Victim Services Center of Montgomery County launched billboard campaign as part of community awareness project during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. (Credit: Victim Services Center of Montgomery County)
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Victim Services Center raises awareness of its free counseling and advocacy services
The Victim Services Center of Montgomery County launched a billboard campaign during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to raise awareness about the support and counseling services available to crime victims.
According to a report in The Mercury, the campaign’s purpose is not only to inform the community, but also to provide a crucial lifeline for survivors of crime.
Erin Milbourne, the direct services supervisor for the organization, said that the goal is to remind victims that free, confidential services are accessible and no one should have to face the aftermath of a crime alone.
“I definitely come across people every day that until something happens to them, they’ll say to me, ‘I never heard of you or I didn’t know you existed,’” Milbourne told The Mercury. “So often, people will find us at their worst day and our hope is that people are aware of this resource ahead of that time. We want to be one of those because we provide critical crisis support. We want people to know that we are here.”
The billboards were strategically placed at three locations across Montgomery County: Germantown Pike and Route 202, the Norristown Exit 333 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and at Main and Markley streets in Norristown.
These digital billboards include messages in both English and Spanish, with details about the Victim Services Center’s website and 24-hour hotline. The initiative was made possible through funding from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators, who secured a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime under the U.S. Department of Justice, according to the report. The organization was among 98 community projects selected to receive federal funding, helping expand outreach efforts.
Milbourne told The Mercury that despite the organization’s 50 years of service, many people in the community are unaware of the free services they provide until they experience a crime firsthand.
The center helps more than 2,300 clients annually, and many victims first learn about the organization’s services through police, the district attorney's office, or word of mouth.
The center has a wide range of services that cater to victims of sexual violence and other crimes. It offers advocacy at court hearings, police stations, and hospitals, assists with victim impact statements, and runs victim notification programs.
National Crime Victims' Rights Week, established in 1981, highlights the rights and services available to crime victims. The 2025 theme, "Kinship, Connecting and Healing," underscores the importance of support and community in the recovery process.
