YWCA Bradford’s Victims Resource Center has a new program director. While Shelley Alcorn is new to the position, she is certainly not a new face at center.
Alcorn has worked at the Victims’ Resource Center since September 2014, when she started as a shelter advocate. In January 2015, she transitioned into the sexual assault counselor, and in April 2019, she became the assistant program director, according to Vanessa Castano, YWCA executive director.
Alcorn took on the role of program director this month. She took over for former program director Heather Schultz-Piché, who served as program director for about 4 ½ years.
“Heather left the agency in early September. We were sad to see her go!” Castano noted.
Castano talked about how Alcorn’s duties evolved over the past five years.
“As sexual assault counselor/advocate, Shelley was responsible for responding to the majority of sexual assault and sexual abuse cases for adults and children alike,” she explained. “This included medical and legal advocacy, wherein she worked alongside victims through the medical and legal processes through their entirety.
“As assistant program director, Shelley was responsible for supervising seven staff positions and two intern positions,” Castano continued. “As program director, Shelley will now be responsible for all of the above plus grant and fiscal management of the program. That’s a big job!”
Alcorn is a Bradford native and graduate of Bradford Area High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2011 from Edinboro University.
“Upon graduation she worked for Beacon Light and the Guidance Center before we snagged her up,” said Castano.
She seemed confident in Alcorn’s ability to fill the new role.
“Shelley has proven herself to be a strong leader with a great capacity for growth and insight,” said Castano. “I look forward to working with Shelley in her new position, and seeing where her leadership takes this program.”
Among the projects Alcorn completed during her time at the center was the implementation of a new Allstate grant in 2018, which allowed the center to offer financial literacy classes to program participants.
“Shelley has really hit the ground running in her new position, and is undertaking her director training as we speak,” Castano said. “I am excited to see where she takes the program and how she will expand services.”
Among the future endeavors at the YWCA’s Victims’ Resource Center is the celebration in 2020 of “its 40th anniversary as the (McKean) County’s only provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services,” said Castano. The YWCA would like to hold a recognition event for the anniversary, but it is still in the early planning stages.
Services provided by the Victims’ Resource Center include crisis counseling, emergency room accompaniment, legal advocacy, emergency shelter, support groups, community prevention education/primary prevention and outreach services.
Residents can call the YWCA’s 24-hour hotline at 888-822-6325.
