A McKean County advocate for children has accepted a committee appointment from Pennsylvania’s governor.
Mikele Bay, director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County, has been appointed to the Victims Services Advisory Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
“The appointed seat is representative of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary team, where I currently sit as vice president and education chair for the board of directors,” Bay told The Era.
“I am humbled and honored to have been chosen as one of 10 new individuals to represent the rights and services of victims throughout the Commonwealth,” she said. “This committee provides perspectives on behalf of all crime victims/survivors in the development of the Commission’s policies, funding priorities, legislation and outcomes.”
Bay added that the committee advises the commission on disbursement of financial assistance and reviews and comments on applications from crime victim assistance organizations seeking funding through PCCD.
The committee “helps (the commission) determine the funding priorities and grant awards made through various funding streams, including those received under the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). In 2016 alone, PCCD received $88 million in VOCA funding to support direct services, such as emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counseling and assistance in participating in the criminal justice system,” Bay explained.
“These dollars Pennsylvania receives annually are a great opportunity for PCCD to reach underserved crime victim populations in addition to continuing substantial support to current victim service providers,” she said.
The commission has a specific makeup set out under state law, approved by Gov. Tom Wolf in October. There are now 25 members, 17 of whom are appointed by the governor.
Two members are appointed by the chair of the commission, while others include crime victims, someone from an Area Agency on Aging, the state coalitions against domestic violence and rape, the state chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams, a county Children and Youth agency, the courts, county government, law enforcement and more.
Bay said, “I took my oath of office in Harrisburg on Feb. 13 prior to my first VSAC meeting. The Honorable Julia Munley of the Lackawanna County Courthouse, and fellow VSAC member, swore in all new members.
“It is my privilege to continue to represent McKean County on a statewide level to bring awareness to the unique needs of rural Pennsylvanians and child victims of abuse,” Bay said.
