For Immediate Release: April 10, 2025

Contact: Amaury Ávalos, amaury.avalos@phila.gov

 Office of Victim Advocate Joined by Community-Based Organizations for Inaugural Victim Services Advisory Commission Meeting in Honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

City of Philadelphia Victim Advocate Adara Combs shared work of the office since its creation and provided updates on ongoing and future initiatives

Philadelphia –Today the Office of the Victim Advocate (OVA) was joined by dignitaries from City and state government, along with victim advocates from all over Philadelphia to celebrate the launch of the OVA Victim Services Advisory Commission and to honor National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW).

Recognized April 6 through April 12, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week brings awareness to the challenges and barriers faced by victims of crime, co-victims, and their families. During this time, we also recognize the accomplishments of victim advocates and reflect on the progress made for victims nationwide. This year’s NCVRW is centered around the theme of Kinship: Connecting & Healing.

“When I was elected Mayor, I promised Philadelphians that I would break down silos to create a government that you can see, touch, and feel and the Office of the Victim Advocate’s Community Advisory Committee is a perfect example of what I mean,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “By bringing those most impacted and involved in the work of supporting victims and co-victims of violence in Philadelphia together to collaboratively identify supports and resources for this vulnerable population, the Office of the Victim Advocate, under Adara Combs’ leadership is a critical part of how my administration is making Philadelphia safer, cleaner, greener city, with economic opportunity for all.”

In following with the kinship theme, the Office of the Victim Advocate brought together City officials and victim advocates from all over the city to kick off the inaugural OVA Victim Services Advisory Commission. The Victim Services Advisory Commission is an advocacy body made up of individuals throughout the City of Philadelphia involved in policy, advocacy, or on the ground work for victims of crime, co-victims, and survivors of crime.

“As the first Victim Advocate for the City of Philadelphia for the leading agency in the city dedicated to supporting victims of crime and the agencies that support them, I am thrilled to see all of our partners gathered in one place to launch our Victim Services Advisory Commission, celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, and to set intention for victim advocacy in 2025 and beyond,” said Victim Advocate Adara Combs. “With all of us working together and committed to the work of engaging victims, co-victims, and survivors of crime, I am confident that our Office will continue to identify opportunities to provide services to this vulnerable population.”

The Office of the Victim Advocate was created in 2022 and provides coordination, strategic planning, and service provision oversight for victims, co-victims, and survivors of crime, with a special emphasis on gun violence and homicide. Since its creation, the Office of the Victim Advocate has developed and advocated for innovative programs and initiatives to support victims of violence in Philadelphia. Some of the achievements shared by OVA include, but are not limited to:

  • ‎Launching a comprehensive relocation program providing a continuum of care focused on supporting victims, co-victims, and their families in identifying housing where they can continue their lives after a violent incident in relative safety.
  • Successfully piloting a publicly funded, first of its kind in the nation, crime scene cleanup program in the 24th, 25th, 26th, 12th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 9th, 22nd, and Center City Districts.
  • The appointment of Victim Advocate Adara Combs to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) by Gov. Shapiro.

“I want to thank all of my City Council colleagues, advocates, the families of victims of gun violence, and the voters of Philadelphia for supporting the creation of the Office of Philadelphia Victim Advocate back in 2020,” said Philadelphia Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District), lead sponsor of the Office of Victim Advocate legislation. “In the several years that the Office has been in operation, it has guaranteed that crime victims in Philadelphia have the supports they need to regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. Thank you to Victim Advocate Adara Combs for all her work and dedication to the citizens of Philadelphia. The Office of the Victim Advocate was long overdue. We owe it to victims and co-victims to always give them a voice within City government and this office does just that.”

Inspired by the coalition of leaders, advocates, and community members assembled at City Hall for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the Office of the Victim Advocate shared details on future plans for the Office. In the near future, the Office will:

  • In continued commitment to centering the lived experiences of victims and co-victims of violent crime, the Office of the Victim Advocate will invite additional community members impacted by violence to participate in the Commission.
  • Continue to break down silos by collaborating with all partners in victim advocacy to identify gaps in services or policy changes needed for victims and co-victims of violent crime.

During the event, the Office of the Victim Advocate unveiled a video sharing the history of the creation of the Office, remarks from Council President Kenyatta Johnson, and the words of victim advocates from across Philadelphia.

To learn more about the Office of the Victim Advocate, Philadelphians can visit their website or email victim.advocate@phila.gov

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