Center For Victims

SUPPORTING VICTIMS, HEALING TRAUMA AND CREATING PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES

CENTER FOR VICTIMS (CV) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS SUPPORTING VICTIMS, HEALING TRAUMA AND CREATING PEACEFUL COMMUNITIES. CV IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, INCLUSIVE PROVIDER OF SERVICES, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION FOR VICTIMS OF ALL CRIMES. WITH OVER 45 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, CV IS A ONE-STOP-SHOP WITH ONE MESSAGE, ONE NUMBER TO CALL, AND ONE DOOR FOR PEOPLE TO WALK THROUGH TO GET THE BEST COMBINATION OF SERVICES TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.CENTER FOR VICTIMS OFFERS A FULL CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND PROVIDES CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY, GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY AS A: - COMPREHENSIVE CRIME VICTIM & WITNESS ASSISTANCE CENTER - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EMERGENCY SHELTER, HOUSING & COUNSELING CENTER - RAPE CRISIS / SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER - COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM - COMMUNITY MEDIATION, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND OUTREACH CENTER - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION & ADVOCACY CENTER INCLUDING THE HEALING RIVERS PROJECT SERVICES INCLUDE:CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: 24 HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EMERGENCY SHELTER AND HOUSING, OFFENDER RELEASE NOTIFICATION, LEGAL ADVOCACY AND COURT ACCOMPANIMENT, MEDICAL ADVOCACY, CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY, CANINE ASSISTED ADVOCACY, CRISIS COUNSELING AND THERAPY, PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER ASSISTANCE, AND VICTIM'S COMPENSATION ASSISTANCE. CV ALSO PROVIDES CRISIS RESPONSE WHEN AN INCIDENT OF VIOLENCE AFFECTS LARGE GROUPS OR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.CRIME AND VIOLENCE HAVE A RIPPLE EFFECT; NOT JUST AFFECTING THE VICTIM BUT THEIR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, CO-WORKERS, NEIGHBORS, AND SOMETIMES-ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. UNRESOLVED TRAUMA, GRIEF AND LOSS CAUSED BY VIOLENCE AND CRIME ARE OFTEN UNDERLYING CAUSES OF POOR MENTAL, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL HEALTH. CV ENSURES THAT ALL CRIME VICTIMS CAN EASILY AND READILY ACCESS QUALITY, SEAMLESS, AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES THAT ALLOWS FOR REDUCED CONFUSION IN THEIR TIME OF TRAUMA.COMMUNITY SERVICES: CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MEDIATION SERVICES, COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING, EDUCATION & OUTREACH, INCLUDING THE HEALING RIVERS PROJECT; AN INNOVATIVE TRAUMA EDUCATION INITIATIVE INCORPORATING EXPERIENTIAL WORKSHOPS AND AN INTERACTIVE TRAUMA INFORMED EXHIBIT. CV'S HEALING RIVERS PROJECT, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS PROVIDE VITAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME AND UNDERSTANDING THE PATHWAYS TO WELLNESS. THROUGH MEDIATION, COLLABORATION, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS CV STAFF TEACH AND PROMOTE THE RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AS AN INNOVATIVE LEADER IN THE FIELD OF VICTIM SERVICES AND THE LARGEST VICTIM SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN PENNSYLVANIA, ANNUALLY CV SERVES OVER 17,000 VICTIMS, WITNESSES, AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH VARIOUS PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, CV PROVIDES COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING TO OVER 30,000 INDIVIDUALS.