Many subgrantees continue to report no hindrances to assisting crime victims in filing for compensation benefits.  The following is a summarized list of hindrances as reported by subgrantees: 1) illiteracy and language barriers; 2) lack of trust in the system; 3) children served by CASA programs are ineligible as they are in DHS custody; 4) confusion between victims compensation and restitution; 5) HIPAA restrictions; 6) frustration over the length of the claim form and the time it takes to receive compensation; 7) victims move and lose contact or do not submit required information; 8) lack of police report, especially in domestic violence incidents; 9) Lack of a victim advocate within every courthouse; and 10) confidentiality concerns/fear of retaliation by the perpetrator.

The state encourages subgrantees to participate in county-level Coordinated Community Response Teams as well as to establish MOUs and Cooperative Agreements between area service providers to eliminate duplication of services.  Coordination with and presentations to law enforcement, Native American Tribes, military bases, schools, churches, civic organizations and other public arenas helps to promote the awareness of victims issues to all areas of the community.  The state also encourages subgrantees to coordinate with their communities which could include candlelight vigils, county fair booths, local press coverage, distribution of brochures, hosting training seminars, and keeping up to date websites.  

Federal crime victim services between local, state and federal entities is greatly enhanced due to the excellent relationship between the Victim Witness Coordinators at the state District Attorneys level and the Victim Witness Coordinators located within the three US Attorneys Offices in Oklahoma.  Although a majority of the VOCA subgrantees do not work with federal victims on a regular basis, they all stated that they would offer the same services to all victims of crime regardless of the jurisdiction.  Agencies that do work with federal crime victims receive referrals from the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Attorneys Offices, and the Federal Probation and Parole Office.

At the state level, the District Attorneys Council supported the statewide Oklahoma Partnership Conference on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Stalking in October 2007 and the Victims Rights Day at the Capitol in April 2008 with VOCA Administrative funds.  The District Attorneys Council used VOCA Administrative funds to support the advanced victims academy: Critical Analysis of Victim Services in October 2007.  28 participants completed the week long course with two finishing the program as certified advocates.  Outreach to 26 hospitals and emergency rooms regarding crime victims compensation was done over the past year.  The District Attorneys Council also hosted quarterly meetings for all of the Victim Witness Coordinators and their assistants throughout the state.  At the subgrantee level, several activities that stood out were: 1) staff trained on VINE; 2) required in-service training for all volunteers; 3) hiring bi-lingual staff; 4) staff certified as Domestic Violence Sexual Response personnel through the state domestic violence coalition; 5) victim panels and focus groups to inform staff of ways to improve services; 6) mentoring program for domestic violence victims; and 7) ?mixers? for shelter residents with transitional housing residents. 

See the Attachment Section for examples of Counseling Services, Court Advocacy, Domestic Violence Advocacy, and Sexual Assault Advocacy.

The following is a list of emerging issues and notable trends that are impacting victims and services in Oklahoma as reported by subgrantees: 1) continued lack of funding; 2) increase in fuel costs makes transportation hard for victims in rural areas; 3) increase in violent gang activity; 4) lack of qualified interpreters to help in rising immigration population; 5) recruiting and retaining qualified volunteers during economic hardship; 6) availability of Plan B over-the-counter results in some rape victims not reporting; 7) lack of affordable legal services for women in domestic violence situations; 8) increase in Coordinated Community Response Teams leads to better services provided to victims; 9) increase in children being represented by a CASA volunteer; and 10) increase in the number of SANE nurses in the state due to an increase in the payment amount.  

VOCA Administrative funds were used to enhance services to crime victims in the following ways: VOCA staffing levels were maintained, which enabled subgrants to be adequately monitored.  Additional technical assistance was provided to subgrantees due to the reduction in the cap.  The funds were also used for VOCA-funded staff to attend training opportunities.  VOCA funds continued to be used for web-based financial trainings and grant award meetings, eliminating the expense of travel for subgrantees operating on tight budgets.  VOCA administrative funds were primarily used for personnel and benefits, maintenance and operating costs, travel, and supplies.  These funds were also used to support a week-long state victims academy.  During the reporting period, a total of $221,020.74 was used to assist in the administration of the VOCA assistance program.