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Victim Services Center of Montgomery County celebrates 50 years of advocacy

The organization, a source of support and healing for crime victims, to mark milestone during June 26 event

Mary Onama, on left, executive director of Victim Services Center, and her staff celebrate agency’s 50th anniversary. Pictured are Erin Milbourne, Aidan Baker, Lynn Williams and Elizabeth House. (Photos by Carl Hessler Jr. – MediaNews Group)
Mary Onama, on left, executive director of Victim Services Center, and her staff celebrate agency’s 50th anniversary. Pictured are Erin Milbourne, Aidan Baker, Lynn Williams and Elizabeth House. (Photos by Carl Hessler Jr. – MediaNews Group)
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NORRISTOWN — As the young woman sat in a local hospital nervously waiting for an examination during one of the most stressful times of her life after being sexually assaulted, she found comfort and support from a caring advocate from the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County.

“The advocate stayed with me throughout the forensic rape kit exam explaining to me the exam and my rights,” the woman wrote in a letter, adding the advocate provided her with the agency’s hotline number to call if she had a triggering moment later on. “I had horrible dreams after the attack and called the hotline. The counselor listened and helped me to feel safe.”

The woman recalled that an advocate accompanied her as she reported the assault to police, providing another layer of comfort, and she received ongoing counseling from the agency.

“The counseling I received has enabled me to cope with what has happened to me and reminded me it was not my fault,” the woman said, adding she has “felt seen and heard” by the advocates at the Norristown-based organization. “I am forever grateful for the support and services I received from the agency.”

The woman is one of the thousands of survivors of violent crimes who have found the non-profit agency to be a source of emotional support, healing, advice and encouragement for five decades.

“We are very proud of helping anyone who is a victim, any time in their lifetime. It doesn’t have to be today or yesterday; it can be any time. And the agency is here to help that person throughout that person’s lifetime,” Mary Onama, executive director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, said recently as she reflected on the organization’s 50 years of service. “We help them heal so that they can live their fullest life without the trauma.”

Mary Onama, executive director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, has led the organization for 27 years. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. - MediaNews Group)
Mary Onama, executive director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, has led the organization for 27 years. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. - MediaNews Group)

Onama, executive director for 27 years, explained that many people need the agency’s free services. They include people who are traumatized as a result of violence, people who are traumatized when triggered as a result of childhood abuse, and people who never received services in the past but who, as they age, recall a traumatizing event that happened to them many years ago.

The non-profit organization provides no-cost advocacy and counseling for all who have been affected by sexual violence and other crimes. Advocates accompany victims to court, police stations and hospitals, assist with victim impact statements and victim notification programs. Counselors are available for survivors and their family and friends.

“Victim Services Center has expanded its reach to communities that were very unaware of the existence of this agency, people who have discomfort in talking about victimization. Some ethnic minorities have cultural beliefs that really discourage having conversations about victimization,” Onama pointed out.

“But we have been able to cultivate relationships with different communities by reaching out to their leadership, to faith communities, to help them realize that anyone can be a victim and it’s not their fault, it’s not a shame to get services, and that has been very important,” Onama added.

Mary Onama, on left, executive director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, and Erin Milbourne, direct services supervisor, are preparing for the agency's 50th anniversary event. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. - MediaNews Group)
Mary Onama, on left, executive director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, and Erin Milbourne, direct services supervisor, are preparing for the agency's 50th anniversary event. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. - MediaNews Group)

During the last year, the organization expanded its services to reach out to people with disabilities.

“People with disabilities have the highest risk factor for being victimized. So the agency’s increasing its capacity to serve them is a big milestone during this 50th anniversary year,” Onama explained.

“We have two significant programs we started this year. One is to increase the agency’s services to people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The other is a training program for professionals who work with people with disabilities,” Onama said.

Founded in 1974, the agency is celebrating 50 years of supporting Montgomery County crime victims. To mark the milestone, the agency is hosting a special anniversary event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 26 at the William Penn Inn on DeKalb Pike in Gwynedd.

Governor Josh Shapiro, District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean will be honored during the event for their dedication and commitment to justice, addressing crime and the protection of victims’ rights.

“Fifty years of serving victims of crime is an amazing milestone for this agency. We are very proud of this agency reaching this milestone because it’s very difficult to sustain a non-profit organization that provides vital services in this climate of financial uncertainty,” Onama said.

Erin Milbourne is the direct services supervisor for Victim Services Center of Montgomery County. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. - MediaNews Group)
Erin Milbourne is the direct services supervisor for Victim Services Center of Montgomery County. (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. - MediaNews Group)

Organizers said the event will raise funds to support the agency’s work, so it can continue to provide comprehensive, no-cost services to children and adults in crisis, helping them on their journey to healing and empowerment. Proceeds will go to support victims of all crimes.

Those interested in purchasing a ticket to the event can visit www.victimservicescenter.org/50th

Erin Milbourne, direct services supervisor for the agency, said the milestone is important for several reasons.

“I think it’s a time to celebrate the hard work of so many therapists and advocates and educators and volunteers supporting survivors in Montgomery County and beyond. It’s a celebration of the hard work, but it’s also a time to reflect on victims, their journey, resiliency and healing,” said Milbourne, who has been with the organization for 18 years.

The non-profit organization is funded through various federal and state grants, funds from non-governmental foundations and individual donations.

The impact

From July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, advocates provided services to 1,623 victims and their significant others, accompanying them to court, hospitals, police departments, schools and other area support agencies, according to the organization’s annual report.

The advocacy department received 712 referrals from various police departments and the district attorney’s office. Advocates assisted 128 victims in obtaining $135,536 through the Pennsylvania Victims Compensation Assistance Program.

Thirty victims were assisted with filing for court orders of protection from sexual violence and intimidation.

Eighty-eight victims received in-person accompaniment by an advocate for rape kit exams at hospitals in the county.

The agency provides a 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-888-521-0983. Between 2023 and 2024, the hotline received 1,327 calls from survivors and their loved ones who sought support. There were also 118 online contacts.

A total of 127 clients received intake assessments.

Counselors conducted a total of 753 individual counseling sessions to adult victims and their significant others, according to the most recent statistics. All counselors are trained and state-certified and come from diverse backgrounds, which include psychology, counseling and social work.

Counselors conducted 272 individual counseling sessions with children as part of the organization’s Child Abuse Treatment Program.

The agency also provided 40 law enforcement professionals with training.

“We provide support to our law enforcement community about how to be sensitive to victims when conducting their interviews,” Onama explained. “Our presence in a police interview encourages a survivor to feel more comfortable to tell their story.”

A total of 385 professionals received mandated reporter training from the agency’s educational services department. The agency also partners with schools, faith-based communities and other agencies to provide sexual violence awareness and prevention education and identity theft prevention awareness for senior citizens.

The history

Founded in 1974 as Women Against Rape of Montgomery County by five women, led by Madeline “Matty” Muir, who were concerned about the treatment of victims of rape.

Muir and the other founding members, Margaret Mahon Depiera, Ruellen Booher, Marein Pantizzi and Deborah Kish, fought for crisis centers and special sections for rape victims at hospitals, went to court with women, provided information to doctors and police about evidence collection and developed a collaboration with police and the district attorney’s office, according to officials.

Mary Onama, executive director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, said "Fifty years of serving victims of crime is an amazing milestone for this agency." (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. - MediaNews Group)
Mary Onama, executive director of Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, said “Fifty years of serving victims of crime is an amazing milestone for this agency.” (Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. – MediaNews Group)

“Victim Services Center was started as a result of five women who were volunteers who noticed that there was no service for people who were victims of sexual assault,” Onama recalled. “At that time, it was women only and then over the years, the agency evolved to provide services to men, children and families and expanded its services beyond sexual violence.

“So today, we are a comprehensive crime victim agency and one of the leading agencies in the state,” added Onama, explaining the organization provides advocacy and counseling for victims of sexual violence, child abuse, robbery, physical assault, hate and bias crimes and identity theft.

Today, the agency has a staff of 17, including advocates, counselors, educators and administrators.

Since its founding in the 1970s and during her 27 years at the helm of the organization, Onama has seen more collaboration between victim advocates, police and prosecutors.

“There’s more partnership and there’s more collaboration. There’s more recognition that we need to work together in order to support victims and to facilitate access to justice. We’re on the same team,” Onama said.

Even though the agency has been around for 50 years, there are still some in the community who aren’t aware of the services it offers. Onama recalled one study characterized the agency as “the best kept secret.”

“We don’t want to be a secret. We want people to know we are here. It continues to be a challenge and we would like that challenge to be gone,” Onama said. “Our resources are important, and it needs to be talked about.”

Residents who move to communities in Montgomery County usually know where their police and fire departments and hospitals are, even if they don’t have to utilize them. Onama wants people to be just as aware that the Victim Services Center is in the community.

“I would like everyone in our community to know that the Victim Services Center is a very vital safety net for people in this community who are victims. It is a resource, no different than having your hospital or your fire department. So we want people to know that we are here should you need us or should someone in your family need us,” Onama said.

“My hope is that the agency will continue to be very productive and vital to this community,” Onama said.

For more information about or to donate to the organization, residents can visit the website at www.victimservicescenter.org

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