Victim Services
“Because no one should be alone in their time of need.”
The Victim Services Program supports and advocates for all persons affected by crime and abuse.
Our goal is to reduce the traumatic impact of victimization by providing comprehensive, trauma-informed services to those who have been victimized, as well as individuals who have been indirectly affected by crime.
Our victim advocates are specially trained to provide assistance to individuals and families through a variety of direct services and collaborative community responses for victims and secondary victims of:
- Domestic and Dating Violence
- Sexual Assault and Abuse
- Other crimes, including – but not limited to – stalking, homicide, robbery, elder abuse, assault and human trafficking
Free and Confidential Services
For more information please call our hotline at 814-944-3585 or 1-800-500-2849.
24-hour Victim Services Helpline
The Victim Services Program offers a 24/7/365 Helpline answered by trained staff and volunteer advocates. Helpline advocates offer compassionate and nonjudgmental crisis intervention, emotional support, safety planning, information, options, community referrals and more to victims, family members, professionals, and first responders. All calls to this hotline are strictly confidential.
Medical and Criminal Justice Accompaniment
Medical accompaniment: Victim Services Program advocates will accompany victims of crime to the Emergency Department, Child Advocacy Center or other medical facility when requested. As part of the accompaniment service, our advocates also provide emotional support, personal advocacy, safety planning, information and referrals, and transportation for clients.
Criminal Justice Accompaniment: Victim Services Program advocates will accompany survivors during police and district attorney interviews, assist in the preparation of victim impact statements and provide on-going support throughout the entire criminal justice process. Legal advocacy services can also be provided for Preliminary Hearings, Pre-Trial Hearings, Trials, Guilty Pleas, Sentencing, and Civil Protection Order Hearings.
Information, Options & Referrals
The Victim Services Program offers a client-centered approach and recognizes that each situation is unique. We believe that survivors have the best sense about the help they need and we provide appropriate referrals to help in the healing process.
Medical and Criminal Justice Support & Advocacy
The Victim Services Program places a high priority on ensuring that survivors are afforded their rights at medical facilities and in the criminal and civil justice systems. The Victim Services Program will advocate with and on behalf of survivors to help ensure that their rights are not violated and that they are not subjected to other adverse actions because of their victimization.
Therapeutic Counseling
The Victim Services Program offers trauma-focused therapy with a licensed-clinical social worker for survivors of crime and abuse of all ages.
Crisis Intervention & Counseling
Our advocates work with individuals and families to help process their experiences, identify their immediate needs related to the crisis and begin the process of regaining a sense of personal power or control.
Safety Planning
Trained advocates can help identify safety risks and protective factors and assist in developing an individualized safety plan.
Support Groups
The Victim Services Program offers weekly support groups to address the varying needs of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Specially trained facilitators provide information, options, support, as well as counseling.
Assistance with Filing Protection Orders
The Victim Services Program operates the Civil Protection Order office located in the Blair County Courthouse. Legal advocates provide assistance in filing Protection From Abuse orders, Sexual Violence Protection Orders, and Protection From Intimidation Orders.
Temporary Emergency Domestic Violence Sheltering
The Victim Services Program provides temporary emergency shelter to those in immediate danger because of domestic violence.
Civil Legal Representation for Domestic Violence Cases
The FSI Justice Project is a civil legal representation office that provides free representation to low-income survivors of domestic violence in civil matters such as divorce, custody, child support and housing among other things.
Community Education & Training
To raise awareness of domestic violence, sexual violence and other crimes, the Victim Services Program offers training, workshops, and seminars to law enforcement, health care professionals, schools, businesses, social service providers, religious organizations, and the community. Topics include: domestic violence awareness and prevention, sexual assault awareness and prevention, signs of abuse, effects of abuse on children, dating violence, elder abuse, and many more.
Batterer’s Intervention Group
Men Helping Men is a group for men who are or fear they may become abusive to their partner or children. It is a 16-week program designed to end the cycle of abuse in relationships. The primary goal of Men Helping Men is to increase victim’s safety by facilitating change in the abuser’s behavior and holding the abuser accountable for changing their patterns of behavior, thinking and beliefs.
Victims Compensation Assistance
The Victim Services Program provides assistance in determining eligibility for crime victim’s compensation and can also assist in the completion of a compensation claim.
Inclusivity Statement: All services of Family Services are available without regard to race, religion, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or socio-economic status. The agency makes accommodations for non-English speaking residents, and those individuals with sensory disabilities who are receiving our services.
