THE VIOLENCE WE SEE IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY: YWCA GREATER HARRISBURG ANNUAL REPORT UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Week Without Violence Campaign, YWCA releases “The State of Violence in Dauphin & Perry Counties

 Harrisburg, PA (October 19, 2026): The recent death of a Harrisburg pediatrician, Dr. Julia Pederson of October 10 at the hands of her husband has shaken our community and brought renewed attention to the devastating consequences of domestic violence. It is a heartbreaking reminder that violence can occur in any family, regardless of profession, education, income or public standing.

While the circumstances surrounding any individual case are unique, the broader reality cannot be ignored: domestic violence is not simply a private matter. It is a community safety issue with consequences extending far beyond the individuals directly involved.

The YWCA Greater Harrisburg’s State of Violence in Dauphin and Perry Counties report documents the scope and geographic reach of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in our region. The data reflects real incidents and individuals who have reached out for help through the YWCA’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Services. But it does not tell the whole story.

For every person who seeks assistance, there may be others suffering in silence. Fear, threats, financial dependence, concern for children, and uncertainty about where to turn can prevent survivors from seeking help. Many incidents are never reported, and many survivors remain invisible in the data.

“What we can measure is only the violence that becomes visible,” said Mary Quinn, President and CEO of the YWCA Greater Harrisburg. “We know there are people in our community living in fear whose experiences with never appear in a report. We cannot mistake the numbers we have for the full extent of the problem. And we cannot wait until another tragedy makes the consequences impossible to ignore.”

The report is a call to recognize that responding to violence requires more than awareness. It requires a community willing to invest in the services and infrastructure that make safety possible.

When someone reaches out for help, there must be trained professionals ready to respond, safe places to turn, and resources to help survivors move toward stability. That capacity requires sustained investment in specialized staff, secure and well-maintained facilities, technology, emergency housing, and the systems that support a coordinated response. These are not optional extras. They are essential components of a community’s public safety infrastructure.

“Investing in the YWCA is an investment in the safety of our entire community,” Quinn said. “When someone is experiencing violence, there must be somewhere to go, someone prepared to respond, and a path toward safety. That capacity does not happen by accident. It requires public investment, private philanthropy, strong partnerships, and a shared understanding that these services are essential.”

The consequences of violence reach beyond individual survivors. Children and families are affected, emergency responders are called into dangerous situations, and health care and social service systems cannot bear the cost of crises. When people have nowhere to turn, the risks can extent throughout the community.

The State of Violence in Dauphin and Perry Counties report provides an opportunity for elected officials, community leaders, funders, and residents to examine the documented realities of violence in our region and consider whether the resources available are sufficient to meet the need.

The question is not simply how many incidents have been reported. It is whether we have invested adequately in the resources required to respond to the violence we know exists – and the violence that remains unseen.

A safer community requires more than awareness. It requires action, accountability, and sustained investment in the services that make safety possible.

To read the full State of Violence in Dauphin and Perry Counties report visit https://www.ywcahbg.org/events/stateviolencereport2026/

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About the YWCA Greater Harrisburg

YWCA Greater Harrisburg is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Serving the Greater Harrisburg region, the YWCA provides essential services addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, homelessness, early childhood education, and other critical community needs. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the organization provides support, safety, and pathways toward stability for individuals and families.

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.