Abuse Network faces cuts in funding
By Kiernan Schalk, Sentinel reporter, kschalk@lewistownsentinel.com
POSTED: June 21, 2008
LEWISTOWN — In recent years the state and federal funding available for the Abuse Network has shrunk to the point where now there is a serious concern about what its budget will look like in the future.
The Abuse Network is a non-profit organization established in the summer of 1984 by volunteers, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence, the Pennsylvania Coalition against Rape, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and The United Way of Mifflin and Juniata counties.
At the federal level, the Abuse Network receives funding from the Victims of Crime Act, which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. The funding for this act comes from the fines and penalties of criminal offenders.
“One of things I like about this fund is that it is not taxpayer driven,” Abuse Network Director Bruce Harlan said.
Even though the funds for the act are not taxpayer driven, Congress determines what organizations to allocate the money to; this, Harlan said, has led to a significant downturn in the amount of funds for the Abuse Network.
Harlan said there are more organizations than ever before that lobby for funds from VOCA, and the Abuse Network, as well as similar organizations, continue to be low on the priority list. In addition, the state funding available continues to shrink as well, for some of the same reasons.
Harlan said these funds are crucial to keep the Abuse Network up and running for victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults, as well as the numerous education programs implemented through the organization.
“We are really lobbying hard for the budget,” Director of Communications for PCADV Judy Yupcavage said of the pending Pennsylvania budget.
“The power is really in their hands ... they need to prioritize. There has to be the political will to push it through,” Yupcavage added referring, to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Yupcavage said in past years Pennsylvania law makers have supported crime victims programs and continue to do so; however, the flip side of that coin is that the cost to keep organizations such as the Abuse Network up and running continues to sky rocket while the money allocated for these programs have been cut or have remained relatively unchanged despite the increase in both cost and need for these types of non-profit organizations.
“People are really struggling to keep their doors open, 365-day programs are hard to keep up and running,” Yupcavage said.
Yupcavage said often times people don’t realize how important organizations such as the Abuse Network are and all the different services they provide to the public.
“It’s a life-altering impact on these peoples lives,” she added.
There are the more obvious services the Abuse Network provides, such as housing and transportation for victims and their families, as well as counseling and educational programs for victims, but the Abuse Network also puts a lot of time and effort into prevention education, which Yupcavage said is a “crucial part” of what they do.
Harlan said in the last 24 years, the Abuse Network has helped 13,000 victims of domestic violence and 3,000 victims of sexual assaults. In addition, the Abuse Network had 1,000 programs offered in the community, reaching 18,000 people, and 1,300 programs in the schools, reaching 65,000 school children.
Yupcavage said reaching the next generation is one of the most important things the Abuse Network and other crime victims organizations do.
“We have to instill in them these values, so they don’t perpetuate the violence,” she said of the educational programs for children. “It’s all free; we don’t charge a cent for it.”
Yupcavage said not only are these programs an important component in preventing future abuse, they make sense economically as well.
“It’s cost effective to invest money up front on prevention,” Yupcavage said, referring to the far more expensive process of treating victims and prosecuting offenders.
For local crime victims services directors, such as Jami L. Glick in Mifflin County and Alicia Seigler in Juniata County, they are all too familiar with the end result of abuse, and hope that the vital services provided to the community by the Abuse Network can continue.
Glick and Seigler are always making referrals for the Abuse Network and believe that services provided by the organization are vital for victims.
Glick said sometimes her office is unable to provide certain services such as transportation or housing, which the Abuse Network can help with.
“I have had women say to me that the shelter is nicer than a hotel,” Glick said of the Abuse Network’s safe house.
Seigler said unfortunately, the Abuse Network is the only organization in Juniata County that helps victims in such a comprehensive way.
“Being a rural community, we are very limited in the services we can provide to victims,” Seigler said. “The support system the Abuse Network provides is great for victims of a traumatic event.”
The Abuse Network is comprised of offices in both Mifflin and Juniata Counties. There are a number of services available. All services are Free and Confidential. The 24 Hour Hotline is 242-2444, and other inquiries should be directed to 242-0715 in Lewistown and 436-2402 in Mifflintown. For more information, visit www.abusenetwork.org.
