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A.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES, IN YOUR STATE, IF ANY, THAT HINDER VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN ASSISTING CRIME VICTIMS IN FILING FOR COMPENSATION BENEFITS AND IN UNDERSTANDING STATE VICTIM COMPENSATION ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS?
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Out of the five subgrantees, three cited major issues as; the need for increased and consistent advertisements / information about victim compensation. Also cited is the need to have more locations to file compensation forms. CASA in particular cited that the child abuse/neglect cases are dealt within the family court which in most cases the parents pay child support for the children placed in care.
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B.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE COORDINATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EFFORTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO AID CRIME VICTIMS.
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All subgrantees are member agencies of several task forces, boards, advisory groups and coalitions. Some also atttend interagency meetins to address specific issues related to their clients (the crime victims). Other efforts include media campaigns as well as participation in outreach fairs/events.
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C.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS, I.E. COORDINATION ETC.
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One member agency held a speak-out event for families on National Day of Rememebrance for Murder Victims.
Temporary shelter was provided to victim witnesses.
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D.
DESCRIBE ANY NOTABLE ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED AT THE STATE OR SUBGRANT LEVEL TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES (I.E. NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, PROGRAM MONITORING, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION). INCLUDE TRAINING EFFORTS, AND USE OF VOCA APPROVED TRAINING FUNDS, IF APPLICABLE.
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CASA provided advocate training to Volunteer Advocates ( both new and existing).
Promotion of Radio and Television Media campains to end violence in the community especially gun violence.
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E.
INCLUDE AND/OR ATTACH ANECDOTAL INFORMATION AND INDIVIDUAL CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATING AT LEAST FOUR WAYS IN WHICH VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS. (LETTERS FROM CRIME VICTIMS ARE HELPFUL.)
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At one agency LEGAL ADVOCACY services were been rendered to housewife who was married for 13 years. This woman sought services for representation in a child custody matter. The victim decided she was leaving her abusive marriage and as result her husband was forcing her to leave her children. The husband also reported her to the immigration authorities even he had told her years earlier that her status was clear. As a result INFORMATION AND REFERRALS have been provided to assist this woman in her plight to maintain custody of her children and address her immigration status.
Another case demonstrates that thru TRAINING, ADVOCACY and THERAPY a young female child was able to survive through the separation from her mother with minimal emotional scars. This child had initially been placed in care due to child abuse and neglect charges against the mother. In part due to the training that volunteer advocates receive, this child?s advocate was able to identify that this child and mother were very accepting of services to address their reunification plans. This family was referred for individual and family therapy both of which are making significant strides to alleviate the areas which caused this single mother to become overwhelmed and led to her abuse and neglect charges.
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F.
IDENTIFY ANY EMERGING ISSUES OR NOTABLE TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES IN YOUR STATE.
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There is a growing concern about firearm confiscation from batterers. Social service providers within the Territory have cited that there is no enforcement of removing firearms from many batterers; to iclude law enforcement officers involved in domestic violence situations.
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G.
SPECIFICALLY DISCUSS HOW YOUR STATE HAS USED VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS, AND THE IMPACT OF THESE FUNDS ON THE STATE'S ABILITY TO IMPROVE VICTIMS SERVICES.
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VOCA Administrative funds are used to support the salary of a grant assistant;posting of RFP's in the print media; site and desk monitoring and technical assistance to subgrantees.
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