RASA/VOJO 2026 (Year 2 Project) Applications Are Due August 22!

One-year, continuation applications for the Rights and Services Act (RASA) and Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) 2025-2026 Non-Competitive Funding Announcement are now being accepted. The deadline to submit a continuation application in E-grants is Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:59pm.  

Continuation applications are open only to subrecipients who currently have a 2025 Award via the RASA/VOJO 2025-2026 Non-Competitive Funding Announcement. OVS will contact each District Attorney for completion of the required 2026 funding recommendation forms. District Attorneys are asked to send a copy of the completed funding recommendation forms to the local victim services program(s) for completion of the application. Any changes to RASA and/or VOJO funding distribution for 2026 will be recommended by the District Attorney and considered for adoption by the Victims Services Advisory Committee (VSAC).

Please utilize the following resources for assistance with your application:  

• The E-grants Help Desk is available to assist with technical or system questions Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM and may be reached by calling (717) 787-5887 or (800) 692-7292, or by emailing RA-egrantsSupport@pa.gov.
• Questions concerning the completion of the continuation application outside of E-grants technical issues may be directed to the PCCD Program and/or Fiscal Contact assigned to the 2025 RASA/VOJO Grant.

• Additional grant application and administrative guides may be accessed on PCCD's website here.

Please Note: 2025 RASA and VOJO funds with the Year 1 project must be expended by December 31,2025.

A Creative Battle Against Gun Violence

In the latest report from the city's battle against gun violence, a collaborative effort with the Clean Air Council unveils that improvements to our surroundings- may just be a piece in solving the complex puzzle of urban violence.

Please click here to read.

Building A SAFeR System: Preventing Tragedy In Child Custody Outcomes

When the justice system fails to protect its most vulnerable, the effects are tragic. On June 2, 2025, the bodies of three young sisters-were discovered, murdered, in a Washington campground. They were killed on a scheduled, court-ordered custody visit with their father. Their deaths are part of a troubling pattern in which signs of danger are either not recognized or ignored, with fatal consequences.

Please click here to read.

When Abuse Survivors Are Shamed For Speaking Out

Shaming survivors is a common form of scapegoating used to maintain control.

Please click here to read.

Will I Be Detained? Immigrants Fear ICE Arrest If They Report Domestic Violence

Advocates for immigrant domestic violence survivors say they're avoiding police, courts and even shelters out of fear ICE will deport them.

Please click here to read.

They Came To Addiction Treatment Centers Seeking Help. Instead, They Were Harassed And Assaulted.

This episode of Reveal investigates sexual misconduct in the addiction treatment industry.

Please click here to access

Consolidated Standards Training Videos

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. Each recording counts toward OVS annual training requirements. Staff may listen to any number of recordings as they are released. 

All videos can be found on PCCD's Consolidated Victim Service Program Standards webpage, with the latest video, Crisis Intervention, now available.

RASA/VOJO Regional Meeting - August 14, 2025 (Western Region)

The Office of Victims Services (OVS) is pleased to announce a regional meeting as a part of our 2025 Quarterly Meeting series for staff working within the Rights and Services Act (RASA) and Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) funding streams. All advocates and staff connected to RASA and VOJO programs are welcome to attend. This meeting offers the opportunity to meet and network with colleague advocates and staff, to learn more about RASA and VOJO supported activities in other counties, and relevant topics and common questions associated with procedural services. 

This meeting counts toward PCCD/OVS annual training requirements for RASA/VOJO Project Staff. 

Please register here for the meeting. Registration for the Western Region Meeting/Clearfield Co. location will close July 31^st.

Western Region Meeting

Thursday, August 14, 2025

10:00am-1:00pm

Event will be held at the Copper Cork Event Center: 512 Arnold Avenue, Clearfield, PA 16830

Questions? OVS Contact for this meeting is: Maria Katulis (mkatulis@pa.gov or 717.265.8741)

Note: Registration occurs on a first come, first serve basis with a maximum of twenty-five (25) participants allotted for the meeting. Registrants will be notified by email of a confirmed reservation along with other meeting logistics and details. OVS will create a participant waitlist in the event of cancellations.