Transitioning Times

Are you a survivor of domestic violence looking to gain more skills in personal financial management? Join us for the Allstate Foundation's "Moving Ahead through Financial Management" course! Click the photo or visit our website at www.transitionsofpa.org  for more information.

November 11, 2014 -Transitions joins in the celebration of Forensic Nurses week, along with the International Association of Forensic Nurses—a nursing association representing more than 3,300 registered nurses and other professionals in 22 countries—that organizes Forensic Nurses Week to celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of professionals in the field as well as raise awareness about the importance of their work. Forensic Nurses Week, celebrated this year from Nov. 10 to 14, has a theme of “Leadership. Care. Expertise.” The week is celebrated internationally though awareness events in local communities and education efforts to teach colleagues about the forensic nursing practice. Forensic nurses all over the world wear lilac (the designated color of forensic nursing) to mark the week. Forensic nurses provide specialized care for patients who are victims of sexual assault. These healthcare professionals are nurses first, but have knowledge of the legal system and expe...

Say Yes to Advocacy!  Say Yes to Education! Say Yes to Shelter!   Say No More to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Please save the date for Wednesday, June 4th, 2014 for Transitions 27th Annual Auction at Susquehanna University. Hors d'oeurves & Silent Auction begin at 6:00 p.m. Wine Balloon Sale throughout the evening. Live Auction, Dessert Dash, and Raise the Paddle begin at 7:15 p.m. Dancing & Fun begin at 8:30 p.m. 

In an effort to increase our name recognition and to more aptly communicate the work that we are doing, we have changed our website from www.svwit.org to www.transitionsofpa.org The entire website has been revamped, thanks to some students enrolled in Bucknell University's Marketing Innovation and Design class. The website now includes a section for Survivor Stories.  If you are interested in sharing your story, please email heather_o@transitionsofpa.org.   If you use email to communicate to staff members, please know that we have also changed our email addresses from @svwit.org to @transitionsofpa.org Thanks again to the many people who worked to improve our website, and I would encourage you to check it out!   www.transitionsofpa.org

Transitions is pleased to announce that we have been selected as an official partner of Payless Gives TM Shoes 4 Kids , an annual giving program from Payless ShoeSource. Transitions is one of 750 charitable agencies representing all 50 states in the United States and will be distributing merchandise certificates for children’s shoes to the families that they serve. Transitions is a comprehensive victim services center that provides advocacy, empowerment and education to victims, survivors, families and communities to end domestic violence, sexual assault and other serious crimes in Union, Snyder and Northumberland Counties.  “We are pleased to partner with Payless Gives TM Shoes 4 Kids again this year to ensure that the children who we help receive a new, properly fitting pair of shoes this holiday season,” Chief Executive Officer, Susan Mathias said. This is the sixth year of the Payless Gives TM Shoes 4 Kids program. Although studies show that properly fitting shoes...

Transitions has released its annual report for 2012-2013.   Some of the highlights of this past year include: ·   Provided 7,927 hours of counseling to 2,668 victims of crime. ·   Partnered with Bucknell University in the development of a Campus Community Response Team for sexual assault, dating violence and stalking victims on campus. ·   Piloted program at White Deer Run Treatment Center for adolescent males focused on primary prevention of sexual violence based on the Bystander Approach. ·   Provided 694 educational programs to 15,754 students in 8 school districts in Union, Snyder and Northumberland Counties. ·   Partnered with Lewisburg High School, Selinsgrove High School and Family Planning to implement Project Connect to identify, promote, and evaluate best practices and policies for addressing adolescent relationship abuse. ·   Provided outreach and educational materials at 104 health fairs and other community wide events. ...

I have always wanted to help people in any way I can. Growing up, my parents spent much of their time helping others, and I saw how important that was to them. I wanted to work in the medical profession to help others, but the idea of needles, blood and gore was too much for me to handle. When I started school I wasn’t sure what type of work I would want to do until I had an experience that changed my life. I was sexually assaulted as a teenager.   At the time I didn’t have any resources to turn to. The only agency I knew about was too familiar with my family, and my abuser was well known to the community. I knew like the people in my life would respond out of anger and make choices that would have negative consequences for them, so I never told anyone what happened. I was more worried about my family and friends, and chose to protect them instead of standing up for myself. In fact, some of my friends were there when the assault happened, yet none of them stopped what they were d...

Transitions is happy to announce Adam H, an intern from Penn College, who has been with us since January will be staying through the summer. My name is Adam H. I have been pursuing an education in the Human Service field at Pennsylvania College of Technology. In May I will be graduating with an associate’s degree and hope to eventually further my education and receive my bachelor’s degree. I have done some volunteer work at the Donald Heiter Community Center in their after school program. I volunteered a day of work at 10,000 Villages in Lancaster and also volunteered at a 10,000 Villages sale that was put on by the school. I have been volunteering at Transitions through an internship at Penn College.   I have also been blessed with the opportunity to help children at the prime stages of their lives at Transitions.

Voyeurism can be a dirty word, especially in light of the stalking victims that we at Transitions see.  However, I am referring to the voyeurism that happens when people allow themselves to be photographed, or when we see something in public that seems like it should occur in private--a fight, a spanking, a scolding, an insult. Time Magazine recently published a photo essay "Photographer as Witness: A Portrait of Domestic Violence."   I would strongly urge you to view this essay.  Its images are powerful, and it has raised some important questions.  Many people making comments have expressed disgust at the photographer for idly standing by while Maggie, the subject, is abused physically, verbally, and emotionally.  How would you respond?  How have you responded?  Have you ever seen something that maybe just didn't "sit right" with you?  Have you ever intervened?  Sometimes, when staff are in the community, we are as...

Today, April 30th, 2012 marks the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  The staff of Transitions has been very busy marking this important month. Staff tied teal ribbons (the official color of sexual assault awareness) to parking meters and restaurant fencing in downtown Lewisburg. On April 4th, a staff member and a volunteer travelled to Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape's annual Advocacy Day.  (PCAR's CEO Delilah Rumburg calling for Pennsylvania legislators to pass HB1264 during PCAR's Advocacy Day at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg.) Chris Mallios, Attorney Advisor for Aequitas: The Prosecutor's Resource for Violence Against Women trained 71 individuals at Susquehanna University at Transitions' annual training event. On April 18th, Susquehanna University held a Health Fair, which was attended by two Transitions Staff members. The Federal Corrections Complex at Allenwood hosted an Emergency Preparedness Carnival on April 25t...

April 22-18, 2012 is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.   Every April since 1981, one week has been designated as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week .   This year’s theme is “Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim.” It is necessary to take this opportunity to remember that every victim may not feel that he or she has rights.   This year’s campaign video focuses specifically on minors who are victims of sex trafficking ,    LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning) youth ,   migrant workers , and   victims of crimes using technology .   A person who is being told, by an offender or their culture, that no one will listen, no one will believe you, may not feel that he or she has rights.   A 14 year old person who has run away from their home may not know that he or she can even report a crime, let alone receive free and confidential support.   He may be told that he cannot report a cr...