Two of the significant barriers in Nevada to accessing compensation beneftis are the population distribution in Nevada and the growing immigrant population in the state.  Nevada has two distinct urban regions, which contain the majority of the state's resources, with a large rural/frontier region which has very limited resources.  Therefore, rural victims of crime often have to travel significant distances to access services.  Efforts continue to idientify and support victim assistance providers to fill existing service gaps.  All applicants for VOCA funding are required to demonstrate knowledge of compensation contacts and eligibilty at the time of the Request for Proposals (RFP).  Additionally, all service providers are provided information regarding compensation benefits and appropriate contact information annually to reinforce the importance of this linkage.  On-site reviewers also ask about compensation contact at the time of the reivew.  Nevada has a growing immigrant population.  However, recruitment of bilingual (Spanish speaking) volunteers and staff has proven to be challenging.  Therefore, Nevada's migrant population continues to be underserved.  However, provider awareness has increased, as have recruitment efforts.  The successful recruitment of bilingual volunteers or staff facilitates access to compensation benefits.  Finally, Nevada continues to be the fastest growing state in the country.  Therefore, the population continues to grow faster than available resources.  The emphasis on planning, collaboration, and assessment of service needs continues and has been an important part of ongoing attempts to address the population growth and its related concerns in Clark County.        

At the time of the Request for Proposals (RFP), all subgrantees are required to demonstrate project sustainability and are encouraged throughout the life of their subgrant to enhance their outreach and coordination with the private sector as related to both programming and funding.  This relationship is critical in many communities in filling gaps, both financial and programmatic, and in assisting the program to achieve their goals.  Technical assistance is made available to subgrantees regarding ways to enhance their relationships and collaboration with the private as well as public sector.  The State VOCA office develops a quarterly informational document/newsletter that is sent to all current subgrantees that includes examples of private/public sector collaboration and which subgrantees are encouraged to model to enhance their collaborative efforts.   An example of one such enhanced relationship is the development of a volunteer training program by an agency that utilizes both private and public agencies and resources, which has rasied awareness as well as enhanced the referral and retention of volunteers in their program.  The state continues to enhance existing collaboration between the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Program and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)  Program through mutual participation in funding decisions as wel as other collaborative opportunities.  Additionally, the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has increased collaboration with the Department of Health & Human Services' Grants Management Unit in serveral areas.  Collaboration in the rural areas of Nevada is critical to successfully serving victims of crime and is encouraged and supported as resources are scarce.  These types of collaboration are essential given Nevada's status as the fastest growing state in the country.

Enhancing available services to federal crime victims and underserved populations continues to be priority for the program.  Funding to Native American programs continues with a focus on expanded shelter services and enhanced access to services.  Trafficking of illegal aliens has become more of an issue, especially in Clark County, where many of these victims have been sexually exploited.  These victims have enhanced access to shelter, legal services, advocacy, and assistance with accessing victims' compensation.  Rural providers have been the focus of additional technical assistance to maximize local resources so that rural victims will have greater access to services without having to travel.  Elder Abuse is also a growing problem that service providers are encountering more frequently and are developing more effective strategies and linkages to address.

ontinuing notable activities are as follow.  First, the collaboration between the Univsersity of Nevada and the State allows for the development of individualized outcome measures which compliment and are aligned with their scopes of work.  This reporting system allows subgrantees to report utilization and performance indicator data on-line and provides immediate access for the State office to the information entered into the system.  This system also provides information to the State office about which subgrantees have reported and a reminder to subgrantees when their required report is late and continues to provide daily reminders until the report is completed.  Training- Again this year, training funds were used to support attendance at the National Victim Assistance Academy, which brings together national trauma and victim services experts.  Funds also provided an opportunity for victim advocates to attend training.  The Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence (NNADV) coordinated and implemented a statewide three day training that brought in national as well as in-state victim service experts.  Program Monitoring and Evaluation- All subgrantees have an on-site monitoring visit at least once per year.  If needed (staff changes, indications that the subgrantee needs additional support, or if the subgrantee requests additional visits/support), additional visits are scheduled. These site visits allow reviewers to complete an on-site fiscal and program review of subgrantees.  The on-site review process is a good opportunity to assess subgrantee functioning, to identify any technical assistance needs and to develop a plan to address needs.  Several subgrantees have contacted the program during the year to inform the state that their executive director, or other key position, has become vacant and asked that the state conduct an additional  review to assist the provider agency in assessing their functioning and working with new incoming staff to facilitate their transition. Finally, to streamline payments to subgrantees, an online Request for Funds Report has also been developed that alllows subgrantees to submit their funds requests and billing information electronically and enhances the state's ability to track subgrantee expenditures. This system allows the State VOCA office staff to develop various analysis of spending, assess unit cost, compile statistical reports and monitor expenditure rates.

Case History 1:  (Sexual Abuse)  An 11 year old female was taken to a hospital in Southern Nevada by her parents after she complained about urinary problems.  During the physical examination, the girl disclosed to the MD that she had been sexually assaulted by an uncle several times in the past. The MD contacted the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner who advised the MD to contact the Rape Crisis Center.  An advocate arrived and gave the girl a teddy bear to help ease her discomfort.  The girl's parents had numerous concerns and questions, which the advocate was able to address. The advocate was able to provide information, support, as well as assistance to the family in completing appropriate police report forms.  During the discussion, the mother disclosed that she had herself been sexually assaulted as a child.  The advocate was able to provide additional support to the mother and provide referral/resource information to the family.  The Rape Crisis Center has been involved with the family to assist with the healing process and to provide additional information and support.  Case History 2:  (Elder Abuse )  The victim was a 64 year old Hispanic disabled man who spoke English well but did not read or write in English and was providing housing to his daughter, her boyfriend, and his daughter's two children.  The victim claimed that his daughter and her boyfriend had been stealing items from his home and making threats to harm him.  The victim's daughter had been abusive to him in the past.  The victim's main concern were his daughter and her children as he suspected his daughter was abusing drugs out of incarceration.  The victim supported himself through his Social Security Disability income.  After discussing options with the victim the advocate assisted him with filing of a protective order and police report.  The suspects were arrested and charged.  The advocate also assisted him with filing of a Victim Notification Form as well as Compensation forms.  Additionally, the advocate accompanied the victim to court and provided support during his testimony and connected him with Senior Protective Services.  Many of his stolen items were recovered in a local pawn shop and he was able to receive assistance from other referrals (such as energy assistance).  Finally, the advocate connected the victim with a community resource that will assist him in learning to read and write in English.  Case History 3:  (Child Abuse) The victim's parents were accused of child abuse resulting in the death of the victim's sibling.  The client was removed from the parents' home and was put into the guardianship of her grandmother.  The parents were arrested and sent out of state.  The victim received legal services and advocacy and remains in the custody of the grandmother.   Case History 4:  (Domestic Violence- Temporary Protection Order, counseling for primary and secondary victims, and Assistance in filing compensation claim) The victim's boyfriend hit her during an disagreement and pushed her down a flight of stairs, then ran out of the house.  Her daughters, ages 8 and 14, helped her up and wanted to call for help.  The victim refused to go to the hospital until her father insisted during a subsequent visit with her.  She was found to have head injuries, short term memory loss, and back and leg injuries.  The victim was fearful of the boyfriend and whether he would try to return to the home.  She was assisted with completion of protection order but was concerned about the medical bills and being unable to work.  She received assistance with completion of compensation forms, assistance with payment for medications related to her victimization, referred to Social Services, and provided counseling services for her and her children who had witnessed the abuse.

Nevada's rapid population growth in relation to decreased funding continues to present ongoing challenges related to the level of available resources for victims of crime.  As the population, especially in Clark County, grows so does crime and victimization.  Both of the urban regions of the state have seen an increase in gang related activity as well as other crimes.  The implementation of the online utilization and data tracking system has allowed the state to more accurately track victimization numbers.  This year, as in the past, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse and "other" crimes are the most frequently reported types of victimization.   On-site reviews include a discussion of the importance of tracking this type of data so that it will accurately reflect emerging trends and needs so that providers can respond to existing needs of victims as well as problem-solving related to the increasing cost of service delivery, the increasing need for services and decreased funding.  All providers are encouraged to increase collaborative activity designed to improve linkages for victims and to increase funding from non-federal sources.

VOCA Administrative funds are utilized to support and oversee the delivery of services to victims of crime statewide.  These funds support the statewide on-site programmatic and fiscal reviews that occur at least annually for each subgrant issued from the grant, the on-line reporting system for victim utilization and performance indicators, the web-based system for on-line submission of reimbursement requests and a portion of support staff position.  The on-site reviews are critical in maintaining oversight and provide a mechanism to assess needed technical assistance.  Once identified, technical assistance is then facilitated through the appropriate mechanism.  The on-site review also provides an opportunity for reviewers to assess program sustainability, community resources, community collaboration, fiscal functioning and to provide direction to program staff to facilitate program change or growth.  On-line reporting of outcome measures and utilization has also enhanced the state's oversight and ability to assess service needs and utilization and identify emerging issues.  The web-based system that allows subgrantees to submit electronically all requests for reimbursement continues to enhance the program's ability to process payments and to track rate of expenditure of subgrantees.  This system has made tracking of subgrantees and funds easier.