ChesterNewMatterWinter2017 - 33

In Our Community

www.chescobar.org

Support
Crime Victims,
Support CVC
By Christine Zaccarelli, Esquire

T

he first thing I want you to know about the
Crime Victims' Center of Chester County
(CVC) is we sincerely hope that you will never
need to use our services.
For more than four decades, CVC has assisted
individuals, families, and children in surviving and
recovering from the trauma of crime and violence.
During that time, our staff and volunteers have quietly
helped thousands of your friends and neighbors through
what is often one of the most difficult periods of their
lives.
CVC prides itself on our work, our commitment to the
community, and our roots in Chester County. In order
to ensure the long-term sustainability of the agency, last
year the CVC Board of Directors unanimously agreed
to do a top-to-bottom evaluation of the organization's
structure, management, business practices, and overall
operations.
As part of that process, the Board enlisted LaSalle
University's Nonprofit Center to do an assessment;
implement some important organizational updates
and improvements; plus assist in a search for a new,

permanent executive. I am thrilled to have been selected
as CVC's first CEO, starting November 1, 2017. During
this search and transition process, I was immediately
struck by the profound dedication and compassion of the
CVC staff, who continue to provide a multitude of free,
confidential services to victims of crime in
Chester County.
Without a doubt, CVC is an integral and invaluable
part of the criminal justice system in Chester County.
Our services include, but are not limited to:
* Advocacy, court accompaniment, and counseling
for crime victims from all walks of life, including
support for families dealing with the unthinkable
horror of losing a loved one to senseless violence.
* Crime prevention education programs and
workshops for children and teens in our schools,
giving them the tools and knowledge necessary to
combat and deal with risky behaviors, including the
pressures of underage drinking, drug and alcohol
abuse, bullying and intimidation, drunk driving,
sexual and physical abuse, and cybercrime.
* Assistance for children and families victimized by
child sexual and physical abuse through affiliated
groups, individual counseling, support at children's
forensic interviews, and preventative education
in identifying potential predators and dangerous
situations.

Continued on page 34
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