linda crockett

Director

Linda was the visionary behind the development and design of Safe Communities (formerly Samaritan Safe Church/Safe Places) in 2011. This program grew out of her work as a consultant to congregations experiencing the often contentious dynamics that occur when a child is molested by a lay or ordained leader. Under her leadership, Safe Church expanded to a national training platform. In 2016, she began work with the newly formed cohort of grantees and fellows of the Just Beginnings Collaborative on social movement building to end child sexual abuse. Her work focuses on shifting culture in congregational and other key settings so that adults are proactive about protecting children from sexual abuse throughout the community, creating  a web of Safe Places with trusted adults.

Linda’s first book “The Deepest Wound: How a Journey to El Salvador Led to Healing from Mother-Daughter Incest” (Writer’s Showcase) was published in 2001. As a church volunteer and activist, she accompanied refugees and survivors of torture during the civil war in El Salvador in the 1980s, working with church and human rights organizations. The book includes her personal narrative of childhood sexual abuse, intertwined with the violence experienced by the Salvadoran people.  The Deepest Wound was awarded first place in the “Life Stories” category by Writer’s Digest in March 2003. The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling recommends its use in seminary and graduate school classrooms, and by therapists and pastoral care providers. She also contributed to Render Unto God:  Economic Vulnerability, Family Violence and Pastoral Theology (Chalice Press, 2002; Poling, James; Ruiz, Brenda; Crockett, Linda), a cross cultural economic analysis of sexual abuse and domestic violence.

A review of The Deepest Wound on the website Confronting Collusion with Abuse in the Faith Community may be viewed at http://www.takecourage.org/deepwnd.htm

mark harris

Assistant Director

Mark Harris has been the Pastor of Historic Salem United Church of Christ in Columbia, PA since 2018. He graduated from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 2020 with a Master of Divinity and continues to work toward ordination in the UCC. Mark has served as Interim Director of the Re-entry Management Organization, an organization that works to provide mentorship and resources to people coming out of prison and jail; Executive Chef for Meals On Wheels of Lancaster County; and as a Theological Consultant to Safe Communities. He made major contributions to Safe Community’s Guide to Creating Safe Environments for Survivors of Sexual Abuse in the Congregation. Mark also served on a workgroup created by the Governor’s Office of Advocacy and Reform to formulate guidelines for medical offices to offer more Trauma Informed Care.
Mark lives in Windsor, PA in southern York County with his partner, 3 children, and a fair menagerie of animals.

neeta dedhia

Office Manager & Group Facilitator

Neeta brings a strong work ethic, organizational skills and years of experience in grant management and fund raising. Sharing a passion for medicine with her husband Vinesh, Neeta practiced as a homeopathic family physician and counselor in Mumbai India until 2002. In addition, she also worked with children with multiple disabilities as a licensed Special Education teacher. She accepted a professional internship at the American Red Cross in 2003 and later received her Master of Public Administration with major in Nonprofit Management in 2005 at Baruch college in New York City. Prior to moving to Lancaster, she served as Program Coordinator with the Inner Resilience Program in New York, founded in response to the effects of the 9.11 attacks on New York City. She is currently on the Board of the South Asian Association of Lancaster. ​Although she is no longer practicing as a Physician, Neeta draws upon her knowledge and experience of holistic healing and resilience after trauma while conducting her workshops.

advisory committee

sherry sensenig

Sherry works in administration at  Milestone Construction, LLC, a family owned business,  and is the proud “Nana” of six beautiful grandchildren.  She  brings a deep passion and commitment to stopping the sexual abuse of children. The founder of PROP, Inc. (Parents Reaching Out to Parents of Sexually Exploited Children), she has a special place in her heart for parents who receive the devasting news that their child was violated by someone they trusted. One of the first organizations of its kind, PROP provided a place for parents to find support.

“I learned first-hand the importance of finding support as a care giver of your family, being a shield for those impacted, being a voice for those who cannot speak, the importance of educating yourself, and working hard to break the strongholds that have the potential to destroy for generations”.
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The Rising Together groups Safe Communities offers to protective parents are a continuation of the important work of PROP. 

Alicia Haigis

Alicia is a Customer Solutions Specialist for the Webstaurant Store. She graduated from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine with her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with her Master of Science in Psychology and a concentration in Forensic Psychology. 
 
Alicia has been a supporter of Safe Communities since 2011. Beginning in 2018, she became co-lead for Safe Communities Resilience Cohort. Alicia’s passion lies in advocating for survivors on their brave path to a healthier mind and body, empowering them to use their voices and be heard, and helping them courageously reclaim their lives. As a survivor of domestic violence, Alicia feels the importance of changing the culture for victims of abuse and advocating for social justice and equality as a way to build stronger and healthier communities.

Robin Moulfair

Robin is the principal and owner of Peak Performance Tax and Business Service in Elizabethville, PA. She has over 22 years of experience in the tax and accounting field.  A U.S. Army Veteran, she is also a Spiritual Director and Youth Pastor and is currently completing a master’s degree in spiritual formation at Evangelical Seminary (Myerstown). She is a member of the National Association of Tax Professionals and has served on the Board for the Pennsylvania chapter.  She is also a member of the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs. 
 
Robin was trained as a Safe Church facilitator in our program last year.  She is a survivor of domestic violence and has a particular interest in the work we do, bringing what she has learned into her work as a part time youth pastor at a small independent church. 

pam reist

Pam has been serving as a pastor at the Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren since 2004. She previously served for 8 years at a Lititz, PA congregation. Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren is located adjacent to the Elizabethtown College campus, and is known for its strong social justice orientation, as well as its dedication to protecting children from sexual and other abuse. Both her prior and current congregation participated in our Safe Church programs and call on us for consultation when needed. 
 
A graduate of Findlay College (Ohio) with a B.A. in education, Pam served in the field of education prior to becoming a pastor. She received her Master of the Arts in Religion from Lancaster Theological Seminary.  Pam has served on several boards, including Juanita College, the Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren, and Samaritan Counseling Center, where the Safe Church/Safe Places program originated. She is currently beginning a term on the Board of Trustees of Elizabethtown College.