|
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?
|
Victim Assistance Programs in the State of Arkansas are required to provide information and/or assistance to victims regarding the State?s Victim Compensation Program. Many victims however continue to be unable and/or unwilling to file for a variety of reasons, including:
? Outstanding fines incurred by victims, which must be paid prior to receiving compensation.
? Inadequate resources ? Many victims do not have the ability to pay for the cost of medical care and wait for reimbursement.
? Amount of paperwork required is overwhelming for many victims, who are already traumatized.
? Illiteracy ?many victims are uneducated or undereducated and therefore are therefore unable to complete the claims process.
On a positive note, programs serving survivors of homicide and DUI victims have found that funeral homes are well acquainted with the compensation program and are able to assist survivors reduce the financial hardship of burying loved ones.
|
|
|
|
B.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE COORDINATED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EFFORTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO AID CRIME VICTIMS.
|
VOCA funded programs, providing services in the same and/or adjacent areas or those providing similar services, continue to be required to develop and maintain formal working agreements that map out the function of each and formalizes the manner in which the organizations will coordinate their activities to benefit the victim's sense of safety and community support. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) results in:
? Increased day-to-day contact between professionals;
? Improved referrals for victims that involve personal introductions to colleagues rather than putting the responsibility on the victim to contact additional providers;
? The victim sensing a community of support, rather than an individual;
? Reduced financial needs as a result of shared resources, and
? Established procedures that are independent of personalities
|
|
|
|
C.
BRIEFLY DESCRIBE EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS, I.E. COORDINATION ETC.
|
As previously reported, the U.S. Attorneys employ victim assistance coordinators who assist federal crime victims through the criminal justice system. VOCA funded Victim Assistance Programs routinely coordinate services with these colleagues. Because of the uniqueness of the federal court system, local organizations are appreciative to have the invaluable insight of these service providers to ensure that victims are provided accurate and prompt attention.
|
|
|
|
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 administration in Arkansas continues to promote partnerships with its subgrant organizations. An annual technical assistance workshop is conducted by Department staff to acquaint subgrantees with VOCA Program Guidelines and reporting requirements.
VOCA administration also supports the newly formed Arkansas Victim Assistance Academy, whose inaugural class was in the summer of 2008. The Academy provides for the education and training needs of a broad range of victim assistance providers, advocates, and criminal justice personnel. VOCA funds were used to provide scholarships to participants
Additionally, on-going monitoring and evaluation is conducted for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the applicable statute(s), program guidelines, fiscal accountability and other subgrant agreement terms and conditions and to ensure the delivery of effective and quality services to victims of crime. Subgrant monitoring is used to review victim service delivery performance data; timekeeping and equipment records, as well as documentation of costs supported by federal funds. Subgrant monitoring provides an opportunity to review the qualitative and quantitative performance of a subgrant award. A minimum of 25% of subgrantees receive a formal on-site monitoring visit annually.
Subgrant organizations are also required to complete an annual self-assessment regarding fiscal and program policies and procedures.
|
|
|
|
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.)
|
Subgrant organizations describe the impact of the VOCA program on crime victims in Arkansas:
? Subgrant # 07153-5V: ?One victim who had been in shelter four times in the past two years, escaping the same abuser, was able to obtain a CAN certification, support her children and find child care without relying on her abuser. She is now enrolled in nursing school and still independent from her abuser. Without our assistance, she would not have been able to find the courage to attempt an education, she would not have known about the Career Pathways program that is helping with her nursing school, and by her own admission, she would have returned again to her abuser.?
? Subgrant #07117-5V: - ?Time after time, our advocates are told by the clients we serve ?I could never have done this without you.? . . . ?I wouldn?t have ever known how to go about finding the answers to my questions?. . .? You are the only one who believed me?.
To us, the statements above show what an impact our services have . . . we empower them, we advocate for them, and we help find them information. . . There is no doubt that our advocacy and support are the catalyst that helps a victim become a survivor.?
? Subgrant #07122-5V: ?Before a victim of domestic violence reaches out for counseling or retreats to a shelter for safety, he/she must first recognize that they need help. At _________, we help crime victims recognize that they are in abusive situations and empower them . . .to create a safe plan and end the cycle of abuse.?
? Subgrant #07183-5V: ?We worked with a critically injured victim family . . . from point of crash. . . the nine (9) year old who is permanently paralyzed has . . had his story . . filmed into a segment of a nationally touring multi-media program that will be shown to over 2 million school children. . .
|
|
|
|
F.
IDENTIFY ANY EMERGING ISSUES OR NOTABLE TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES IN YOUR STATE.
|
The following issues continue to be identified as negatively impacting the provision of victim services:
? Increased drug use and production, particularly methamphetamine;
? Lack of employment opportunities;
? Jail overcrowding and early prison release;
? Lack of transportation and/or telephone service in rural areas;
? Length of time to prosecute cases
? Increase in the non-English speaking population;
? Increase in the use of date rape drugs;
? Lack of affordable housing, and
? Lack of prosecution of sexual assault perpetrators
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Arkansas continues to be dependent upon VOCA funds to support the administrative costs of ensuring effective programmatic and financial accountability of VOCA subgrantees. Administrative costs include: personnel costs; general maintenance and operational expenses (i.e. rent, telephone, travel related to subgrant monitoring, postage, office supplies).
Arkansas employs the use of electronic mail to reduce the costs of telephone and postage. State vehicles are driven to reduce the cost of mileage reimbursement. The cost of printing and mailing applications has been eliminated by posting the application kit, subgrantee reports and forms on the department?s website.
|
|
|