October 2, 2024

In This Issue...

Each year, in October, advocates, survivors, and supporters recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). PCADV and the National Network to End Domestic Violence are leading a nationwide campaign for DVAM and GiveForDV to start a national conversation about domestic violence and how we can all contribute to changing the narrative around this overshadowed but fundamental issue.

Please click here to access PCADV Events Page


American Tested 100,000 Forgotten Rape Kits. But Justice Remains Elusive


With untested rape kits piling up across the country, the Department of Justice wanted action - and convictions. Years later, a USA Today investigation finds, many of the same problems remain.


Please click here to read.

The Need For Paid Safe Leave & Model Legislative Language


The Need for Paid Safe Leave & Model Legislative Language is the first product of the Safe Leave Working Group. The document is a resource for policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders that provides key context for the importance of paid safe leave


The Safe Leave Working Group is made up of state, national, and tribal experts and advocates from across policy spaces, based on the principle that paid, protected leave from work is an essential tool for the safety, agency, and economic security of survivors of all types of violence, including gender-based violence and harassment, family and domestic violence, and sexual violence. 


Please click here to read.

Abused In Public Housing Victims Often Face A Long Wait To Move


Federal law under the Violence Against Women Act, requires housing providers to assist in relocating their tenants in subsidized units when they are experiencing domestic violence, but many victims wait for months. A July report from the Government Accountability Office points to a lack of training, little policy direction and red tape as major barriers.



Please click here to read.

School Shooting Damage Lasts For Years, Survivors Tell Panel of U.S. House Democrats


The devasting effects of school shootings continue well after shootings occur, according to survivors, experts and educators who spoke at a recently held roundtable by the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee.


Please click here to read.

Justice Department Announces New Resources To Improve Firearm Background Checks And Reduce Gun Violence


The Justice Department recently announced several actions to improve firearm background checks and reduce gun violence.


Please click here to read.

I'm A Survivor Of Human Trafficking. My Criminal Record Is Not My Fault


Our arrests were related to our exploitation and criminal record relief must be available and accessible to survivors.


Please click here to read.

Things Survivors Wish You Knew Series


"Things Survivors Wish You Knew" is a heartfelt and emotional series, rooted in the voices of survivors of gender-based violence.


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 is pleased to announce a series of recordings that will walk program staff through each of the standards. These are short recordings, up to thirty (30) minutes in length available on PCCD’s You Tube 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 OVS Newsletter will announce new recordings as they are available.

 

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 You Tube Channel:



Outreach Standard

Upcoming Trainings & Events

Human Trafficking & Labor Exploitation: Collaborative Support For Immigration Survivors


October 9, 2024

9:00 am - 4:00 pm


We are pleased to announce a specialized training session on immigrant survivors of human trafficking and labor exploitation. This training will focus on how victim service providers and their agencies can effectively support immigrant survivors by collaborating with both Immigration agencies and Government agencies.


Key Topics Include:

  • Understanding T Visas and their importance for survivors of human trafficking and labor exploitation.
  • Strategies for victim services providers and their agencies to partner with Immigration Agencies.
  • Best practices for working with government agencies to support immigrant survivors.

Join us to gain valuable insights and tools to better support immigrant survivors.

 

The speakers include representatives from HIAS PA, Justice at Work, and the US Department of Labor.

This training will be held IN-PERSON at the Crowne Plaza - King of Prussia, which is directly across the street from the King of Prussia Mall. It is easily accessible from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Schuylkill Expressway/Interstate 76, and just 19 miles from Downtown Philadelphia.

There is no virtual or hybrid option for this training. This is approved for 5 PCCD training hours. 



Please click here to register.

Quarterly RASA Virtual Meeting


October 11,2024

10:00 am- 12:00 pm

Hosted by OVS via Microsoft Teams


The Office of Victims Services (OVS) is pleased to announce a webinar about what advocates working in the adult system need to know about the newly implemented Act 44 of 2023. Act 44 of 2023 introduces significant changes in PA’s probation system.  Among the updates is the addition of the Probation Review Conference which requires notification to crime victims. 


This webinar is for staff working within the Rights and Service Act (RASA) funding stream as Act 44 impacts only the adult criminal justice system. We invite all RASA project directors, advocates, and staff to attend.


Please register here for this webinar: Quarterly RASA Virtual Meeting Registration


Once your registration is confirmed, we will send the meeting invite and link. Registration closes Oct. 4th. For additional information, please contact Maria Katulis at mkatulis@pa.gov.


Optimizing PFAD In Your Jurisdiction


October 18, 2024

12:00 - 1:00 pm EST


Please join the AOPC STOP Violence Against Women Grant Program for a live virtual training to help answer questions you may have regarding using Pennsylvania’s Protection from Abuse Database (PFAD).


Danni Beinschroth, Esq., Legal Services Manager at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV), will be providing an informative virtual presentation about best practices when using PFAD. 

 

Learning Objectives 

 

  1. Identify what PFAD is and why it exists.
  2. Describe the various PFAD access roles and who can have PFAD access.
  3. Distinguish the access levels for PFAD roles and what tasks they are responsible for in PFAD.
  4. Name what agencies to contact when you have PFAD questions or need PFAD training.

Please click here to register.


Please click here to register.


Victims Compensation Assistance Program Online Trainings



The following trainings will be held October 10, 2024.


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


The following trainings will be held October 15, 2024.

  • Medical Expenses Clinic - 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Funeral & Burial Expenses Clinic - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


The following trainings will be held October 23, 2024.

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


The following trainings will be held November 7, 2024.

  • Motor Vehicle-Related Crime Expenses Clinic - 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • "Wow, That's Covered by Compensation" - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


The following trainings will be held November 20, 2024.

  • Stolen Benefit Cash Expenses Clinic - 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Loss of Support Clinic - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


The following trainings will be held December 4, 2024.

  • Counseling Expenses Clinic - 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.


The following trainings will be held December 12, 2024.

  • Basic Compensation - 10:00 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.

Please click here to view current employment opportunities.

Please click here to view current employment opportunities.

The next OVS Newsletter will be published on October 16, 2024. 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, October 9, 2024.

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