LEADING VICTIM SERVICES NONPROFIT ANNOUNCES REBRAND, FOCUSED EFFORT TO ‘DOUBLE DOWN’ ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH AS PANDEMIC EMBOLDENS DOMESTIC ABUSERS
CAPSEA expects calls to their 24/7 victim support hotline to double last year’s totals as demand for trauma support services like emergency housing and counseling spike
Launches charitable giving campaign, asking individuals, businesses and foundations to help spread hope and healing with targeted donations - capsea.org/hope
(ELK/CAMERON COUNTIES, PA) Dec. 7 As domestic abuse incidents rise amid pandemic times, CAPSEA, a 40-year-old comprehensive nonprofit victim service agency serving residents in Elk and Cameron counties, announced bold efforts today to “double down” on victim outreach and to launch a call for the donor support needed to meet the increase in demand despite cancelled fundraising events and diminishing donations.
(ELK/CAMERON COUNTIES, PA) Dec. 7 As domestic abuse incidents rise amid pandemic times, CAPSEA, a 40-year-old comprehensive nonprofit victim service agency serving residents in Elk and Cameron counties, announced bold efforts today to “double down” on victim outreach and to launch a call for the donor support needed to meet the increase in demand despite cancelled fundraising events and diminishing donations.
The nonprofit has identified a critical need for raising awareness for the signs and impacts of domestic violence, and for promoting the services and resources offered by CAPSEA. During the most impactful weeks of year-end philanthropic giving, the organization rebranded and launched a new user-friendly website and social media campaign in a focused effort to improve and expand community and donor outreach.
“People in communities nationwide are suffering in record levels from the isolation, joblessness, addiction and despair caused by this crisis -- and our region is no different. This year, calls to our emergency hotline and emergency shelter demand have doubled and referrals for specialized trauma counseling services have soared,” said Billie Jo Weyant, CAPSEA’s executive director. “Every human being has the right to live a safe and healthy life, free of violence and abuse. Demands for every service in our wheelhouse have skyrocketed, all while event fundraisers have had to be cancelled and corporate donations have dwindled. With the Christmas season and New Year approaching, we know that demand will only increase. We need support from our community now to fill funding gaps in order to meet this historic demand for our services into the new year.”
Many in Elk and Cameron County know a friend, co-worker or loved one who has needed to rely on CAPSEA’s services. In the past year along, the small team at CAPSEA has been able to accomplish the following:
● Answer 1,200 emergency hotline calls to help those experiencing a crisis ○ With calls in the last five months nearly DOUBLING the number of calls the entire year prior
● Answer 1,200 emergency hotline calls to help those experiencing a crisis ○ With calls in the last five months nearly DOUBLING the number of calls the entire year prior
● Provide 1,475 nights of emergency shelter to survivors
○ That’s nearly TWICE AS MANY from the previous year
● Conduct 2,140 hours of counseling support to domestic violence survivors ○ Deliver specialized TIR trauma counseling to 65% MORE survivors in the last five months than the entire year prior, resulting in the wait for an appointment jumping from two day to two weeks.
● Support 1,910 adult and juvenile victims of crime
○ A 165% INCREASE from the previous year
● Serve 350 survivors of domestic violence and 165 survivors of sexual assault
● Help to have 73 Protection From Abuse orders granted, despite court shutdowns and hearing postponements
“It’s essential that we raise awareness to our increased demands so that victims are not left waiting weeks to receive support,” said Weyant. “At a small nonprofit like ours, we make every dollar count, and donations of any amount have a direct impact on the lives of those in need. We are calling on the community to help us raise $5,000 this holiday season in an effort to recoup what was lost from cancelled fundraising events in 2020.”
To understand the impact of the increase in services in real dollars, CAPSEA has put together the following examples of costs and investments needed to continue to serve each person that reaches out to CAPSEA.
To understand the impact of the increase in services in real dollars, CAPSEA has put together the following examples of costs and investments needed to continue to serve each person that reaches out to CAPSEA.
● $60-$90/night - The additional cost needed per person to provide emergency housing at a hotel while our shelter is shut down due to COVID restrictions, all while still paying the utilities and maintenance bills for the shelter.
● $60,000/year - The annual cost to bring on an additional counselor.
● $4,000 - $6,500/session - The cost for hosting a group training session for specialized trauma counselors. For reference, CAPSEA’s lead counselor has attended seven different TIR training and workshop sessions to achieve her current level of facilitation.
● $13,000/year - The needed investment to provide secure, confidential texting capabilities to hotline callers.
● $1,600/year - How much CAPSEA invested to provide HIPAA-compliant video meeting capabilities to those we serve.
● $7,900 - The cost for five CAPSEA employees to receive a smartphone and laptop for secure remote work access - a necessity in the COVID-19 era.
The CAPSEA team is sending out a call for monetary donations, Amazon Wish List items, volunteers, and for new or gently used toys. Those interested in supporting CAPSEA’s mission can visit capsea.org/hope.
The increase in violence during the shutdown has been a shocking revelation in societies who measure related data. In a global study of more than 10,000 people, conducted by nonprofit international aid organization CARE, 27% of women reported increased challenges with mental health during the pandemic, compared to 10% of men. Japan, one of the only countries that measures suicide rates in real-time reported a rise in suicides for the first time in several years.
“Abuse and crime victims come to us in their darkest hour. When they’re struggling to find a way out of a dangerous situation, we are often their last hope. Telling them that we don’t have the capacity to help them is not an option,” continued Weyant. “When you work at a victim services organization you accept that you’re potentially risking your safety, but this year was the first time that we had to ask our staff to possibly risk their health in order to provide victims the support they needed. Now, we’re here to ask individuals, businesses and foundations to help spread hope and healing right now by giving to CAPSEA.”
The increase in violence during the shutdown has been a shocking revelation in societies who measure related data. In a global study of more than 10,000 people, conducted by nonprofit international aid organization CARE, 27% of women reported increased challenges with mental health during the pandemic, compared to 10% of men. Japan, one of the only countries that measures suicide rates in real-time reported a rise in suicides for the first time in several years.
“Abuse and crime victims come to us in their darkest hour. When they’re struggling to find a way out of a dangerous situation, we are often their last hope. Telling them that we don’t have the capacity to help them is not an option,” continued Weyant. “When you work at a victim services organization you accept that you’re potentially risking your safety, but this year was the first time that we had to ask our staff to possibly risk their health in order to provide victims the support they needed. Now, we’re here to ask individuals, businesses and foundations to help spread hope and healing right now by giving to CAPSEA.”
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