Northern Tier News

Reps. Tina Pickett and Clint Owlett have announced that Supporting Area Families Everyday (SAFE) will receive a state grant exceeding $125,000. This funding is aimed at expanding SAFE's supervised visitation and parent education program in Bradford County and nearby areas.

Pickett emphasized the importance of this funding, stating, "This funding will help to ensure parents have the support they need to foster healthy relationships with their children." She added that investing in such services not only benefits families today but also contributes to a safer future for local communities.

Owlett echoed these sentiments, saying, "Families are the cornerstone of our Commonwealth and society as a whole. There’s no greater investment we can make than in programs like this that support families, help parents work through challenging times and protect our children."

SAFE's mission includes reducing domestic violence by providing secure environments for custody exchanges and teaching emotional self-regulation skills to parents. The grant will cover the salary and benefits of the specialist who implements the program. With this financial boost, SAFE anticipates increasing its service capacity by 25% over the next two years.

The Pennsylvania Commissioner on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee awarded the grant through its Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) program. Eligible applicants could receive up to $950,000 to support community violence prevention initiatives.