None at this time

The Maryland Department of Human Resources(DHR),Office of Grants Management (the former Office of Victim Services is part of OGM)continues to work with the State Board of Victim Services, the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence and the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault as primary stakeholders in public and private efforts to aid crime victims. The Director of the Office of Grants Management(OGM)serves on the State Board of Victim Services as well as the Family Violence Council (FVC)as the DHR Secretary's designee. The Family Violence Council advises and recommends to the Governor issues and actions pertaining to crime victim services in Maryland. Additionally, a Human Trafficking Task Force was organized a year ago and DHR is represented on the Task Force as well as on its Victim Services Sub-committee. Identification of service needs, analysis of policy, and commentary regarding proposed legislation affecting victim services programs are among the activites engaged in by the DHR/OGM on behalf of paricipating in a coordinated effort to aid crime victims. 

OGM continues to work with the State Board of Victim Services and representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland to assess and address the needs of victims of federal crimes. A number of sub grantees cooperate with military installations in the State to assist victims of crime that occur on those installations. From time to time, OGM has received v telephone calls from individuals seeking assistance with federal crime. Referrals were made directly to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The Office of Grants Management is supportive of sub-grantees in their efforts to meet the needs of crime victims in their communities. Also, OGM seeks to support them in complying with the terms and conditions of their respective grant agreements.  OGM staff conduct on-site and in-office monitoring of sub-grantees. On-site reviews are conducted at least once during a funding period On a monthly basis, victim statistical reports and narrative reports are due by the 15th of the month following the report month. A review and analysis of these forms helps staff ascertain how sub-grantees are meeting their proposed objectives (e.g. number of new victims served). The On-site review process allows staff to see sub-grantee facilities and review case files and meet their staff.  Following an on-site review, a written summary is sent to the subgrantee. If there are findings (recommendations for improvement or a change in a particular area), these are to be addressed along with an acknowledgement that the summary was received and read.  Periodic "Program Alerts" also are sent to providers--usually via e-mail--to advise them of other grant opportunities or changes within OGM that may affect them.

OGM staff requested information from sub-grantees as to case examples of how victims were assisted through VOCA funding.  The following narrative represents several examples of assistance: 1)At the Safe Place Child Advocacy Center-Washington County, MD, VOCA funding was key to assisting non-offending caregivers. The funded therapist was able to help a parent prepare for the court hearing of the offender and to suppot the parent in coping with her child's behavior which became difficult after the abuse. 2) The Pro Bono Counseling Project offered several case examples of VOCA assisted outcomes.  In one case, a "Mr. J" was recovering from a third surgery in shock trauma.  He had been stabbed 20 times, held captive in a hotel room and physically abused and burned.  His sleeplessness, sadness, and anxiety and fear of leaving home w were troubling to him after having previously been a single, outgoing, and trusting young man.  After working with his therapist for four months, he now has a job and is getting support as he prepares for the trial. 3)In another instance, a senior, "Ms. B", who lives independently, was a victim of a home invasion.  She was in her bedroom when three adolescent males entered with a gun and a hammer. They robbed her, destroyed her bedroom and threatened to shoot her. One of the youths was placed on home detention awaiting placement in residential treatment and she has seen him in the neighborhood. She says that she is "still obsessing" over this incident but has worked in therapy for three months. As a result "I feel like I am starting to learn to relax." Her ttherapy concluded after 4 months. 4) The Adelante Familia Program serves a population that largely speaks Spanish. Here is a vignette from their program: "Rosa" requested services from Adelante Familia as she was afraid of her husband.  he was getting increasingly abusive against her.  She was aware that he had a drinking problem but discovered that he had begun using drugs.  Rosa confronted him about this and he became enraged; throwing things and hitting her.  She asked him to stop or she would call the police. After that, he fled. In fear of what her husband might do when he returned home, Rosa contacted Adelante Familia whose staff helped her obtain an Order of Protection and to get the locks changed on her home.  Her husband later returned, breaking a window in the house.  She begged him to leave, but he entered the house.  Following her safety plan, Rosa left to a neighbor's house and called the police.  Her husband was arrested. Desptite the enormous pressure she received from her in-laws and from her church, Rosa testified in court about her husband's actions.  Since then, Adelante Familia has supported Rosa through the process of applying for a U-Visa and now, she is working and supporting herself and her small child.

As reported last year, the need continues for additional resources that will assist unserved and underserved crime victims whose primary language is other than English.  All jurisdictions have experienced some increase in the need for these resources. However, some areas of the state are experiencing more of an increase than others. OGM continues to work with advocacy organizations to develop ways that these populations can be served. Funding is limited for supporting contractors or staff with this expertise. Through interaction with community partners and stakeholders, OGM is learning of ways sub-grantees are collaborating with one another to arrange for these services.

VOCA Administrative Funds have been used to support staff salaries in perfoming VOCA-allowable activies which include: on-site monitoring, in-office review and analysis of sub recipient reports of program activities, techincal assistance, attendance at victim services stakeholder meetings and conferences. Monitoring legislation, including attending legislative hearings, affecting victim services programs in the state also is part of the function of OGM staff whose salaries are supported by VOCA.