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 Funds Can Be Used Until December 31, 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

Grantees are able to spend the VOJO funds throughout the January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025, project period. Grantees do not need to submit Projection Modification Requests (PMR’s) to avoid a lapse in unspent VOJO funds. Additionally, grantees are not required to submit an interim fiscal report for Outstanding Subgrantee Obligations.

We apologize for any previous confusion this may have caused.

If you have any questions, please contact your fiscal or program contact listed on your grant. 

National Restraining Order Center

BWJP recently launched the National Restraining Order Center (NROC) - a new, comprehensive Center that expands our work on restraining orders to better serve survivors, advocates, and legal professionals. We believe that this initiative will make a significant impact on the lives of survivors.

Please click here to read.

How Do Therapy Dogs Help Domestic Abuse Survivors Receiving Support Services?

A new study, published posthumously on behalf of John R. Chaplin, professor emeritus at Penn State Beaver, examines the impact of animals at home, in counseling and in court.

Please click here to read.

Emergency Room Visits Reveal The National Toll Of Shootings

A recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could help hospitals better treat firearm injuries - and support staff members.

Please click here to read.

Caring For The Sexually Assaulted Patient When There Is No SANE In Sight

There are many clinical facilities that do not have access to Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) or trained sexual assault examiners to provide expert care to patients across the life span following sexual assault or abuse. As a result, clinicians are often inadequately prepared to address the healthcare and evidentiary needs of this patient population, leading to less effective care being provided to the patient. For some patients, there may be no care provided at all, as they may be turned away.

This training provides clinicians with a greater understanding of the needs of patients that have been sexually assaulted or abused while improving the overall care and exam process for these patients. With the guidance conducted within this training, clinicians are more equipped to provide their patients with trauma-informed, patient-centered approach. Affording the clinician an increased level of comfort with caring for this patient population.

Please click here to access.

Free Training Opportunities For Courts And Allied Professionals

Did you know that there are a variety of free training opportunities and resources on violence against women available through the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC)? These include:

Training Video Database

Sexual Violence E-Learning Page

STOP Formula Grant Funding also supports AOPC's Judicial Scholarship Program which periodically awards reimbursement scholarships to Pennsylvania judges and court personnel to attend national interpersonal violence conferences. AOPC expects to open the scholarship application process this summer. 

To be informed of this, you can subscribe to the AOPC STOP Newsletter.

Any questions or requests for additional information regarding the AOPC STOP Violence Against Women Judicial Training Project may be directed to Ms. Jamie Pizzi at Jamie.Pizzi@pacourts.us.

She Escaped Her Abuser, But Not Before He Buried Her In Debt

According to surveys of survivors of intimate partner violence, up to 99 percent of victims of domestic violence experience some kind of financial injury related to the abusive relationship; this ranges from lost wages from missed work to costs associated with housing instability and the more extreme cases, mass debts accrued by a controlling partner.

Please click here to read.

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: 

Individual Advocacy

Invisible Injuries: Acquired Disabilities From Violence

May 27, 2025

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

In this session, we will explore the complex and often overlooked intersection of violence, trauma, and brain injury. We will also highlight pioneering research in Ohio that examines the connection between brain injury and domestic violence. Finally, we’ll introduce CARE, a trauma-informed, brain injury-aware framework designed to improve awareness, accommodations, and accessibility. You’ll leave with practical, free tools to implement in your organization to better support individuals affected by these issues.

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.

Seen And Heard: Recognizing Child Survivors Of Domestic Violence

Thursday June 5, 2025

1:00 pm

Join us for an informative webinar designed to equip Victim Service Providers and Advocates with the knowledge and tools to support children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence. This webinar will provide insights into the emotional, psychological, and social impacts on children, and offer practical strategies for creating a supportive and healing environment.

Please click here to register.

RASA/VOJO Regional Meetings

The Office of Victims Services (OVS) is pleased to announce two (2) regional meeting opportunities 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 RASA and VOJO program(s) are welcome to attend. These meetings offer opportunities 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.

These meetings count toward PCCD/OVS annual training requirements for RASA/VOJO Project Staff. 

Eastern Region Meeting

Thursday, June 26, 2025                                                    

9:30am-12:30pm

Event will be held at the Penn State-Berks Campus: 1801 Broadcasting Road, Reading, PA 19610

Questions? OVS Contact for this meeting is: Emily Ruzicka at emruzicka@pa.gov or (717) 265-8451

Registration for the Eastern Regional Meeting at the Berks County location will close June 12th.

Please click here to register.

Western Region Meeting

9:30am-12:30pm

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 at mkatulis@pa.gov or (717) 265-8741

Registration for the Western Region Meeting/Clearfield Co. location will open on July 1^st and close on July 31^st. A separate communication and registration link will be sent out for Western Region Meeting on July1st.

Note: Registration occurs on a first come, first serve basis with a maximum of twenty-five (25) participants allotted for each 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. 

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.