Often times, when many VOCA funded programs are linked with victims, it has been many months since the original victimization occured. In this time, there could have been many comp related events that the victim experienced. Sadly, many victims are not informed of CVC by the initial service providers, and by the time VOCA staff get to them, they have not kept track of receipts because they did not know the services were available. 

All VOCA funded programs are required to collaborate with public and private partners within the community, and within the application they detail these efforts. Programs participate in multidisciplanary team meetings, community councils and partnerships. 

ALL VOCA funded programs take every effort to work with advocates from federal prosecutors office, and have information for contacts. 

ALL VOCA funded programs will receive and individual, on-site programmatic visit from the VOCA program manager every year. During these visits, policy manuals, client files, and other practices are reviewed as well as any TA that the subgrant may need.    

VOCA Crime Victims funds are being used to assist senior crime victims from many areas within Kentucky.  Our Jefferson County office receives many calls from across the entire State of Kentucky and other states for assistance with victims.  





Crime Victims in my community have received assistance through VOCA funds in the following manner: Crisis Counseling and Intervention, Support in the Criminal Justice System, assistance filing the Victim Compensation forms, transportation to and from court proceedings, community agencies, spouse abuse shelters,  the VINE program,  and notification of court proceedings.





In February 2008, the BRACAC received referrals for and provided services to more than 25 children as a result of a large, multi-victim case of child sexual abuse.  The Center has been instrumental in the prosecution?s efforts to prepare all necessary medical testimony, records for both prosecution and defense, and support of clients as prosecution efforts and trial moved forward.  In September, the alleged offender accepted a plea for a sentence of 35 years and will be sentenced soon.  While every member of the MDT who was involved in the case helped bring about a positive outcome, the BRACAC was and has been recognized by the prosecuting attorney as ?instrumental? in this huge accomplishment in our regional community.





VOCA funds provide support for the only local comprehensive treatment approach for families dealing with child sexual abuse (Tic Toc).  Family Nurturing Center is the only Northern Kentucky agency dedicated to child abuse providing prevention, education and intervention/therapeutic services for child victims of abuse (ranging from physical, to domestic violence to sexual abuse). VOCA funds allow us to bridge the gap for local children and families to receive therapy when at times they would be unable to access services if it weren?t for our program due to the time they would have to wait to get in to a local office, inability to afford the therapy, lack of insurance and/or the lack of expertise by local therapists in the area of child abuse.  Our programs, counseling and groups address all family members, not just the child victim.  We know that child abuse impacts the whole family.  Thanks to VOCA funding we are able to provide support for children and their families to learn that they are not alone, connect them with community resources, provide peer support systems, educate them on ways to recognize, resist and report abuse, as well as a therapeutic setting to process the experience of being abused and the related feelings.  The comprehensive services provide a platform to move through a healing continuum from victim to survivor to thriving. These experiences and transformations would not be possible without the generous funding through VOCA. 





The following are from parent/caregiver feedback given at the completion of services:





?The Tic Toc Program has given our child a great understanding of what abuse looks like and how to handle all that goes along with it.  This program truly gave us hope of a great and healthy future.?





?Prior to the program, my daughter was overly flirtatious for her age, and my son was greatly lacking in self-confidence.  During the twelve weeks of the program, my daughter has begun to display a more age appropriate level of affection, and my son?s confidence has greatly improved!  In face, my son?s first grad teacher even commented on his increased self-esteem on a recent report card.  I attribute much of these positive results to the Tic Toc program and the care and knowledge provided by the group facilitators. Thanks You!?

Current trends include recent increases in the amount of human trafficking cases, as well as identity theft and fraud. 

VOCA administration funds are used to fund a joint conference each spring with the Office of the Attorney General. This conference, which is provided free of charge to attendees, is crucial because for many small agencies, this is the only way they can afford necessary training. Within the context of the training, advocates receive information from nationally recognized speakers about emerging trends in the field of victim advocacy and learn about best practices to serve victims.