The YWCA Greater Harrisburg has been selected as one of only four organizations in the United States to receive a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, to develop an innovative new approach to connecting victims of crime with the services they need.

The YWCA will receive up to $1.1 million over three years to launch SafeConnect: Support & Access Network (SCAN), a technology-driven initiative designed to improve access to coordinated, victim-centered services throughout Dauphin and Perry Counties.

SafeConnect will use a secure virtual platform to connect victims with advocacy, counseling, case management, referrals and resource navigation—creating a more coordinated pathway to support rather than requiring victims to navigate multiple providers on their own.

“Safety doesn’t happen in a single moment,” said Mary Quinn, President and CEO of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg. “SafeConnect builds upon the YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s longstanding role as a provider of comprehensive services addressing violence, housing instability, employment and other challenges affecting individuals and families throughout the region.”

By combining technology, trauma-informed practice, data, partnerships and the YWCA’s direct-service expertise, SafeConnect positions the organization at the intersection of innovation and human-centered care.

“The initiative will combine virtual and in-person services to reach victims in both urban and rural communities, particularly those facing barriers such as transportation, geographic isolation, housing instability or difficulty accessing traditional services”, said Rhonda Hendrickson, YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s Chief Operating Officer.

The YWCA expects SafeConnect to expand access to services for approximately 500–750 adult and youth victims of crime and improve continuity of care through coordinated referrals, “warm handoffs” between providers and ongoing follow-up.

The initiative represents an opportunity for the YWCA Greater Harrisburg to test and implement a model that could inform the future delivery of victim services—not only locally, but potentially across other communities facing similar barriers.

The project represents a significant step forward in the YWCA’s commitment to developing innovative, data-informed and collaborative solutions to complex community challenges.

The three-year project begins October 1, 2026.