Victim Services seeing more sexual assault clients than expected

Tribune-Democrat - 5/28/2017

May 28--Attention surrounding the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown child sexual abuse scandal has not only affected the victims themselves, but also other individuals who have been assaulted at some point during their lives.

The issue has been prominently discussed from 2013, when allegations were first made that Brother Stephen Baker molested students at Bishop McCort High School, through the release of a grand jury report last year in which the diocese was accused of perpetrating a coverup to protect predator priests, until today.

Victim Services staff members believe it has played a role in the number of people coming to their organization for help.

When making a July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017, fiscal year budget, Victim Services anticipated seeing about 800 sexual assault clients throughout Cambria and Somerset counties. That expected total was already surpassed by the end of February.

"I think that, especially with the media attention that this particular scandal has gotten, this particular issue, we have seen a lot of survivors who aren't even related to this issue who are struggling a lot more because it's constantly brought up and they're constantly being triggered," said Erika Brosig, Victim Services clinical supervisor.

Mike Oliver, executive director of Victim Services, concurred, saying, "It triggers people who may not have even been a victim of that particular scandal. But, with as much as you're seeing it, I think they finally maybe had the courage to try to seek help."

Victim Services offers 24-hours-a-day free and confidential assistance. It provides both counseling and therapy from licensed staff members. "We're not only able to provide those services, but we're able to do it in a really safe, professional way," Brosig said.

She said treatments are "tailored to whatever that person needs."

Brosig encourages victims to seek professional help in dealing with the many issues, including substance abuse and depression, that can arise after being assaulted.

"There are a lot of people out there going through this and feeling like they don't have support and they don't have hope," she said. "I think that's something that our agency can help with. It's just to give people that sense of hope back. ... They have a world of support here waiting to surround them."

Oliver stressed the importance of victims seeking professional care and not just relying on support groups.

"Ancillary services, peer support groups are great, but as an add-on to professional help," Oliver said.

Dave Sutor is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5056. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Sutor.

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