Victims’ Rights Rally: April 27
Please plan to join us on April 27 for COPCVO’s 17th annual Victims’ Rights Rally. The rally will be held in Harrisburg in the Capitol rotunda, and will begin promptly at 1 p.m.
The theme is 25 Years of Rebuilding Lives: Celebrating the Victims of Crime Act. The rally is a wonderful opportunity to bring attention to the rights and needs of victims of crime and to speak to your state legislators about victim-related issues.
Bikers Against Child Abuse will be holding a rally that day beginning at 11 a.m. Consider coming early and joining their efforts.
Need a Speaker?
Survivor Speakers are Available
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Child Abuse Prevention Month. It’s also the month that we commemorate Victims’ Rights Week. If you or someone in your community is planning a special event, consider using a speaker from the Survivors Speakers
Bureau (SSB).
The SSB has more than 30 highly trained speakers who are available to speak at your event. As you schedule events throughout the year, remember the effect a survivor speaker can have in increasing awareness and impacting your audience.
For more information or to schedule a speaker, contact Mary Walsh at maryw@copcvo.org or (717) 571-5292.
Victims Rights Compliance Project
The Victims Rights Compliance Project (VRCP) is working to increase awareness of the rights of victims and to design strategies that will support compliance … on everyone’s part … with the law. The VRCP has four objectives:
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- To tell victims of crime what their rights are
- To make sure all victims of crime receive their rights
- To establish a way for victims to tell someone they have not received their rights
- To help victim service professionals and related agencies as they work to provide services to victims of crime
As the project got underway, stakeholders and allied professionals requested the collection of more empirical data. COPCVO engaged Abt/SRBI, an internationally recognized research firm, to conduct the 2008 Pennsylvania Crime Victims Rights Survey. The survey was administered to a randomly selected sample of Pennsylvania residents who were victims of a major crime in Pennsylvania within the last three years. Results from the draft report include:
- 56% reported being informed of their rights
- 43% reported receiving information about victim services
- 39% said they were/are being kept informed about the investigation
- 32% said they were informed of their right to restoration of pre-crime economic status
To continue the data collection, COPCVO has contracted with Appriss (the firm that provides SAVIN) to administer a survey that will collect ongoing data about victim rights. Survey participation is optional and can be accessed in several ways: a weblink from SAVIN, from local agency websites and from the websites of PCCD, COPCVO, OVA and other state-level agencies.
Ten programs began piloting the survey in mid-March. We will invite more programs to participate at the conclusion of the three-month trial period.
The Victims Rights Compliance Project has established a website designed as a resource for victims of crime in Pennsylvania. Check out the website at www.pavictimsrights.org.
For more information about the Victims Rights Compliance Project and the data collection, please contact Mary Walsh at maryw@copcvo.org or (717) 571-5292.
The Victims Rights Compliance Project is a project of the Victims’ Rights Subcommittee of the Victims’ Services Advisory Committee.
Need Help? Call COPCVO for Technical Assistance
Are you struggling with writing and implementing your new standards? Do you have questions about training, staffing or working with clients?
COPCVO provides technical assistance to all crime victim programs in Pennsylvania. The consultants responsible for conducting your PCCD monitoring can also provide technical assistance.
If you are a new manager, director or supervisor who has questions about managerial issues, COPCVO also offers technical assistance to support you in your new role.
If you need technical assistance, aren’t sure who to contact or have questions, please contact COPCVO.
For program assistance: Billie Jo Matelevich-Hoang, bhoang@copcvo.org or (717) 805-3885.
For managerial assistance: Mary Walsh, maryw@copcvo.org or (717) 571-5292.
Training Opportunities
Succession Planning and Mentoring: On May 19, COPCVO will be offering training for managers, directors and supervisors on succession planning and mentoring in the victim services field. Speakers from the Pennsylvania Association of Non-profit Organizations will be sharing their expertise on these topics.
The training will be held in Harrisburg. Registration is free for COPCVO members and $25 for non-members. For more information or to register, please contact Billie Jo Matelevich-Hoang at bhoang@copcvo.org or (717) 805-3885.
In-Service Opportunities: Are you interested in learning more about the Crime Victims Act or the Victims Rights Compliance Project? COPCVO is available to hold an in-service session for your staff or attend a board or management meeting to provide you with helpful information. COPCVO recently participated in in-services at Huntingdon House in Huntingdon, and for Mercer County Victim Services and AWARE, Inc. in Mercer County. We would be happy to come to your organization. For more information, contact Mary Walsh at maryw@copcvo.org or (717) 571-5292.
Training Update
Corrections Reform: On February 9, 2009, more than 100 advocates attended training on the Corrections (Prison) Reform Package. The training pertained to the legislation (PA Acts 2008-81, 82, 83 and 84) that created or modified victims rights and services at the state and county levels. The legislation impacted district attorneys’ offices, county courts, the Office of the Victim Advocate, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, among others.
COPCVO, in partnership with the Office of the Victim Advocate, provided this free, one-day training. To review general information on these new laws, PCCD has created a website. If you were not able to attend the training, but need information on the new laws, contact Billie Jo Matelevich-Hoang at bhoang@copcvo.org or (717) 805-3885.
Management Training: On December 16, 2009, more than 30 victim service providers attended a COPCVO training focusing on management issues. Advocates left the training with new skills and ideas on topics such as supervising staff, writing policies and procedures, and conducting an employee evaluation.
Speakers Bureau: In December, 10 survivors participated in training to become part of the Survivors Speakers Bureau. Participants received training on public speaking, communication skills and working with the media. If you are interested in having a survivor speaker at an upcoming event, please contact Mary Walsh at maryw@copcvo.org or (717) 571-5292.
Templates Help Advocates Meet PCCD Standards
PCCD has provided templates of forms, letters and policies to help victim service programs meet the requirements of the PCCD Standards for Victim Service Agencies. Click here to access the templates.
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What’s Your Membership Status?
COPCVO members, just a reminder that it’s time to renew your membership! If you are not currently a member, please consider a membership this year. Benefits include free training, networking opportunities, and a weekly or biweekly legislative update. Cost of membership is $25 for individuals and $75 for organizations. Complete your membership form on our website.
What’s Your Favorite Color?
Most people have a favorite color. Now it’s time to give COPCVO a color. Our first fundraiser for 2009 is Pick a Color for COPCVO. For a small donation, you can vote on the color of COPCVO’s ribbon to be used as part of our publicity campaign.
Will it be green, blue, rose or silver?
- For $1, you get one vote.
- For $5, you get three votes.
- For $10, you get 25 votes.
- For $25, you get 100 votes.
To participate, go here.
Mark Your Calendars
April 27, 2009
COPCVO Crime Victims Rights Rally
1 p.m., State Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA
May 7, 2009
KCIT Simulation
Center for Victims of Violence and Crime, Pittsburgh
Lynn Feldman, (215) 343-6543, kcit@novabucks.org
May 19, 2009
COPCVO Training: Succession Planning and Mentoring
Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
Billie Jo Matelevich-Hoang, (717) 805-3885, bhoang@copcvo.org
August 8, 2009
KCIT Simulation
Holiday Inn, New Cumberland, PA
Lynn Feldman, (215) 343-6543, kcit@novabucks.org
September 9-11, 2009
National Sexual Assault Conference
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, VA
September 24-25, 2009
PCADV Statewide Conference for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Homicides
Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
October 8, 2009
KCIT Simulation
Holiday Inn, Grantville, PA
Lynn Feldman, (215) 343-6543, kcit@novabucks.org
November 18-20, 2009
Pennsylvania Pathways for Victim Services
Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA
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