Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, Inc.

11/02/2026

Mary Onama, LMSW, VSC's executive director, expresses our gratitude for Forensic Nurses. Thank you for supporting survivors with your kindness, compassion, and skill.

10/31/2026

Gentle reminder from our counseling team--the drop-in support group for survivors of homicide loss meets on November 5 at 6 PM. (By drop-in group, we mean that you can attend whichever meetings work for you.) This group meets virtually on the first Thursday of each month and will continue until April 2027.

To join, please call us at 888-521-0983 or visit victimservicescenter(dot)org/groups.

About this Support Group
💻 We meet in a virtual, HIPAA-compliant format.
🌟 This is free and confidential.
🌏 We are happy to provide interpreter service in 240+ languages.
✅ This group is open to adults ages 18+.
📍 Due to professional practice rules, you must be in Pennsylvania in order to participate.

10/30/2026

Title IX has been in the news recently. Enacted in 1972, Title IX is a federal civil rights law that applies to educational institutions that receive federal funding, including K-12 and post-secondary public, private, and charter schools in the United States.

Title IX prohibits these institutions from denying benefits or treating students differently based on their s*x. It was passed to ensure all students had the same rights and abilities to learn and participate in educational programming, regardless of gender or s*x.

Our counselors and advocates are trained in Title IX. If you need support for yourself or a friend, with a possible Title IX issue, we are here to support you. Call us anytime at 888-521-0983 or visit victimservicescenter(dot)org/get-help to request a callback from our staff. Here is flyer we've been circulating among college students in our community. Please feel free to share with someone who might need this information.

10/29/2026

Dolores Huerta devoted her life to advancing the rights of workers, women, and communities facing injustice. Her advocacy recognized the connections between exploitation, inequality, and s*xual violence.

PCAR, Respect Together, and the NSVRC honor her extraordinary legacy and carry forward the conviction that everyone deserves safety, dignity, and the power to shape their own future.

10/29/2026

Senator Amanda Cappelletti visited us in Norristown and presented a check for $25,000 to support our core service, the 24/7 crisis line. Available at 888-521-0983, this free and confidential resource helps survivors get the help they need when they need it and connects callers with advocates and counselors. It is a lifeline for people who have experienced trauma. We appreciate Senator Cappelletti for her continued commitment to ensuring that residence of Montgomery County receive this critical service. She is a champion for people in crisis and we are grateful for her leadership and support.

From L to R: Lynn Williams, executive assistant, Mary Onama, LMSW, VSC Executive Director, Senator Amanda Cappelletti, and Jessica Carson, Community Education Program Supervisor. Thank you for your support, Senator Amanda Cappelletti!

10/28/2026

Ready to vote for survivor support? Make your plan today!

Learn where candidates stand on funding, prevention, and survivors’ rights. Confirm your polling place, choose a time, and plan how you’ll get there.

On November 3, help choose leaders who will strengthen support for survivors across Pennsylvania.

PA polls: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
In line by 8? Stay in line!

Find your polling place and more voting information: vote.pa.gov

10/27/2026

We love this so much. Ursinus College students show support for survivors

Need to talk?
VSC’s free & confidential 24/7 helpline for victims of crime and their loved ones is 888-521-0083. You can also visit our website to ask for a callback from our staff at victimservicescenter(dot)org.

10/25/2026

NEW RESOURCE: The Pennsylvania Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) has launched a new tool to help victims and survivors of crime better understand whether they *may* quality for compensation.

💻Check your potential eligibility --> https://qualtrics.pa.gov/jfe/form/SV_5zfBrHRqH81ehsW

You are, of course, always welcome to call us for help with your VCAP application. Last year, we helped our clients obtain more than $108,000 in VCAP funding. Our 24/7 helpline is available at 888-521-0983. Interpreter service is available at no cost.

Disclaimer: This tool is a guide, not an application or a guarantee of eligibility. See less

This tool can help you understand if you may qualify for Victims' Compensation Assistance (VCAP) from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania before applying.

10/24/2026

ICYMI: has some coverage here about violence experienced *in school.* We want to remind you that we can help victims of crime who have been hurt in school. We serve victims ages 5+. Feel free to reach out if you need support. We're here at 888.521.0983. Our helpline is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Students ages 12 to 18 experienced higher rates of reported crime at school than away from school in 2024, according to a new federal analysis. But the overall rate of crime victimization at school has not changed significantly since 2014.

10/22/2026

📝 Our Open Letter to Survivors of Campus Sexual Violence

To every student who has experienced s*xual violence, and to the friends and family they trust,

Lately it's been hard to escape the conversation about campus s*xual assault. It's in the news, in your feeds, and maybe in your dorm and campus community.

Too often that conversation questions what survivors did instead of the people who caused harm.

So here's what we want you to know. If something happened that didn't feel okay, it was not your fault. You don't have to name it, prove it, or explain it to deserve support. That's true whether it happened last night or years ago, and no matter your gender or who you are.

You've been getting through this in your own way, and you know what you need better than anyone. We're here when, and only if, you want us. Our support is free, confidential, and separate from your school and Institution. You don't have to report anything or make any decisions. You can call just to ask a question, or to figure out how to cope or support a friend.

Whatever happened, whether it was s*xual assault, harassment, stalking, or harm from a partner, colleague, or acquaintance, you don't have to sort out where to turn. We help with all of it. Our advocates can walk through your options with you and go with you to the hospital, police, or court. Our counselors can support your healing for as long as you need. You stay in charge of every step. If you're outside Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, we'll help you find support near you.

You can reach us 24/7 for free and confidential support at 888-521-0983 or by visiting victimservicescenter.org/get-help.

With care and with solidarity,
The Team at Victim Services Center of Montgomery County