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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 DELAWARE STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Delaware Criminal Justice Council 820 North French Street 10th Floor Wilmington, DE 19801-3520 tel: (302)577-8695
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 0 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 0
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 26
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 22
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 96 1. Child Physical Abuse 412 7. Adults Molested as Children 472 2. Child Sexual Abuse 49 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 0 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 65 9. Robbery 1,801 4. Domestic Violence 187 10. Assualt 312 5. Adult Sexual Assault 505 11. Other 126 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 4,025
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 1,370 1. Crisis Counseling 714 2. Followup 1,263 3. Therapy 470 4. Group Treatment/Support 327 5. Shelter/Safehouse 1,090 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 62 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 134 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 67 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 325 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 366 11. Personal Advocacy 2,121 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 760 13. Other TOTAL: 9,069
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: 1. Workshops were facilitated at community-based agencies and material was disseminated in the community at outreach affairs. 2. Speaking engagements were held for community groups about programming/services. 3. Outreach was conducted at hospitals, doctor offices, and schools. 4. Information was presented bimonthly in newsletters. 5. Community Informational Outreach programs were held at Senior Centers. 6. Meetings were held with service providers to compare services and make appropriate referrals. 7. Agencies cooperated with each other to develop referral procedures and build client base. 8. Service providers attend monthly meetings of the Victims’ Rights Task Force and the Domestic Violence Task Force. 9. The Sexual Assault Network of Delaware, which brings together a coalition of volunteers from a variety of agencies to advocate for changes in social welfare policy in response to the needs of victims, was formed. 10. Agencies collaborated with high school wellness centers in providing groups for victims of dating violence. 11. Agencies participated on the Immigration Subcommittee of the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. 12. Efforts to mobilize the faith community to identify and assist crime victims were conducted.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: The U.S. Attorney and the U.S. Attorney Victim/Witness Coordinator serve on the Victims Advisory Committee that makes VOCA funding decisions. They serve as advocates for federal crime victims during the committee meetings. The Federal Victim Witness Coordinator can access state level resources in providing services to federal crime victims.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: 1. Conducted education on immigration laws that can provide relief for victims. 2. Assisted the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council with the pictorial safety plan for illiterate women. 3. Statewide Crime Victims Conference was held in October to provide skills training to direct service providers and professionals in agencies that provide services to victims. 4. Domestic Violence and Sexual assault Law Enforcement Training Conference was held. 5. A Neurological Implications in the Aftermath of Trauma training was held. 6. Workshops and Trainings were held on dating violence. 7. Several VOCA funded programs distributed satisfaction surveys to victims they serve to obtain feedback on how they can improve service delivery. Some of these programs instituted a standardized intake procedure in order to facilitate access to their services. 8. The Governors Foster Care Task Force developed recommendations to address the problem of significant behavioral/emotional problems of abused children in foster homes. 9. Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Conference was held. 10. Pediatric SANE Training Conference was held. 11. Evidence Collection Kit was redesigned. 12. Department of Justice Pediatric Board developed strategies to meet standard for victims of sexual assault. 13. One VOCA funded program conduct needs assessments at intake, goals and outcomes are tracked to ensure services are meeting the needs of the victims.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: VOCA funds have been used in Delaware to provide an array of services to crime victims in Delaware. Evaluation and surveys conducted by VOCA funded programs document that crime victim lives have been changed in a positive way through services provided. Some of the ways VOCA funds have been used to assist crime victims are: Sexual assault victims showed improved psychological well being. Services for elderly victims of crime victims have been coordinated with other social agencies. Elderly crime victims receive legal assistance on cases involving abuse and financial exploitation. Abused children in foster care placement and in public schools received individual and group therapy that enhanced their ability to adjust and make positive changes. Young adults in violent dating situations and adults in domestic violence relationships broke away from these relationships and progressed to independent living and violent free relationships. A training program designed for domestic violence victims is providing college level courses that enable them to obtain jobs.
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: 1. The lack of adequate funding needed to assist clients in obtaining safe housing, food, and utility assistance and to meet the basic needs of living. 2. Predatory lending, especially high interest mortgages sold to people who own their homes. 3. Increase in the number of 12-15 year old victims with drug facilitated sexual assault issues. 4. Increase in the number of children with behavioral and emotional problems needing foster home placement. 5. Lack of resources to provide long-term multi-modal treatment by skilled psychotherapists to victims. 6. Need for education and training for school personnel with regards to dating violence. 7. Adolescents’ tolerance of or apathy towards abusive behaviors. 8. Lack of familiarity and understanding on the part of the victim concerning legal rights. 9. Increase in elderly population and the decrease in family cohesiveness. 10. Increase in domestic violence and robberies during the summer months.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: The VOCA administrative funds were utilized to pay the salary of the staff responsible for administration of VOCA funds. Having dedicated staff for the VOCA projects allow us to provide better technical assistance to subgrantees and to perform quarterly monitoring of VOCA projects. The VOCA administration fund allows the Criminal Justice Council (CJC) to improve victim services in the State in a number of ways. As the administrator of the VOCA funds, CJC is able to promote and maintain coordination and collaboration of victim services. CJC also administers the VAWA and other major block grants from DOJ, which gives them an advantage in the coordination of victim services. The victim service planning unit provides technical assistance to subgrantees with a focus on increasing diversity in the service provider agencies. Through technical assistance to direct service providers, CJC Staff improves services to victims. CJC Staff conducts informal need assessments/trend analysis and program evaluations in an effort to improve the quality of services and increase service availability. The administration funds are also used to send staff working in the crime victim area to training and national level planning meetings. Crime victim related materials are purchased for the CJC Victim Resource Library and made available to direct service provider agencies.