The Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance (ICDVVA) and the Crime Victim Compensation Board in Idaho have continued to have an excellent relationship with each other, as well as to continue to work together in providing training for funded programs.  As in the past, the ICDVVA promotes assistance for crime victims and filing for compensation benefits. Internally, the ICDVVA consistently promotes the Crime Victim Compensation Board through referrals and inclusion in events and training sessions.  In addition, the Crime Victim Compensation Board routinely visits each of the programs that the ICDVVA funds and provides training.  Our funded programs state that issues that hinder them in assisting crime victims in filing for compensation benefits include the following: Demand for services has exceeded the funding available; 


Each system or agency has its own requirements and trying to gather all of the required documentation is sometimes difficult, especially when dealing with other counties and/or states. Victims are hesitant to report to the police the incidents of violence for a variety of reasons and, therefore, often lack the paper trail to document the abuse. Some clients have the idea that it is similar to the welfare system and don?t want to rely on any sort of assistance; usually explaining where the money comes from does help, but some victims still do not want to participate and see it as more of a hassle than it is worth. Some clients complain that it is too much work; another issue in victim compensation claims is that very few prosecutions happen and that clients are very hesitant to follow through in the filing; crime is not reported in the cases of emotional or psychological abuse; a crime did occur, but the client chooses not to report the crime or to cooperate with law enforcement; a crime did occur, but the time in which the crime may be reported has passed. Most victims receive their compensation applications from the prosecutors? offices or through the mail, often there is no follow through, and, thus, the applications are not always submitted. The ICDVVA and the Crime Victim Compensation Board are working with the funded programs in order to provide information to law enforcement/prosecutors? offices and to alert them that the shelter/programs in their communities can assist victims with the process and continue with follow through on claims submitted.    

The Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance (ICDVVA) has placed great emphasis on collaboration with other governmental and non-governmental organizations to stimulate a more coordinated response to domestic violence, to enhance safety for victims, to hold offenders accountable, to improve inter-agency collaboration, and to look for broader system outcomes.  Through doing this, a few of our accomplishments this year included establishing a Workplace Domestic Violence Policy. The Governor signed an Executive Order in November, to provide information, training, and paid leave to all state employees for domestic violence. The coordinated committee has developed a Domestic Violence training toolkit for employers. The ICDVVA, in collaboration with other agencies, also developed an Idaho Model Risk Assessment of Dangerousness Tool and process for criminal justice and non-criminal justice agencies to better assess the risk of dangerousness in domestic violence cases. We have spent the past two years in the planning stage of this project and have plans to roll this out statewide in April 2009. The coordinated committee was also instrumental in establishing a Victim Witness Academy, which has been very successful the past two years and will be held again in June 2009. This past year a legislative bill was passed for an Address Confidentiality Program here in Idaho. The ICDVVA is partnering with the Secretary of State?s office in providing training and assistance for this program. The ICDVVA is also sponsoring in conjunction with our funded programs, a ?Cut Out Domestic Violence? campaign. Hairstylists across the state will be trained in the signs of domestic violence and will be able to provide clients with resource materials. The ICDVVA funded programs are all working towards collaboration in their communities with local law enforcement, prosecutors? offices, hospitals, governmental agencies, and the communities to establish a community wide effort in assisting victims of crime. The programs have also begun outreach efforts to cover areas where services are lacking. Through our programs and the VOCA funding, the ICDVVA has services available in all areas of Idaho to aid victims of crime. The goal of the ICDVVA in the coming years is to continue to collaborate with organizations and agencies to promote a statewide approach to domestic violence.

The Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance (ICDVVA) works with our United States Attorney?s office in providing awareness on the issue of firearms and domestic violence. As a state we have few federal crimes that are reported to the ICDVVA through our funded programs Speculation would be that some of the federal crimes would occur with our various Native American tribes. Although our funded programs attempt to work closely with the tribes in their communities, the tribes are still reluctant to work closely with our office. The ICDVVA is making headway by reaching out to them and offering our support. The ICDVVA is working with local non-profits in assisting them in applying for tribal funding in order to provide better resources to our tribal communities. The ICDVVA is aware that human trafficking, although not reported, is probably more prevalent than noted. Programs have reported a growing immigrant population and a few cases of victims not having the proper paperwork to remain in Idaho. These programs are working with the Department of Justice on these issues. The ICDVVA is planning to incorporate more training to aid victims of crime in tribal jurisdictions and in human trafficking during our annual conference. 

The Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance (ICDVVA) is dedicated to providing the resources and opportunities for quality victim services.  As part of our process, the ICDVVA conducts monitoring that includes on site visits and reviews policies and procedures of programs at both substantive and fiscal levels to ensure that grant objectives are implemented and to offer technical assistance.  The entire premise of the monitoring ensures that programs are able to carry out their goals and objectives and to do so in accordance with federal and state guidelines that the ICDVVA follows.  Through the monitoring process, programs are able to maximize their effectiveness and to deliver quality services to crime victims.  The ICDVVA is proudly committed to act on behalf of crime victims and direct service providers by providing trainings throughout the state on a yearly basis. A two day Grantee training is provided to all programs. This includes not only office procedures but also topics that benefit the non-profits, such as sustainability efforts, safety planning, and medical updates. The ICDVVA also provides board member training for the program boards on conducting productive meetings, supporting the programs/shelters, and fundraising efforts. One goal of the ICDVVA is to not only ensure victims are receiving the best care, but also that the programs/shelters are operating in an efficient manner in order to sustain the services they provide. The ICDVVA, through VOCA training funds, holds an annual Two Days in June conference that provides training to those working in domestic violence fields, with approximately 300 attendees each year. This includes a variety of topics; in June 2008, there were 19 different sessions with 25 speakers from across the nation. The ICDVVA has proudly provided this training, education, and awareness to Idaho for the past 15 years and will continue to do so.  The ICDVVA also produces several brochures that are given to various organizations for distribution on all of our programs and services. The ICDVVA also supplies the police departments with brochures to issue to victims in need of services. This is done with our state funds, but this does provide delivery of victim services in a timely and efficient manner. 

Hilda came to the program about eight months ago. She is loud, a little pushy and says whatever is on her mind. She?s the type of person who might make you cringe, but you just can?t help liking her. She has been married to an abusive alcoholic for 15 years, but because her family told her she had made her bed now she had to lie in it, she believed it and never sought help. That is until she was arrested for finally fighting back. She literally had it with his calling her filthy names, belittling her, bringing other women into their house, and, much worse, that during a fight (not an argument) she fought back (pushing him to the ground and sitting on him?she was quite a bit bigger than him) she called the police for help. When the officers came and saw her sitting on top of this man who was now calling for help, they arrested her not him. Thanks to a very smart Judge, the program staff was called in. Hilda was not sure of herself; she was to the point of accepting jail because that would be easier than having to go home and be with HIM. In the last eight months, the program staff has been able to provide shelter for her and her sons, educate and provide support through one-on-one and group support for her and her children, refer her to legal support, educate her on victims compensation and the benefits for her and her children and help to rebuild the person that she used to be?smart, confident and happy. She?s still loud, says what?s on her mind (not so pushy) and living a safer and healthier life with her children. Hilda still attends the Journey Beyond Abuse group and wants to someday become a volunteer.





In April, the program staff was contacted by a program in Southeastern Idaho regarding a woman named Jackie and her three children who were displaced when Jackie learned that her daughter was being sexually abused by her husband?the father of her daughter. The family needed to relocate because they lived in a very rural town in Idaho where the abuser had lived all of his life and had an extended family. The victim and her children were terribly afraid of the abuser?s family who had a long history of violence and law enforcement interaction. The woman and her children arrived at the program and immediately began working with the program case plan by filing for Crime Victims Compensation, getting counseling, beginning the legal process involved with child abuse, and completing protection order paperwork. Even though the child abuse case is never adjudicated fast enough for victims and advocates, Jackie and her children have made some headway in going forward with their lives. Jackie is employed and the children are registered for school. She also will be moving to transitional housing in August. Jackie and the children will continue to get counseling and legal advocacy through the program after they leave the children. With VOCA funding, the program was able to provide trained advocates that answer the 24-hour crisis line, aid victims in completing Crime Victims Compensation forms, accompany victims to court, aid in completing Protection Order paperwork, and provide shelter. The name has been changed to protect the victim?s privacy.





This person has survived a marriage with a person who emotionally, verbally, sexually, and physically abused her. She has experienced many acts of power and control and abusive behavior along with repeated physical and sexual violence. This survivor began working with Family Services Alliance after she contacted the police and informed them of the abuse she has been experiencing. Her partner has threatened her, including threatening to kill her and her children multiple times. She has survived many incidents of emotional violence. She has experienced jealousy and irrational behavior from her partner. She has lived through coercive and threatening behavior on a repeated and regular basis. She has experienced economic abuse and isolation. She reports loss of family and friends due to her abusive partner. She has experienced name calling. She has experienced sexual abuse by her partner including unwanted touch and sexual assault. Her partner has threatened her and her children?s safety if she refused to have sex with him. When asked about the violence, she has experienced, she reports, ?I was just trying to get through the moment. I don?t remember every incident.? Her partner attempted to control her behavior in many different situations and circumstances. She reports that her husband wanted her to attend college because there was student loan money available. She states, ?I realized that doing well in college might offer an escape from the marriage.? She reached out for assistance and told her husband that she wanted a divorce. Due to her partner?s coercive and threatening behavior, including threats to murder her and her children and then commit suicide if she left, she reports that she stayed because of fear. During this difficult time, she was also dealing with health problems, including cancer. She reports that her partner was unsupportive during this time. He called her names, including degrading terms related to cancer, such as ?fat cancer bitch? and ?chemo cunt.? Her partner then kicked her out of her family home. She began moving things out of her home. She reports her partner became very angry upon witnessing her removing her things from her home. He forced her to a back bedroom and isolated her. He sexually and physically abused her. He became physically violent upon her refusal to have sexual relations. He threatened to kill her and the children if she refused to have sex with him. This went on for multiple hours. She was finally able to get out of the house and ask a neighbor to contact the police. Her partner ran from the police so he was not arrested on that day. She entered the woman?s shelter program. She began working with a case manager to best meet her needs. With the assistance of an advocate, she filed a temporary protection order. The police located her partner approximately a week later, and he was arrested and served with the protection order. Before his arrest, he contacted her multiple times through email. These emails blamed her for the violence, and the emails were coercive in nature. She states, ?I felt like he was sending the emails more so to find out what charges were being brought against him, rather than that he was sincerely sorry. ? I felt like he said he was sorry so that I would drop the charges against him.? She went to a hearing to extend the protection order. She decided the protection order was in her family?s best interest because she could request that her children be protected also. The no contact order was dropped, and the judge granted a protection order, ordering that her partner have no contact with her or her children. This person has been working with the program in many different programs. She proactive in her care, and she is working hard to ensure her family?s well-being. She has successfully completed the five week safety planning course. The program also provides a follow-up support group, which she has attended. During her group attendance, child care and dinner is provided for her children. She participated in individual counseling services, and her children are receiving play therapy services through the agency. She has been working with an advocate to apply for legal aid services. She is planning to file for divorce shortly. She says, ?I just want to get away from him. I don?t want to provoke him to violence. He is sly.? When asked how her life is different after being away from her abusive partner, she states, ?Our lives have improved tremendously since he and I have been apart. My daughters get along better, show more respect, and they are helpful around the house. I enjoy talking with others without the fear of being monitored and questioned or accused of adultery.? The services that are provided include: Shelter, individual counseling, Play therapy for children, and Legal aid referral support group, Children?s group follow-up support group, and group assistance with DVO case management.





Client (referred to as J.B.) came to the YWCA seeking assistance with housing for her and two children. She was in need of housing because she wanted to leave her husband who was physically violent. J.B. and her husband had been together for more than 16 years, married for nine years. Their two children are nine and seven years old. Shortly after their oldest child was born, J.B.?s husband started being physically violent toward her: attempted to strangle her (in front of their children), spit in her face whenever he was angry, threw objects and hit her, shoved her, etc. She stated that he is an addict and an alcoholic. She wanted to find a safe place to live so that she could leave the situation. The legal advocate met with J.B. and discussed the services available to her through the YWCA: lodging, domestic violence shelter, homeless shelter, rental assistance, Women?s Support Group, counseling, assistance completing a protection order, court support, and/or referral to Idaho Legal Aid. After speaking with the YWCA advocate, J.B. decided to start attending the Women?s Support Group. She also started attending counseling at the YWCA. The legal advocate helped J.B. complete the petition for a civil protection order, which, when it was granted, removed J.B.?s husband from the residence and allowed her to have a safe place to live. But the rent had not been paid, and she had received an eviction notice, and, so, the advocate helped J.B. apply and secure $400.00 in rental assistance so that she and her two children would not be evicted.

The population in Idaho has continued to rise in the past few years. This includes a growing immigrant population. With this increased population and the current economy, it has been very difficult for non-profits to maintain full services as the demand for services has exceeded the funding available. As our population grows, and the economy declines unfortunately, our crime rate will increase. This year, as in the past, trends reported by our funded programs are the manufacturing and use of methamphetamine. This, combined with alcohol abuse, is a primary ingredient in homes where domestic violence and child abuse, both physical and sexual, occur. Due to state funding, lack of affordable, appropriate and locally available substance abuse, mental health and legal aid services are compounding this increase. In fact the state recently went through a 2% reduction in general fund which resulted in even less funding going towards these services. With the declining economy many programs are reporting a drastic rise in burglary and theft crimes. The use of technology to track and stalk victims remains an issue as well. This year the number of immigrant women seeking services has increased dramatically. Many of these victims meet their partners online, not completely knowing the persons? history and abusive patterns. Most come into this country with hopes soon shattered, due to deplorable conditions they are forced to live in and spouses who treat them as servants. Many of these victims are isolated from their families back home, and then they face communication barriers in their current situation. Also, programs still report that victims in small communities are afraid to report domestic violence as ?everyone knows everyone.? Another issue coming to the forefront this past year is the number of cases where women have been befriended in bars and supplied alcohol which has resulted in an increase in sexual violence. On the positive side of emerging trends it is being reported statewide that more offenders are being ordered to domestic violence evaluations more often than in the past. This is due in part to the ICDVVA being able to provide more training to judges/law enforcement. The ICDVVA is also currently in the process of revising the batterer treatment standards to reflect the changing times in order to provide more offender treatment options.  There is now an approved Child Advocacy Center in Southeastern Idaho, which reports that through the CAC model they are required to comply with they are seeing not only better services for victims of child abuse but also they feel this is aiding in the number of convictions of child sexual offenders. The ICDVVA is hopeful that, through continued collaboration and training, the ICDVVA will have an impact on the existing trends and the new emerging issues and trends. 

The Idaho Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance (ICDVVA) and the efforts of the service providers in organizations that the ICDVVA funds are contingent upon the receipt of VOCA funds. Specifically, the uses of administrative funds go to monitoring, training, personnel, and publication of written materials. The training offered through the ICDVVA, at both our subgrantee level and at our annual crime victim conference, is unduplicated both geographically and substantively. The training sponsored by ICDVVA is invaluable as we are able to provide training on a variety of topics to those that do not have the opportunities to attend other trainings due to budget issues. We have seen an increase in victims coming forward to receive services and the justice system holding offenders accountable. We feel this is due in large part to the training we are able to provide with our administrative funds. The impact of the use of our funds, particularly through training, provides education, public awareness, and a forum for those who work with or seek to gain information on crime victimizations. Without the use of VOCA funding to provide these services, the state would not have the resources available to offer these services.