CLEARFIELD – An unprecedented funding increase will benefit Clearfield County’s Victim Witness program, said Margie Rosselli, the program’s coordinator, at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting.
The county’s three-year Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant allocation will be $276,603 for July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2019, she said.
According to her, it will allow the Victim Witness program to enhance its direct services to victims of all crime that focus on emotional and physical needs. This, she said, helps the victims to stabilize their lives after victimization.
Direct services, Rosselli said, include the victims’ compensation assistance program, claims assistance, personal advocacy, crisis counseling, supportive counseling and follow-up counseling, criminal justice support and advocacy and other case management.
“Direct services are provided at no cost to the victim,” she said. She also pointed out that these services are provided by three Victim Witness staff members in Clearfield County.
She added that “Helping victims and their families through is our top priority.” She mentioned that the program would like to now consider additional options, such as sending staff to out-of-county trainings, building its lending library of books, etc., to help victims through their journey of recovery.
Rosselli said the funding increase was the result of President Barack Obama signing into law to continue the appropriations act. She said it allowed for raising the cap on annual expenditures from the federal Crime Victims Fund.
Commissioner Tony Scotto said they appreciated the efforts of the Victim Witness program. He felt the funding increase would allow the Victim Witness staff to enhance their services and add a personal touch.
Rosselli presented the commissioners with VOCA grant application, which was approved by the commissioners, 2-0. Commissioner John A. Sobel was absent from the meeting.