Sanctions Funding Concerns
By: Kevin Flanigan
Updated: January 2, 2013
ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP, BLAIR COUNTY - The federal lawsuit filed against the NCAA on Wednesday by the Corbett Administration is of particular interest to some organizations that want to protect the victims of child abuse.
After the Sandusky scandal broke last year, and in light of a couple of other major child abuse investigations in Pennsylvania, a special statewide task force was formed. One member of that state wide panel says that Penn State's $60 million dollar fine could make a significant difference if the money is restricted to Pennsylvania.
Assistant Blair County District Attorney Jackie Bernard was a member of the statewide task force on child protection for the past year. It was that panel's recommendation that part of the $60 million dollar fine should be used to fund a statewide network of child advocacy centers.
The child advocacy centers are seen as a valuable resource because they can provide a number of services at one time, in one place for young victims. But to expand the network of advocacy centers already operating in the state, significant financial resources are needed.
State Senator Jake Corman wants to make sure any Penn State fine is restricted to use in Pennsylvania. While the federal lawsuit filed by the Corbett Administration seeks to wipe out all sanctions including that fine, the Corbett Administration still wants Penn State to fund child abuse protection efforts in the state.
An effort is underway to plan for and establish a regional Child Advocacy Center in Blair County if the funding required can be obtained from the Penn State fine or any other source.
Comments
quoted by Gov. Tom Corbett : "Do sanctions alter history books on Penn State?"
YES. It helps to deter other institutions from enabling, empowering, and covering up sex crimes against innocent children. Corbett's action is very hurtful to the victims of Sandusky and all sex abuse victims, They do not deserve to be dismissed and harmed anymore.
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA, 636-433-2511. snapjudy@gmail.com,
"SNAP (The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 12,000 members. Despite the word priest in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, teachers, Protestant ministers and increasingly, victims who were assaulted in a wide range of institutional settings like orphanages, summer camps, athletic programs, Boy Scouts, etc."
Judy J.
January 2, 2013 at 8:20 pm
