There continues to be no major obstacles in the state of Minnesota that would hinder victim assistance programs from assisting crime victims in filing for compensation benefits, or understanding state compensation eligibility requirements. VOCA assistance and VOCA compensation administrative staff are housed together within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). This enhances collaboration and coordination between the two program areas. VOCA sub-grantees, monitored by Program Specialists through site visits, are informed regularly about the compensation program and their role in assisting crime victims with the application process. Victim assistance programs have access to reparations training through informal trainings, set up by the Program Specialists, in the judicial districts in which they work. The OJP Training Unit continues to offer training in response to requests and at the annual crime victim conference. Any new policies or coverage changes are described in the OJP monthly newsletter, the Reparations Reporter, circulated to all programs via e-mail. Complete information about compensation benefits is also included on the OJP website. The claim form continues to be available in Spanish in addition to English. The brochure explaining reparations is available in English, Cambodian, Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.    

OJP continues to promote coordinated public and private efforts to aid crime victims in Minnesota. Ongoing efforts include hosting the annual conference on crime victims and support for the services of the Day One system and VINE.  





This past year OJP began to coordinate some planning and activities with the Greater Twin Cities United Way.  A couple partnering projects are underway to gather information about the needs statewide in addressing family violence and to look into the streamlining of reporting requirements among common grantees.  We are also working together to address transitional housing needs for domestic violence victims.





OJP hosted the 21st Annual Conference on Crime Victims at Cragun's in Brainerd, Minnesota in May. The conference brings together victim advocates and program volunteers, criminal justice professionals (law enforcement, prosecution, court), OJP staff, and other professionals from all over the state. OJP offers scholarships to coordinated groups of advocates and other systems personnel at local levels across the state. A wide variety of victim services and related program issues are presented and discussed. Many participants use this opportunity to network with other crime victim service professionals. In SFY08 there were about 350 participants at the conference. 





VINE is a fully automated, information and notification service that nearly all of the 87 Minnesota counties have now joined. The Department of Corrections is now part of the system as well. Registered users are immediately notified upon a change in an offender's status. VINE can relay important custody or arrest information in a matter of minutes, anywhere in the US, via telephone. Users can access information about an offender's custody status in "real time," 24 hours a day. Standard information available through the VINE service includes inmate custody status and location, criminal charge information, sentence expiration date and referral information for law enforcement and victim service provider organizations. Notifications are placed to registered persons upon the transfer, release, escape or death of an inmate. 





OJP continued financial support of the Day One system in SFY08. The Day One system is housed out of Cornerstone, Inc., a domestic violence shelter in the Twin Cities. The Day One system electronically connects victim service programs providing shelter and safehomes to victims of domestic violence. Through one phone call a victim of domestic violence can access shelter services available statewide. Providers are connected to a web-based system that gives immediate information on available shelter space, which can ensure that safety and services are appropriate and immediately available for women and children who need them. The Day One system also assists in arranging transportation to safe shelter and has greatly increased the number of women and children who are able to secure safe shelter with one phone call.    

OJP coordinates often with Adan Perez, an advocate with the Minnesota District of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Adan serves on our crime victim conference planning committee and we have regular contact with him to share ideas, discuss gaps on services, etc. Adan has frequent contact with our reparations unit in getting compensation for the federal crime victims with whom he works. Adan also sits on our Minnesota Victim Assistance Academy committee (details on the Academy in Section D).   





OJP also funds most of the tribal reservations statewide for domestic violence and sexual assault services.  Program specialists work closely with these programs in addressing the unique needs of their cultures.  

Strategic Plan


This past year, the OJP Crime Victim Grants Unit (CVGU) developed a strategic plan to guide the unit's work in the next 3 to 5 years.  In upcoming months, the CVGU will be creating benchmarks to address the following strategic outcomes.





1.	The CVGU supports and promotes leaders dedicated to quality, victim-centered services.


2.	The CVGU supports and promotes best practices in victim services through assessment of needs, delivery of technical assistance and support of quality improvement.


3.	The CVGU identifies gaps in victim services and dedicates available resources to address those geographic, cultural and programmatic needs.


4.	The CVGU convenes and supports key partners committed to the delivery of an integrated system of quality victim services.


5.	The CVGU is viewed by its partners as a trusted resource that is active and committed to quality, victim-centered services across Minnesota.


 


2008 Minnesota Victim Assistance Academy (MNVAA) 


The third annual Academy was held at St. Cloud State University (SCSU), in St. Cloud, Minnesota, from October 19-24, 2008. Participants explored a comprehensive curriculum created specifically for Minnesota by a multi-disciplinary committee assembled by the Minnesota Office of Justice Programs. All students who successfully completed the 40-hour MNVAA received a certificate of completion. Academic credit and continuing education credits may be available for an additional fee.  





Comments from the 2008 participant evaluations included:


?	?The wealth of knowledge and information I received is and will be such a valuable resource for me, my co-workers and our clients.?


?	?This was such a great learning experience, and a great way to meet new people and network.?


?	?This was a great opportunity to learn from a variety of presenters, staff and fellow students.?


?	?This opportunity allowed me to learn, refresh what I already knew and network.?

Please see attachment.

Although the state and federal budget outlooks look bleak, OJP will likely have enough in reserves to fund programming as is through FY10 (September 30, 2010).  The 5-year funding plan (FY05-FY09) was extended through FY10 while the strategic plan is being implemented.  Depending on the severity of the upcoming budget cuts, the FY11 funding year could look much different.  If the VOCA award continues at the same level as the most recent award, we will be facing a $1.4 million gap in funding in FY11, and programming will have to be reduced by 4% from current levels.   

The VOCA administration funds are used primarily for staff salaries. A small percentage of the funding is used toward various administrative, fiscal, training, and programming expenses of the Grants Unit such as covering the cost to attend the national VOCA conference.  VOCA administrative funds primarily impact OJP?s ability to improve victim services statewide through supporting staffing needs. An adequate number of staff means Program Specialists are able to conduct site visits to sub-grantees, and strengthen the delivery of victim services through assisting programs with financial training, technical assistance, needs assessments, programming development, and program evaluation.