|
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?
|
Victims not wanting to take the time to fill out the paperwork, even if assistance if offered to them. Additionally, victims are reluctant to report to law enforcement (a requirement for state compensation) for fear of either retaliation from their abuser or deportation.
|
|
|
|
B.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE COORDINATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EFFORTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO AID CRIME VICTIMS.
|
The SC Department of Public Safety provides workshops to potential subgrantees to explain the application process prior to their submission, and encourages them to collaborate between agencies when applying for VOCA funds.
|
|
|
|
C.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS, I.E. COORDINATION ETC.
|
Currently, federal crime victims are provided services and assistance by the U.S. Attorney's Office victim advocates. All victims of federal crime are advised of the rights afforded to them through the State Victims Constitutional amendment.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
The VOCA Program Coordinators conduct two site monitoring visits per year to allow one-on-one contact with the grant-funded personnel, executive directors and other staff members at each agency.
|
|
|
|
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.)
|
Please see attached letters (hard copies are available for review): Anecdotal information from the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault's annual Progress Report to our agency; the front cover and table of contents from the "Homicide Survivors Guide", printed with VOCA funds by the Medical University of South Carolina, and the front cover and table of contents from the "Survival Guide for Child Victims", printed with VOCA funds by the Medical University of South Carolina.
|
|
|
|
F.
IDENTIFY ANY EMERGING ISSUES OR NOTABLE TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES IN YOUR STATE.
|
The influx of Spanish-speaking people to our state, and the lack of bilinguals available to assist them.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
1. The two VOCA Program Coordinators are able to make two site visits per grant cycle, as well as perform an additional desktop monitoring to ensure that all services are being rendered according to each individual grant's implementation schedule. 2. The Senior Accountant and Account Technician are able to coordinate site visits with Program Coordinators in order to provide full-scale monitorings, by addressing both programmatic and accounting issues with the subgranteees.
|
|
|