Women’s Resource Center and Victims’ Intervention Program Receive Grant from AllOne Foundation to expand Medical Advocacy Programs
The Women’s Resource Center (WRC) and Victims’ Intervention Program (VIP) received$143,456 in funding from the AllOne Foundation. The partnership and collaboration between healthcare systems, WRC/VIP, and community agencies will support victims/survivors and provide them with critical resources and referrals while providing medical professionals the tools and information necessary to understand the unique dynamics of providing services to victims/survivors of domestic/dating violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking.
The funds received will be utilized to enhance and expand a Medical Advocacy program across a four-county area in Northeastern PA to include an emphasis on sexual assault and human trafficking. Funding will assist in WRC and VIP along with several community partners hosting our first-ever Medical Advocacy Conference on April 1st, 2023. The conference Practice, Partnership Prevention; Connecting Social Determinants of Health to Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking will provide many medical professionals and other community professionals with continuing education units.
The main goal of the collaboration will be to continue to develop and implement efforts to improve the overall healthcare and medical system response to all victims and survivors of sexual violence, a dating/domestic violence, and human trafficking. The program envisions systemic changes in health care provision in relation to victims of these crimes. The WRC & VIP Medical Advocates will conduct outreach to engage local hospitals and healthcare facilities as community partners. Training will be provided for healthcare professionals to assist with screening for domestic/dating violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Resources will be made available along with contact information for referrals to Counselor Advocates.
“This program will continue to enhance the coordination between victims’ services and the medical community to better serve survivors. It’s crucial we increase the community’s knowledge of local resources so they can make appropriate referrals and properly inform patients on where they can turn for help.” Peg Ruddy, Executive Director, Women’s Resource Center
“Victims’ Intervention Program is so grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Women’s Resource Center through the AllOne Foundation project. This project will allow for more training for healthcare professionals, which ultimately provides better services for victims and survivors. This continued partnership with the healthcare field will connect victims and survivors to the holistic and trauma-informed services that they deserve.” Michele Minor Wolf, Executive Director, Victims’ Intervention Program
Photo (Left to Right) Sabrina Hannon – WRC Medical Advocate; Mary Carroll Donahoe; Peter Danchek, AllOne Foundation board, John Menapace, AllOne Foundation board; Peg Ruddy, Executive Director, Women’s Resource Center; John Graham, AllOne Foundation Board; Frank Apostolico, AllOne Foundation Board; Ericka Thaxton- Medical Advocate, Victims’ Intervention Program; and John Cosgrove.
Leave a Reply