Imagine that your child has just disclosed sexual abuse. Or your partner. Or your friend. Or your coworker. A million questions come up. Your face gets flushed. Your heart pounds. Where to begin?
Thankfully, our community has a resource for that. Pennsylvania’s 47 rape crisis centers provide lifesaving services to all 67 counties, including counseling, medical advocacy, legal accompaniment, prevention education, and 24/7 crisis response. For now…
Last year’s budget impasse revealed some cracks in PA’s sexual assault response system. Centers closed their doors, shut down hotlines, and cut staff positions. Survivors faced waitlists, while advocates and therapist juggled too many referrals and not enough time to meet the needs
Supporting Survivors Improves Outcomes for local victims. Trauma symptoms dropped 32% for adults and 64% for children who completed trauma therapy at SARCC. We offered 1400+ nights of supported housing and 4500+ hours of direct services support at no cost to victims. Yet, SARCC has had to cut 7 full-time positions since 2022. Demand rises, while funding falls.
- Adequate funding ensures survivors of crime get access to immediate crisis support, safety planning, counseling, and legal advocacy.
- These services reduce trauma symptoms and help individuals regain stability and independence.
- Sexual assault programs in PA served over 25,000 Pennsylvanians last year alone. 5,852 were child victims.
Victim Services Reduce Long-Term Costs to our community. Early and effective support can reduce long-term costs to the health care system, reduce repeat victimization, and help survivors stay in school or at work. Preventative and support services often cost less than dealing with the consequences of untreated trauma.
Services like medical and legal system advocacy, counseling, trauma therapy, and basic needs support help families stay safe and functional. Communities with strong support infrastructure can recover better after crime.
Other types of first responders have alternatives to funding the need for services. Community-based police units are paid for through municipal taxes. Hospitals bill insurance. Victim advocates are a basic right in PA but rely on state and federal allocations to fund these crucial services. Many sexual assault and abuse survivors face barriers to services because of income, language, disability, or geography. Rural communities are at a severe disadvantage in accessing supportive services.
Adequate budgets help ensure services are available statewide, including in rural and underserved areas. Funding cuts over the past 4 years at federal levels are creating significant deficits in these programs, with many providers at a breaking point. Sexual assault services programs are by the community, for the community, and in the community. These programs are run by highly trained professionals who are living in and raising their own families in the communities they serve.
States have responsibilities under federal and state laws to provide certain services and support (e.g., victim compensation, notification, advocacy support, and victims rights). Investing properly helps Pennsylvania comply with and protect residents’ rights. Don’t put sexual assault programs in the position of having to choose which victim gets help after experiencing sexual violence.
