Educating and Connecting the Community
YWCA York’s Community Education department works to educate and connect the York County community in the shared goal of helping victims achieve safety and self reliance while empowering the community to prevent and respond effectively to domestic and sexual violence, and human trafficking.
We believe that domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking will end only when individuals, institutions, and every segment of society are educated and empowered to take a stand against abuse and to embrace healthy, safe, respectful, and peaceful interpersonal relationships. We recognize that a “one size fits all” approach to community education does not work, that diverse communities such as ours require diverse strategies, and that addressing diversity is all our responsibility.
Joanie Wolf
Professional Development & Training Specialist
Joanie has been with the organization for 7 years. Joanie ensures our victim services staff is trained in the best practices of advocacy, and ensures our requirements for Confidentiality Privilege are met by facilitating our 71-hour Advocacy Training. Joanie also supervises our volunteers and interns, and conducts community trainings to create awareness about our services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
Crystal Perry
Human Trafficking Advocacy Coordinator
Crystal is the Human Trafficking Advocacy Coordinator with YWCA York, which is the sole provider of support services to victims of human trafficking throughout York County. She also serves as the Chair of the York County Human Trafficking Task Force, which is dedicated to promoting awareness and increasing education in South Central Pennsylvania. Crystal has been providing support and advocacy to survivors for over 11 years and believes in the power of genuine human connection, compassion, and the absolute necessity of creating individualized plans specific to each client’s unique history, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and goals.
Jessica Hummel
Human Trafficking Advocate
Jessica is the Human Trafficking Advocate with YWCA York which is the sole provider of support services to victims of human trafficking throughout York County. In this line of work, Jessica develops individualized trauma-informed and culturally sensitive plans for self-sufficiency with clients. It also requires her to coordinate ongoing short- and long-term aftercare services, treatment referrals, and to provide mobile case management in the community of York County. Jessica worked with victims of sexual assault and child abuse for 20 years.
Thank you for your interest in wanting to gain more knowledge working with individuals who have been affected by gender-based violence.
This 70-hour training is a requirement for ALL victim services staff, volunteers and interns that are going to be working directly with survivors. This training session is PCADV and PCAR approved and grants Confidentiality Privilege to those that complete the training and work/volunteer/intern at a local center under the supervision of PCADV and PCAR. This privilege allows protected communications between a survivor and an advocate.
Click here to learn more.
YWCA York’s mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all starts with folks right here in our community. By volunteering with YWCA York, you’re providing invaluable care and services to the people in our community who need it most. We have volunteer opportunities available in both direct service and indirect service, making it easy to find a way to volunteer that works for you and your lifestyle.
Click here to learn more about our volunteer opportunities and requirements.
If you would like to request a training/presentation from our Community Education Department, please fill out our Speaker Request form by clicking here.
Please submit forms two weeks in advance.
Check out some of our Educational Programming below:
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month Tech Safety Webinar – Do you know how to keep yourself safe online? Are you or someone you know being stalked online? Are you working with a survivor of domestic or sexual violence that is receiving constant threats via texts and/or emails? This training offered by YWCA York will give anyone a basic awareness to help themselves, someone they know, or someone they may be working with to stay safe online.