HARRISBURG, PA- At a press conference today at the State Capitol, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced $250,000 in federal funding he secured for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR). The funding will be used for the Hero Program that engages adults in reporting and intervening in child sexual abuse.
“I am proud to be here today to announce $250,000 in much-needed funding for an organization that is doing vital work fighting violence against women and children,” said Senator Casey. “One of the most chilling statistics you will hear is that 22,000 children a year in Pennsylvania are victims of sexual abuse.”
“Through the HERO PROJECT, PCAR calls upon every adult to get involved to learn more about this horrible crime,” said PCAR Executive Director Delilah Rumburg. “HERO asks adults to talk to their peers, their children and call attention to situations where they think a child is being abused. We believe through education, responsible adults will step in and stop the abuse that is occurring in our communities. Thanks to Senator Casey we can now take The HERO Project statewide. Senator Casey has been a long time advocate in protecting our children and communities-both on the state level and as one of our U.S. Senators.”
Senator Casey secured the funding for PCAR and the Hero Project through the FY2009 appropriations process. The funding was included in the FY09 Omnibus appropriations bill that was signed into law earlier this year.
Senator Casey was joined at the press conference by PCAR’s Executive Director, Delilah Rumburg.
In 1998, a group of eight Westmoreland County organizations banded together to encourage adults – parents, relatives, caregivers and acquaintances – to become community heroes by protecting children against sexual abuse. With the leadership of the Blackburn Center Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and Red House Communications, the HERO Project launched a powerful media campaign and 24-hour HERO hotline. In 2003, the HERO Project was evaluated in Westmoreland County and was shown to have been effective in increasing hotline calls by 22%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized the HERO Project as a “promising practice.” HERO has also been piloted in seven additional Pennsylvania counties – Philadelphia, Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon, Clearfield and Lawrence – before being launched on a statewide basis in 2008.
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