MEDIA RELEASE__Crime Victim Services is pleased to announce the receipt of a $10,000 grant from the Ar-Hale  Family Foundation in support of its Court Appointed Special Advocates’ program. 

Driven by a commitment to ending violence and oppression, Crime Victim Services (CVS) is a community of advocates and change makers. Our mission is to create safer communities and advocate with integrity through anti-violence education and victim-centered services. And  we’ve been living out that mission since 1981. 

As a comprehensive victim service agency with nine distinct programs, Crime Victim Services  advocates forand supports over 4,000 victims and survivors, and educates over 3,000 students and community members on anti-violence strategies annually. 

Since 2009, the CASA program of Crime Victim Services has served as a powerful voice for children who have experienced abuse, dependency or neglect and are navigating the child welfare system. Since program inception, CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties has advocated for more than 1,600 local children, ensuring that their best interests are heard and prioritized  during some of the most critical moments of their lives. The program is driven by highly trained,  active community volunteers who are appointed by the Juvenile Court to gather information and speak on behalf of the youth throughout the case.CASAs aim to ensure children find safe, nurturing and permanent homes. 

“Crime Victim Services is extremely grateful for the generous financial support of our  programming from the Ar-Hale Family Foundation,” says Executive Director, Amy Wiechart Bayliff.“Creating safer communities is the responsibility of all of us, and we appreciate the  Foundation’s recognition of the impact that an advocate can have for a child who has  experienced trauma. Their support moves our mission forward and enables us to train and  support more volunteers so that we can provide an advocate for every child that needs one in  our community.” 

For more information about Crime Victim Services, visit: www.crimevictimservices.org