priority waitlist and notified of such. The selection process will take up to 2 weeks. All pending applicants will be contacted as soon as the lists are finalized.


Additionally, Academy spots are only for those VOCA, VOJO, and RASA-funded individuals for whom attendance is required per PCCD's Consolidated Victim Services Standards. And finally, only 8 staff members per agency can apply for each Academy.


The final Academy for 2025 will be held on November 19 - 21, 2025.

Victims Compensation Assistance Program Online Trainings


The following trainings will be held April 15, 2025

  • Funeral & Burial Expenses Clinic - 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Loss of Earnings Clinic - 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.


The following trainings will be held April 24, 2025

  • Basic Compensation - 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


The following trainings will be held April 28, 2025

  • Stolen Benefit Cash Expenses Clinic - 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Crime Scene Cleanup Expenses Clinic - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


The following trainings will be held May 7, 2025

  • Counseling Expenses Clinic - 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Relocation Expenses Clinic - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


The following trainings will be held May 15, 2025

  • Loss of Support Clinic - 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Myths of Compensation - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 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.


PLEASE NOTE THE REGISTRATION PROCEDURE HAS CHANGED (AS OF JULY 1ST):


1)   Go to pccd.webex.com (click Modern View in the top right-hand corner)

2)   Click on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner

3)   Select “WebEx Training”

4)   Click on the “Upcoming” tab.

  

Please click here to register.


Employment Opportunities

Please click here to view current employment opportunities.

The next OVS Newsletter will be published on April 23, 2025. 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 April 16, 2025.

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