CAPSEA--Citizens Against Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse

Citizens Against Physical, Sexual and Emotional Abuse, Inc. (CAPSEA, Inc.) began in 1977 as The Elk County Crisis Line and has evolved into a non-profit comprehensive victim service agency with a volunteer board of directors and that provides services to victims in Elk and Cameron counties. CAPSEA, Inc. provides, an alternative to violence. We also offer protection, security, counseling and support to victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and their children.

Our goals are to provide victims of abuse with 24 hour hotline and phone contact, crisis intervention, counseling, support, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, support group; plus information and referrals so that they can overcome a life of violence.

CAPSEA, Inc. also operates the Elk County Victim/Witness program and the Elk and Cameron County Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) programs cooperatively with the Elk County District Attorney’s office and the Cameron County District Attorney’s office. The Victim/Witness program is available to assist serious crime victims and witnesses with compensation claims, court/legal accompaniment and transportation and to notify victims and witnesses about the status of their court cases. We provide medical and legal accompaniment, victim advocacy, emergency shelter, options and empowerment counseling, support groups, referral services, permanent housing and homeless assistance services to Elk County. CAPSEA, Inc. maintains a 24-hour confidential hotline in both Elk and Cameron counties.

CAPSEA, Inc. has provided life-saving services and shelter to countless adults and children over the past 37 years. Over the past year, CAPSEA, Inc. has expanded services to include an Incredible Years positive parenting work shop series for service recipients and their children and on July 1, 2015 CAPSEA, Inc. received additional funding earmarked for a Legal Advocate position to provide comprehensive legal support, Protection From Abuse order assistance, plus related court accompaniment. On July 1, 2015 the Permanent Housing program received additional funding for rental assistance which will provide additional housing, case management, and follow up to qualified individuals and families throughout Elk and Cameron counties. We truly believe that our agency has saved many lives in Ridgway and throughout Elk and Cameron counties and will continue to do so for years to come.