Tracy Cox, Communications Director
877-739-3895, Ext. 116
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ENOLA, PA – The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) are pleased to present Alison Hall, Executive Director of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, with the annual Gail Burns-Smith Award. Hall will be honored during the National Sexual Assault Conference in Baltimore on Sept. 14-16.
The award, jointly sponsored by ATSA and the NSVRC, is named in honor of Gail Burns-Smith who committed her life to strengthening the partnership between advocates in the sexual violence prevention field and those working in the area of sex offender management and treatment.
Hall has been with the Pittsburgh Action Against Rape since 2004, and like Burns-Smith, she continues to build effective partnerships. Hall’s accomplishments include establishing the Allegheny County Sex Offender Management and Containment Program (SOMAC) and being the driving force behind Pennsylvania’s first sex offender specialty court.
“Through Alison’s dedication two valuable initiatives were implemented in Pennsylvania. The Sex Offender Court could prove to be a pilot program for future endeavors,” said Karen Baker, NSVRC Director.
“Alison has worked hard to establish SOMAC, and along the way she formed valuable partnerships. This type of leadership is precisely what this award is designed to honor,” said Maia Christopher, Executive Director of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.
ATSA is an international, multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to preventing sexual abuse. For more information on the treatment and management of individuals who have sexually abused or are at risk to abuse, visit www.atsa.com.
The NSVRC, founded by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, serves as a comprehensive information center related to sexual violence and its prevention. For more information on training, technical assistance and prevention resources on sexual violence, visit www.nsvrc.org.