FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2020

PCCD Announces Nomination Process for 2020 Governor's Victim Service Pathfinder Awards

Harrisburg, PA. — The Office of Victim Services (OVS) in the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) recently opened the nomination process for the 2020 Governor's Victim Service Pathfinder Awards.  Nominations are due no later than August 31, 2020.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge for the victim service community. It has required victim service agencies to quickly adapt and rethink how they perform their duties to meet the needs of crime victims," Kathy Buckley, Director of the Office of Victim Services said.  "Victim service providers across Pennsylvania have continued to deliver supportive services to victims in their time of need. Please take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of your peers who go above and beyond, not only during COVID-19, but all year long, to help victims of crime and nominate them for the 2020 Governor's Victim Service Pathfinder Award."

Award categories include:

• Survivor Activist Award – Those who have survived being a victim and have used that experience to make an impact within victim services.
  
• Outstanding Student Activist Award – Many students volunteer within their community and are dedicated to helping victims. College campuses have dedicated victim service groups that are doing good work to make an impact on their campus.
  
• Allied Professional Award – Look at the other individuals in your community that work as your partner to help crime victims.  Examples may include the police officer, district attorney or health care professional that goes above and beyond in the service to victims.
  
• Individual Direct Services Award – To the person who simply believes they are just doing their job, but you know they are doing so much more. A counselor, advocate, victim/witness coordinator, etc. These are the professionals that touch the lives of victims daily and go out of their way to help assist and/or empower those in need. 
• Individual Prevention, Education and Outreach Award – The victim service professional that has developed and provided educational programming with enthusiasm for meeting the needs of victims.
  
• Community Services Award – Given to a nominee that has made a visible contribution and impact upon victim services in Pennsylvania.
  
• Individual Organizational Capacity Building Award – To the organization that is committed to enhancing capacity or the ability to fulfill its mission. This is demonstrated through becoming less reliant on government funds and they are ethical and accountable throughout their organization.
  
• Posthumous Award – Awarded to an individual that would have been eligible for any of the above categories, but sadly are no longer with us.
  
• Program Award – Given to a program that has made notable contributions to the community and has a reputation for delivering services within that community. The organization should be a stable, well established entity.