Across the United States, the spread of COVID-19 has affected Americans in ways that we may not have initially considered. A good example is the popular meme circulating on social media that says, “Hey moms! How many times have you yelled, ‘Stop! We cannot go to the emergency room right now!!’??” This highlights just one of the ways that our lives have changed: avoiding the emergency room at all costs, because we know that going there would add to the burden for many hospit

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country and the world, Americans are understandably frightened and filled with anxiety. The social distancing measures recommended by the CDC and the stay-at-home order issued by Governor Wolf for all of Pennsylvania can add to feelings of stress and isolation. Blackburn Center provides essential services to our community, and we remain open in order to continue to provide these services. In this turbulent time, we are still

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is the time when we have the opportunity to provide support, educate the public about mental illness, fight stigma and advocate for policies to support people with mental illness and their families. Studies show that 1 in 5 people will be affected by mental illness in their lifetime. For those who have suffered domestic or sexual violence, mental health conditions are often a side effect. Seeking help in the aftermath of the abuse

The news has been full of stories recently of women and men alike coming forward to tell their stories of being sexual assaulted or harassed. Many of the perpetrators are famous or powerful men, while still others are unnamed or unknown abusers. We have reached a moment where there seems to be a possibility of real change, where men and women who sexually harass and assault others are being held accountable — and where the majority of our society is believing victims who co

In over forty years of providing services to Westmoreland County, Blackburn Center has helped thousands of residents heal and regain a sense of hope after the devastating impact of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other types of violence of crime. Yet despite reaching so many people through these efforts, we knew that in some situations, we are not reaching some of our most vulnerable citizens. That is why we have undertaken a new project designed to ensure that everyo

When it comes to gender-based violence, the news is often overwhelming: another sexual assault, another domestic violence-related murder-suicide, another instance of a child killing herself after being relentlessly bullied online. It’s hard to imagine what you can do to make a difference. But in fact, we all can be part of the change needed to end this violence, in ways that can be as simple as talking about these issues. At our 40th Anniversary donor event in November, we

At Blackburn Center, we have been providing services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in Westmoreland County since 1976. Over the past 40 years, our mission has primarily stayed the same – but our focus has evolved. In 2002, we recommitted to the part of our mission dedicated to actively working to end gender violence in our community. Our commitment to social transformation can be seen in our innovative partnerships with local universities, our Coaching Boys int

If you or someone you know or love has been affected by violence, it can be hard to know where or how to find help. At Blackburn Center, we understand that the need to talk to someone can arise at any time of the day or night. That’s why we offer a 24 hour hotline for victims of gender violence or any other crime. Our hotline is staffed around the clock with crisis counselors who are trained in the dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes. They underst

Domestic violence can take many forms, from emotional to physical abuse, reproductive coercion and more. With such a wide variety of behaviors classified as domestic violence, it can be easy to misunderstand what this type of abuse really is. We often see different types of violence mislabeled as domestic violence. For example, if a couple has a fight that turns physical, it may be called domestic violence, when it is really situational violence. Understanding the differen

Last week, several women accused a well-known man of raping them, including an ex-girlfriend and former co-workers. Witnesses to some of these assaults stepped forward and confirmed the accounts. Some of the assaults may even have been captured on camera. Yet many questioned whether these women could even be raped. Why? Because all of the accusers and the alleged perpetrator are adult film stars, leading many to conclude that these women could not have been raped. The acc

If you follow our page, you are likely aware that Blackburn Center provides a number of services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, from our emergency shelter to medical and legal accompaniment to a variety of individual and group counseling options. What you may not realize, however, is just how many services our organization provides to our community. Today, we are highlighting one of these services: education and training programs. Throughout Westmoreland County

Often, when we speak to community members about the work Blackburn Center does in Westmoreland County, they are surprised to hear about the scope and depth of our services. Most people who know about Blackburn associate us with our emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence, or possibly our hotline, or maybe our community awareness programs. While these resources are an important part of our mission, they tell only part of the story of what we’re trying to achieve i

At Blackburn Center, we provide a number of free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Over the next few months, we will be highlighting the different ways in which we help. Today’s topic: our emergency shelter. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— Our emergency shelter provides housing to victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Westmoreland County for up to thirty days. We work hard to ensure that our facility i

If we were to do a survey about the deadliest form of domestic violence, which option would you pick? a) Punching/hitting b) Gunshot c) Strangling d) Knife wound The answer may surprise you: strangulation is the most lethal form of domestic violence. It is also one of the most common forms of physical abuse — 23 to 68% of female domestic violence victims experience at least one episode of strangulation in their lifetimes. It’s critical for us to know more about this for

In the past few weeks, the United States Supreme Court issued a number of important rulings. Two of these decisions — on healthcare subsidies and marriage equality — have commanded the lion’s share of attention from the press and public. But a decision on a more obscure legal principle may be most significant for victims’ rights advocates, making it easier for prosecutors to bring child abuse charges without the young victims having to testify in court. The Confrontation Cla