All VOCA subgrantees receive applications, brochures and other necessary information to assist crime victims in filing for compensation.  Training is provided to individual organizations and offered at organizational state meetings regarding the compensation program.  Compensation staff provides a workshop at the Annual Crime Victims' Rights Conference which is hosted by the Governor and Attorney General.  In addition, the compensation director provides a training session at the annual Governor??s B.A.S.I.K. (Building Advocacy Skills, Information and Knowledge) training for new crime victim advocates.  This working relationship has greatly enhanced the exchange of information and services provided to local victim assistance programs.





Programs inform victims of the availability of the state crime victims?? compensation program.  Obstacles to obtaining services and therefore receiving crime victim information include:


?X	victims not reporting the crime to law enforcement within 72-hours of the crime occurring;


?X	victims being discouraged if they applied in the past and their claims were denied;


?X	lack of child care and after school services available to clients when they need it;


?X	the perceived stigma of seeking help;


?X	embarrassment if they have reading or writing difficulties;


?X	transportation difficulties related to financial problems or poverty;


?X	emergency services in the community not being available at hours when services are needed;


?X	safety issues of being able to come in for counseling if the client is still living in the abusive environment;


?X	fear of revenge or retaliation from the batterer for seeking help or safety; and


?X	fears of immigration/deportation.

All subgrantees work with public and private agencies within their respective communities to share information, statistics, trends and methods of intervention.  This collaboration ranges from coalitions, task forces and other community networking efforts on behalf of organizations working with crime victims.  The subgrantees reported many referrals from community agencies.  This referral process is important because it reveals the need for the subgrantee in the community and respected by other agencies.  Every effort is made to let the public know about services and how to get help should they become a crime victim.  Subgrantees also provide a multitude of community education programs through lectures, presentations, brochures and one-on-one interactions aimed at promoting coordinated public and private efforts to better serve victims.  





Because of the collaborative efforts, YWCA Battered Women Task Force in Topeka received private donations from individuals and organizations while the Shelter??s kitchen and dining rooms were ??under construction.??  Local restaurants and grocery stores prepared and donated dinners for five weeks since the shelter was unable to prepare hot meals.  In August 2008, a women??s group from a local church donated their time to make many curtains for the shelter and held a canned food drive to restock the food pantry.  The Shelter??s pantry also stays full from the CURVES Annual Food Drive which takes place in February.  The Task Force has partnered with the Topeka Homebuilders Association and its raised $1,000 to benefit clients and donated school supplies for children who stay in the shelter.

All crime victims receive compensation information when they come in contact with a subgrantee program.  In addition, the federal victim/witness staff is invited to participate in trainings.  Subgrantees also serve crime victims by providing:


?X	24-hour crisis hotline


?X	Shelter services


?X	Case management services


?X	Crisis counseling


?X	Alcohol and substance abuse screening and counseling


?X	Transportation assistance


?X	Clothing 


?X	Medical, mental and financial assistance


?X	Parenting classes


?X	Nutrition classes


?X	Housing assistance


?X	Legal advocacy


?X	Health care advocacy

All VOCA victim assistance subgrantees are trained on working with crime victims.  All VOCA subgrantee staff attend the Governor??s B.A.S.I.K. (Building Advocacy Skills, Information and Knowledge) training.  Subgrantees receive the necessary basic training skills on working with crime victims.  Experts from around the state assist in providing the instruction.  The training has been very successful and is a requirement for all VOCA funded staff.  The Governor and Attorney General continue to host the Annual Crime Victims' Rights Conference with more than 500 people attending.  Professionals, crime victims and their families attend the training to discuss and learn about services and working with crime victims.  Without the VOCA administrative funds, the Governor??s B.A.S.I.K. training and the annual conference, would not be possible.  





In addition, subgrantees work with others in the criminal justice system to identify and address gaps in services.  One subgrantee provided domestic violence training to landlords to help them better understand rights for domestic violence victims and measures they can take to increase victims?? safety.  YWCA of Wichita worked with the Sedgwick County Health Department??s Healthy Babies program to help increase the knowledge and awareness about domestic violence for Healthy Babies staff and young mothers who are involved with the Program.  Healthy Babies is a prenatal and postpartum home visitation program designed to improve birth outcomes by decreasing premature birth, fetal and infant mortality and child abuse in high-risk families.  The Healthy Babies staff became concerned about the level of domestic violence among the women they were serving in targeted neighborhoods in Northeast Wichita and asked permission to include domestic violence and Women??s Crisis Center literature with the information they provided to their clients.  The YWCA also included Healthy Babies Program literature in the packets of information its distributes to the victims served through outreach education and advocacy.  In addition, referrals to the Healthy Babies Program for shelter residents is encouraged when appropriate.

Child Abuse Category ?V Wichita Children??s Home


Wichita Children??s Home provides child abuse identification, intervention and support services and residential emergency care, emergency foster homes and transitional living programs.





Anecdotal Information:


A young lady with a very troubled past, came to Wichita from Texas to escape violence and a relationship with gang-bangers.  She only has a seventh grade education and does not know anything but the terror of life with ??thugs.??  She is a very quiet girl who starts off shy.  However, she is an extremely hard worker and once she opens up, she has a brilliant sense of humor.  She came to the program as a referral through the Street Outreach program.  She has had her psychosocial assessment completed with VOCA funding and it has enabled the staff to find better ways of working with her and demonstrated her need to be able to express herself and her fear for her safety.  





Since her arrival, staff found ways to help her gain employment ?V she likes the safety and security of being able to stay around people she knows.  In addition, she has been able to begin working on her GED.





Domestic Violence Category ?V Friends of Yates, Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center


Friends of Yates provides a safety net to domestic violence victims and their dependent children.





Anecdotal Information:


A story from a domestic violence victim.  ??I am a 32-year-old domestic violence victim and mother of three children, expecting my fourth, when I arrived at the shelter. I grew up in a situation where I witnessed my stepfather abusing my mother.  I never imagined I would be in a similar situation someday.  After the father of my children died and my closest girlfriend died within moths of each other, I was very lonely.  I met my abuser and he was very kind for awhile.  He filled a void in my life because I missed the two people with whom I had shared so much with.  He was always there for me and within a short time I found an apartment and he moved in with me.  We had good times and would smoke marijuana together and drink beer when the kids were asleep.  He seemed unable to hold a job and in no time he was unemployed.  I noticed his behavior changing.  When I was working he would constantly check up on me.  When my oldest son??s father would call to check on him, he would start arguments with me and begin pushing and hitting me.  On one occasion when he was battering me, my oldest son called 911.  When the police arrived, they found marijuana in the ash tray and the lights and water had been turned off.  They arrested both of us and placed my children in protective custody.  My mother bailed me out and she contacted Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center for domestic violence.





When I entered the shelter, I was depressed and felt my situation was hopeless.  I did not know what to do or which direction to move in.  All I could think about was my children.





I met with my case manager to share my plans and goals with her.  At the Center they call it a strength-based, client-centered assessment.  She helped me to see that my love for my children was a strength.  She also helped me to see that my having an AA degree was a strength.  My goals were to obtain housing, arrange for visitation with my children, attend parenting classes and because I am a diabetic, taking insulin twice a day, a nutrition class would be helpful.  I met with the Substance Abuse counselor at Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center.  He did a drug screening and assessment and I tested positive for marijuana.  He and the court advocate went to my court hearing for the drug charges.  He advocated for me by assuring the judge that he would refer me to an out-patient program and that I would attend weekly groups around alcohol and substance abuse issues.  The judge gave me a diversion and placed me on probation.  My case manager and court advocate went with me to my child custody hearings.  The court advocate helped me to file a protection from abuse order.  She explained my options but left choices up to me.  My case worker assisted me in completing my application for housing.  I had an old utility bill that needed to be paid before any utilities could be turned on once I obtained housing.  My case worker helped locate the funds to pay the bill.  My case worker went with me to visit my children who were still in foster care.  She had me make a wish for things I would need for my new apartment.  The judge ordered me to show that I could provide a stable home for my children.  I continued my parenting, domestic violence, substance abuse, nutrition and life-skill classes.  I also continued working 25 hours a week.  The $1,200 in social security I received was being paid to SRS until my children returned homes.  I noticed that I was smiling more and feeling better about myself.  I began to speak up more in groups and encourage other victims.





When I received the keys to my apartment I can not describe the JOY I felt.  When I completed my drug diversion program, I felt the weight of the world was lifting off me.  I was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I still need to continue my supervised visits with my children but we will start re-integrating in July.  When the time came for me to leave the shelter, I stayed for one-and-a-half weeks longer.  I think I was having problems separating from the staff and residents who have been so supportive, encouraging and accepting of me.  The center presented me with new items for the baby ?V clothing, blankets, bottles, etc.  They also filled my wish list and gave me many new items that I would need for my apartment.  The staff spent their weekend helping me to move.  The Shelter Director assured me that I would receive six months of follow-up services and asked me to bring the baby by to see the staff. She also told me that I could utilize the learning lab in the new shelter.  The decision to enter Della Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center was one of the best I have made.  I have a sense of purpose and direction in my life.  The staff tells me that I can complete my college degree.  The services that I received helped me get my life back in order.  I am a stronger and better person today because of these services.??





Sexual Assault Category ?V Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault


Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault provides outreach, intervention and support services to sexual violence victims 





Anecdotal Information:


A 62-year-old woman visited a survivor??s group at MOCSA nearly 15 years ago following her rape at knifepoint.  At that time, she did not feel comfortable talking about the assault but did appreciate the court-related support MOCSA provided.  Her perpetrator was convicted of the assault and went to prison.  For the following decade and a half, the woman considered returning to MOCSA.  In 2008, she joined the Rape Survivor??s Support Group and greatly benefitted from the support and encouragement she received from other survivors.  To further her healing process, she requested individual Sexual Assault Intervention sessions.  Now 14 weeks later, she reflects the focus she allowed herself in individual sessions helped her process the trauma and pay honor to her survival.





Underserved Category ?V Parents of Murdered Children


Parents of Murdered Children??s victim advocate office provides a safe place for survivors to receive the support they need with a variety of issues.





Anecdotal Information:


??I thank God you are in (POMC staff) our lives.  Not the way we had to meet, but I am glad to have you in our lives.  We were only planning on being able to stay for one day of the trial.  Because of the mileage reimbursement, we were able to stay nearly the entire week.  We sincerely appreciate your help and support during this difficult time.  Thank you!

Subgrantees noted several emerging issues and notable trends such as:


?X	80 percent of victims entering shelter having substance abuse issues which must be addressed before goals of self-sufficiency and empowerment can be achieved.


?X	Gang violence and other violent crimes.


?X	Child sex crime cases.


?X	Working with foreign born populations needing services and immigration and cultural issues.  Many clients cannot afford to pay for legal advice or representation.  Staff are being trained on immigration issues, but there is a strong need for more legal advocacy.


?X	Increased number of homeless teens.


?X	Increased need for placements for youth with Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Questioning issues.


?X	Drug facilitated sexual assaults.


?X	Victims being arrested in dual arrests for domestic violence.

The administrative funds are used to pay for staff, rent, postage, training and travel.  In addition, an extensive study was done regarding the services provided by domestic violence programs.  





Staff positions paid with administrative funds includes the administrator, attorney, manager, three analysts, specialist, administrative assistant and training coordinator.  The analysts provide yearly on site and desk reviews for each VOCA subgrantee and learns in-depth about the VOCA grant projects.  Also, one of the analysts reviews all the subgrantee progress reports and compiles an annual report regarding the services provided with VOCA grant funds.  





Administrative funds assist with training efforts.  The Annual Crime Victims?? Rights Conference is held each April and more than 500 people participate.  Also, the Governor provides annual week long training for all new crime victim advocates, B.A.S.I.K. (Building Advocacy Skills, Information and Knowledge).  All VOCA staff are required to attend this training.