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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 MASSACHUSETTS STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: Massachusetts Victim and Witness Assistance Board One Ashburton Place, Room 1101 Boston, MA 02202-0003 tel: (617)727-0115
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 435,204 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 0 4. Other $ 0 TOTAL:$ 435,204
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 70
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 103
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 1,309 1. Child Physical Abuse 1,419 7. Adults Molested as Children 3,561 2. Child Sexual Abuse 1,221 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 241 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 517 9. Robbery 16,923 4. Domestic Violence 3,072 10. Assualt 2,054 5. Adult Sexual Assault 816 11. Other 217 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 31,350
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 11,607 1. Crisis Counseling 7,632 2. Followup 2,783 3. Therapy 4,470 4. Group Treatment/Support 1,225 5. Shelter/Safehouse 15,858 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 6,533 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 5,706 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 8,063 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 2,397 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 10,354 11. Personal Advocacy 26,413 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 7,614 13. Other TOTAL: 110,655
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) has made many efforts this year to promote coordination and collaboration between public and private agencies within the Commonwealth to aid crime victims. While this has always been a priority, in the wake of September 11th, the need for communication across disciplines in the victim service community has been highlighted even more. Efforts to enhance and expand coordination have been wide spread. For example, MOVA staff and VOCA-funded agencies participated on the Governor’s Task Force on Sexual Assault and Abuse; continue to address the needs of victims of clergy abuse; and MOVA has coordinated and communicated information for providers regarding entitlement programs for victims of September 11th, 2001. This year has brought to the forefront of the public’s attention the existence of victim services, victim rights, and victim compensation through the horrific circumstance of the terrorist attacks of September 11th. The tragedy impacted Massachusetts significantly as a result of the planes leaving from Logan Airport in Boston. Almost 200 Massachusetts residents were killed, not withstanding the enormous loss of life of others from around the country, and many residents acted as first responders to Ground Zero. Over the last year, strong relationships have been developed to offer services to Massachusetts residents who were victimized as a result of these attacks. MOVA was successful in collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) which acted as the pass-through agency for FEMA funding. VOCA-funded agencies that provide homicide bereavement and community crisis response services worked with DMH to provide comprehensive services to this population. MOVA and DMH were able to establish a network of providers who could offer counseling and advocacy to families in need. A nice balance to this collaboration was that DMH’s funding stressed providing services and education to the community at large while VOCA, and the supplemental funding received in March through the Antiterrorism Supplemental Grant (ATSG), focused exclusively on serving victims, first responders and their families. Through coordinated efforts, a referral system was established to ensure individuals were referred to the appropriate agencies to receive counseling services at no cost, whether they were a community member referred to DMH, or an individual directly impacted by the terrorist attacks. Additionally, several other relationships developed between MOVA and private agencies such as the American Red Cross, the United Way, Catholic Charities, and the Mass 9/11 Fund. Along with DMH and Senator Kennedy’s Office, these organizations came together in an attempt to provide the most comprehensive and coordinated services possible for residents in Massachusetts. On January 23rd, MOVA coordinated a training entitled, September 11th Response Training: Entitlement Program Update & Voices from the Field, to familiarize providers with the most current information regarding entitlement programs and the country’s response to the terrorist attacks. The training was also sponsored by Senator Kennedy’s Office, the College of the Holy Cross, and the Department of Mental Health. As a result of this training, a great deal of networking occurred and relationships were created to best serve families and individuals in need of assistance. These relationships contributed to services for families impacted by September 11th, and also increased collaborative efforts among programs for other victim populations. For example, the need for counseling services for the general first responder population has been identified and providers are working toward developing relationships with this population in need. Beyond the collaborative efforts that arose from 9/11, many other collaborations existed and were developing before this tragedy occurred. In an effort to reinforce these relationships, the application for VOCA funding stresses community collaboration. One RFR requirement is that each agency seeking funding must submit two letters of recommendation. One letter must be from a community agency and another from a state agency within their county. State agencies seeking funding are required to submit letters of support from at least two other programs that serve victims in their service area. These letters illustrate how the agency has impacted its community and the working relationships that have been created or reinforced through the years. VOCA programs are encouraged to participate in roundtables, focus groups, and multidisciplinary teams. Professional advancement through attendance of workshops and trainings is supported. Efforts to coordinate services, conduct outreach, and share expertise are important priorities. The majority of VOCA-funded agencies report participating in a variety of roundtables and task forces to address issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, homicide bereavement, and child protection. Frequently, members represent cross-disciplinary professions at these working groups, including, but not limited to, domestic violence advocates, law enforcement, juvenile and adult probation officers, victim witness advocates from the District Attorneys Offices, attorneys, MA Department of Public Health, MA Department of Social Services, rape crisis services, elder services, guidance counselors, adolescent and teen service agencies, women and children services, and clergy. Other efforts at coordination include outreach and collaboration among agencies. The following are examples of such efforts by VOCA-funded programs: Battered Women’s Resources reports that SAFEPLAN (court) advocates are in contact with police department liaisons and with the District Attorney’s victim witness advocates to help coordinate services to crime victims. It is a joint effort to inform the victims of their rights, naviagate the criminal justice system, plan for their safety, and make referrals. The Center for Violence Prevention & Recovery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical has developed brochures and posters which are posted in the hospital and on nearby college campuses. Brochures and group listings are available in area shelters, police stations, courts, and other agencies. They have recently applied to become the first health care member of Jane Doe, Inc., which will routinely put them in contact with area domestic violence/sexual assault service providers. The Community Advocacy Project (CAP) at the Center for Community Health, Education, Research, and Service (CCHERS) has begun a collaboration with Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), another VOCA-funded program, to provide legal consultation to CAP Advocates and legal assistance to clients. GBLS is providing a monthly clinic where clients can come and speak directly with GBLS attorneys and get assistance on probate and family court issues. In addition, GBLS provides monthly legal clinics for Advocates to come with concerns and discuss legal issues on which they are assisting clients. GBLS attorneys are also available to CAP advocates on an as-needed basis outside the legal clinic hours. Through this collaboration with GBLS, advocates have access to legal expertise and have received assistance on many challenging cases. Help for Abused Women and Children (HAWC) has begun coordinated efforts with local police in Gloucester and Salem. After the police respond to a domestic violence situation, calls are made to victims the following day to explain available services and see if they need help with gaining a restraining order. The Family Advocacy Center (FAC) of Baystate Medical Center, receives many treatment referrals from the multi-disciplinary investigation team, a joint effort of the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, the police, DSS and the FAC to provide joint interviews and investigation of children who have reported abuse. MOVA was successful this year in launching its website, www.mass.gov/mova. Through the website, the general public, as well as VOCA-funded agencies, and other professionals in the field have access to a wide array of information related to victim services. Since its inception, there has been significant usage indicated by the numbers of hits that have been documented. Included on the website is current information about VOCA, including the option of downloading forms, current event information regarding victim issues covered in the media, legislative updates, and current and archived issues of MOVA’s newsletter, Victim Impact: A Newsletter to Advance Rights & Services to Crime Victims in Massachusetts. This newsletter is also distributed to stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth by hard copy. Another successful method for communicating valuable information to stakeholders has been the development of three e-mail listservs: for VOCA-funded programs; ATSG-funded programs; and counselors and stakeholders who are invested in serving those impacted by 9/11, referred to as “Maresponse”. This is a convenient and easy way for agencies throughout the state to share information and seek professional consultation from one another. MOVA sponsors the Victim Rights Conference annually in April. This event attracts approximately 800 service providers and victims/survivors to a day dedicated to victim rights and the field of victim services. Additionally, MOVA sponsors an Orientation to Statewide Programs for Victim Witness Advocates.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: As part of the application process, all agencies must affirm that services are provided to victims of federal crimes upon request, in order to be eligible for VOCA funds. All VOCA programs serve victims of violent crime regardless of whether they are the victims of state or federal crimes. VOCA programs work with federal crime victims in the same way as state crime victims, through collaboration with federal agencies and by providing local on going support as needed. This past year, these collaborations were essential in responding to the needs of September 11th victims. MOVA received a supplemental grant from OVC in March of 2002. Prior to March, VOCA-funded providers were asked to increase their caseloads to be able to meet the needs of the surviving family members in Massachusetts. The following is a description of several VOCA-funded providers’ work with 9/11 families and crisis responders. “As an advocate to Central Massachusetts families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, I assisted families in obtaining services through the Red Cross, and Victim Compensation of New York. I believe that my advocacy for families was helpful in taking some of the burden off of the grieving family members, who did not have the energy to try to negotiate these systems on their own.” (Advocate, Worcester Youth Guidance Center) “A number of our clients are victims of federal crimes, including hate crimes and trafficking. We have observed a sharp increase in referrals for victims of hate crimes over the past year, largely due to the aftermath of September 11, 2001. We have also been contacted several times by the US Attorney’s Office to help locate victim services for clients who are relocating to other states.” (Executive Director, International Institute of Boston, Inc.) “We participated in a response to September 11th that included coordinating resources for 9/11 survivors, medical and legal advocacy, and promoted individual and group counseling support efforts.” (Executive Director, Wayside Youth and Family Support Network) The Behavioral Health Network’s Post-Homicide Family Support Program offers a variety of services to anyone who has lost a friend or loved one to murder whether it was a federal or state crime. These services include information and referral, court support, case management, and professional and crisis consultation (to schools, agencies, and community groups) as well as individual, family, and group psychotherapy. In the past year, they reached out to those affected by the tragedies of September 11, 2001, not only in their own community, but those in other communities as well. These are just a few examples of the services VOCA-funded homicide bereavement programs provided prior to MOVA receiving supplemental funding to implement a comprehensive network of services to surviving family members and crisis responders of September 11th 2001. Subsequently, MOVA staff worked collaboratively with victim services staff from the US Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, and the local affiliate (MEMA) of the Federal Emergency Management Association. These collaborations ensured that victims of federal crimes received comprehensive services. In addition to the work with September 11th families and crisis responders, the International Institute of Boston, Inc. worked to identify trafficking victims and provide support, advocacy and counseling services to these victims. This is a very difficult population to reach, and we are just beginning to fully comprehend the scope of this problem in Massachusetts. This past year, Worcester Youth Guidance Center, provided services to a kidnapping victim under the Victims of Crime component of their MOVA contract. They have also provided information and services to the community around internet safety and cyberstalking.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: On the state level, activities such as site visits and annual VOCA guidelines trainings have been provided. Throughout FFY2002, a total of 30 site visits were conducted, in addition to the 68 site visits made in the previous two fiscal years. These site visits were the conclusion of the first round of site visits to Massachusetts's 103 VOCA-funded programs. At each site visit, programs were monitored for compliance with the VOCA guidelines and technical assistance was provided. In addition to site visits, MOVA provided a VOCA Orientation Training on September 24, 2002. Based upon the positive response from our sub-grantees, both through past training evaluations and subsequent discussions at site visits, annual trainings on VOCA guidelines have proved to be a necessary and welcome technical aid. In April 2002, VOCA funding helped to support a portion of MOVA's Annual Victim's Rights Conference, entitled, "Bringing Honor to Victims." This conference brings together over 800 state representatives, service providers, and victims from across the Commonwealth each year. This year's keynote speaker was Nancy Venable Raine, a rape survivor and author of the book, "After Silence: Rape and My Journey Back." On the sub-grant level, many activities are conducted to keep connected to the needs of victims and to make victims and services providers aware of the multitude of services available. Many VOCA-funded programs reported fostering strong collaborations with local organizations and service providers, from facilitating support groups in local schools to outreach in the community to participation on local victim service roundtables. All of these activities promote increased collaboration and visibility of victim services. Programs not only distribute written materials about their services, but also report using unique initiatives to do outreach to victims. One homicide bereavement program holds annual candlelight vigils in memory of those lost to homicide; a domestic violence program holds drives to collect old cell phones to reprogram to dial 911 and distributes them to their clients; and, another program distributes "Love Shouldn't Hurt" valentines each February 14th. In addition to outreach activities, other ways in which VOCA programs ensure quality victim services is through keeping statistics and by utilizing client satisfaction surveys. Not only do all VOCA-funded programs submit quarterly statistical reports to MOVA, but many programs also keep internal statistics for their own information. Client satisfaction surveys have also proved to be a helpful tool for VOCA-funded programs in assessing the success of their services. Within all VOCA-funded programs, a strong supervisory structure is reported as being key to the provision of quality victim services. Most VOCA-funded programs provide a structure that includes both individual and peer supervision during which clinicians may share and troubleshoot cases. Some programs also report participating in multidisciplinary teams. Most VOCA-funded programs reported providing in-service trainings to the staff and opportunities for staff to participate in outside trainings. What many programs have found is that outside trainings increase the expertise, not only of the staff member(s) who attended, but also the rest of the staff as materials and insights are brought back to share during staff meetings. Another program even reported using their staff meeting as a time to discuss assigned monthly readings on current issues in the field
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: VOCA services utilized: Individual/Group Therapy Services; Legal Support VOCA funds have been used to provide individual & family therapy and advocacy for a teenaged boy who was drugged by a family friend, raped, and photographed. Funding allowed the therapist to be present for the boy at court and to provide both individual and family treatment. The family’s insurance company would allow only 12 sessions per calendar year, and the family did not feel comfortable filing for Victim Compensation initially, due to fear that their confidentiality would be lost and other family members would find out about the circumstance. ~ reported by a program providing counseling and advocacy services to youth. VOCA services utilized: Advocacy and Support A client of this program who was a domestic violence victim was hospitalized. During her hospitalization, her batterer obtained custody of her children, stating that she was not well enough to care for them. This client went to the Advocate at her health center for assistance with regaining custody of her children. The Advocate was able to locate a pro-bono attorney and referred her client to this attorney for legal assistance. The attorney filed for visitation and custody on behalf of the woman, and thus the client has received visitation and is currently working toward regaining custody. The Advocate supported this client through every step of the court process and often accompanied the client to court hearings. This is an example of an Advocate bridging a gap in services and finding community resources for her client of which she was not aware that she was eligible. Reported by an advocacy program. VOCA services utilized: Advocacy and Support; Safety Planning; Referral This program assisted a man who was being physically, sexually, emotionally and financially abused by his partner. Over a period of 3 years, this client had turned over all of his financial resources to this partner and had been subjected to multiple sexual assaults. He was also physically assaulted numerous times, receiving head wounds requiring stitches, concussions, broken teeth, and fractured bones. He called this program’s hotline late in the day from the hospital emergency room where he went by himself following the most recent assault. He suffered a concussion, a deep cut on his head and black eye. A hospital social worker gave him the hotline phone number. The Regional Advocate met this client at the hospital and sat with him as he waited for his discharge approval and accompanied him to the hospital pharmacy to fill his pain relief medication. That night, the Advocate sheltered the client in a motel in a neighboring town. Over the course of the next three weeks, the Regional Advocate assisted the client in filing for a restraining order and criminal assault charges, and finding a long term housing solution (a roommate situation, with an acquaintance of the client). The Advocate also connected the client to the Address Confidentiality Program and to the free voice mail service through Community Voice Mail. In addition, the client filed for reimbursement for expenses with the Victim Compensation program. During a six month follow up meeting with this client, the client reported that he is feeling better about his life than ever before, empowered to advance with his personal goals and he has taken steps to repair his relationships with his siblings. Reported by a domestic violence advocacy program. VOCA services utilized: Individual Counseling; Advocacy; Referral A 27-year-old woman from East Africa came to this agency after contacting a local hospital’s psychiatric unit because of domestic violence. She was married to a US citizen who brought her to the US after their marriage in Africa. After arriving in the United States, and becoming pregnant with her first child, her husband began to abuse her. She experienced mental, verbal, financial and physical abuse. Her situation was further complicated by the fact that she did not speak English, and had no family in this country. Her in-laws in the United States were complicit in the abuse, forcing her to remain in the house and into servitude. After the birth of her son, the husband took him to his parents in Africa, without her permission. The husband furthered this client’s isolation and fear by threatening to never allow her to see her son again, if she tried to leave the marriage. After two years, the client’s parents, who resided in Africa, were able to gain custody of her son through a court process. During the next abusive episode, the client contacted the police for assistance. The police arrived at her home in time to witness the abuse. Knowing that her son was in a safe living situation, in addition to support from a counselor, helped her to reach out to the criminal justice system. Due to the experience of domestic violence, the client was able to file for permanent residence under VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) provisions. She filed for divorce, and was reunited with her child this year. She is now in a safe living situation and is working full time. Her child will be starting in a Head Start program soon. Staff assisted this client with support and services throughout the entire process including accessing victim services, obtaining a restraining order, accessing English classes, employment, housing, and legal assistance. In addition, individual counseling and family support was provided. Reported by a program that provides counseling and advocacy to a multicultural population. VOCA services utilized: Court Advocacy; Family Counseling A 15 year old girl whose step-father was abusing her since the age of 13 became involved with the court system. This girl lived with her mother and her mother had difficulty believing her daughter and sided with her husband. After months of involvement with this family, the girl was placed with her biological father and step-mother to live. Through work with the Family Service Advocate, the mother eventually sought counseling. She was referred to a VOCA funded therapist at another agency and through support from both the clinician and the advocate began to support her daughter. She had her husband removed from her home and when the case came to trial, she was totally in support of her child. The defendant was found guilty and now this girl and her mom have a renewed relationship. They attribute this healthy and open relationship to the support they received as a result of victim services. Reported by victim services in a district attorney’s office. VOCA services utilized: Victim Notification for Sexually Dangerous Persons Services Thank letter received by Victim Service Unit of a district attorney’s office
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: Overwhelmingly, VOCA-funded agencies report that the current economic crisis in the state is having a significant impact on victim services. Budgetary cuts at the state level have left victims without much of a safety net. Additionally, due to the cap on VOCA funding and the restructuring of the formula grant for victim assistance and victim compensation, agencies are anticipating a potential decrease in VOCA funding. These cuts result in reduced services, reduced staffing, and reduced resources to serve an already vulnerable population. Some areas that were particularly identified by agencies as feeling this loss include services for immigrant and refugee victims; sexual assault victims who are impacted by decreased funding for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program; youth services for children and teens experiencing abuse; psychiatric services as a result of cuts at DMH; and, legal services. With budget cuts, opportunities to expand services have disappeared, and the ability to hire qualified, experienced and bilingual staff diminishes due to non-competitive salaries in the field. A notable trend in victim services is the increase in male victims who have disclosed abuse. The Catholic Church crisis has contributed to the decrease in stigmatization for male victims and more men are willing to seek assistance and talk about their abusive experiences. There has been significant attention in Massachusetts to the issue of clergy abuse, and many agencies are working together to meet the needs of this population. Nevertheless, male victims of domestic violence continue to face discrimination. Other programs report a significant increase in the number of hate crimes committed in the area. Two themes have emerged. Based upon Muslim affiliation and/or appearing to be of Middle Eastern descent, programs report that clients have been threatened, harassed, and physically assaulted. The targets of hate crimes have ranged in age from school age children to the elderly. Secondly, youth who identify as GLBT have less support available due to budgetary cuts and the elimination of funding for gay-straight alliances in the schools. This comes at a time when juvenile criminal activity overall shows a marked increase. The lack of affordable housing continues to be a significant issue throughout Massachusetts, and particularly in the Greater Boston area. Currently, there is a lengthy waiting list for public housing units and federal subsidy programs. This limits the options for clients who wish to secure their own housing independent from their abuser. Even if a woman is able to locate a unit, that client often cannot afford the first and last months’ rent and security deposit. Advocates attempt to find creative solutions and approach agencies to locate money/financial assistance on behalf of their clients. The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) awards a preference status to victims of domestic violence. In prior years, the turn-around time for a unit or housing subsidy for clients with this preference was three to six months. Currently clients with this preference have been informed that the wait time has increased dramatically to one to two years. This may be due to many factors such as increased demand and the fact that there are fewer turnovers in subsidized units since existing BHA clients cannot afford to move out and secure private housing. Additionally, welfare reform has also tremendously affected women who are victims of domestic violence. Under the Personal Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act (PWORA) of 1996, guidelines to receive cash and food stamp benefits are very strict. Adults receiving cash benefits are expected to achieve self-sufficiency and locate employment (with increasingly fewer services available to address the circumstances of their poverty and need for welfare assistance). A waiver has been instituted for domestic violence clients to excuse them from their work requirement. However, it is the client’s responsibility to prove that there is a reason why she cannot be economically self-sufficient. Unless the victim has Domestic violence status, these directives make it very difficult for women to attend support groups and individual counseling. The work requirement can make it difficult for the client to see an advocate for help with housing, shelter, and adequate legal counsel, among other issues, to stabilize their families. Legal representation for custody and child support proceedings continues to be insufficient. Many victims are confused by the Probate Court process and do not have the financial resources to obtain private legal representation. As a result, agencies like CCHERS have worked to establish relationships with legal services such as Greater Boston Legal Services to provide assistance to their clients. However, resources are limited and caseloads are high. Similarly, it is reported that there appears to be an increased need for legal representation at hearings for restraining orders sought by victims of domestic violence, and victims do not have the finances to hire an attorney. To conclude, the economy is impacting service delivery to crime victims significantly. While fiscal issues tend to always be a concern, the current situation appears to be strikingly bleak. Our most vulnerable populations are becoming even more so, and services to sexual assault victims, youth, and those in need of legal counsel, to name a few, are experiencing decreased access to services. Nevertheless, those devoted to serving victims of crime in Massachusetts remain committed and seek options and alternatives to maintain basic service needs and provide wrap-around services as much as possible. As one agency stated, “Massachusetts is proactive and responsive to supporting victims and victim assistance programs through policy, financial and technical assistance. All those who work with victims, directly or indirectly, must be vigilant in keeping victims’ voices from being silenced or forgotten because of budgetary or legislative changes.”
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: Administrative funds serve a significant and necessary part of managing the VOCA grant and enhancing victim services in Massachusetts. Within MOVA’s office, administrative funds cover salary and fringe benefits for five staff positions. Additional administrative funds are used for employee training and conference expenses. Examples of conferences attended in fiscal year 2002 include: the National Training Conference for Crime Victim Compensation and Victim Assistance Administrators, Washington, D.C., January 2002, attended by 6 employees and the VOCA Assistance Grant Management Conference, Atlanta, GA, October 2002, attended by one VOCA-funded employee. The funds were also used to ensure that the office has the necessary resources in order to implement the necessary duties for monitoring the funded agencies. This includes covering the expenses incurred from printing the VOCA program guidelines for the most recent RFR process and ensuring that the VOCA administrators have access to necessary supplies and equipment. Such funds also cover expenses for the printing of the MOVA newsletter, Victim Impact, which is widely disseminated throughout the Commonwealth. Massachusetts continued towards its goal in furthering victim services by offering service providers comprehensive training, allowablr by the 1% Training Provision in the VOCA guidelines. Trainings offered by MOVA and covered by VOCA administrative funds included: September 11th Response Training: Entitlement Program Update & Voices from the Field , January 23rd, 2002. The Victims Rights Conference, April 2002, featuring Nancy Venable Raine, a rape survivor and author of After Silence: Rape and My Journey Back. VOCA Guidelines Training, September 24, 2002 The Victim Rights Conference brought together approximately 800 victim service providers and crime victims. Attorney General Tom Reilly, Chairman of the Victim and Witness Assistance Board, addressed those in attendance as did U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy via videotape. Workshops included: “Workplace Violence: Can you Close the Door on It?”; “When domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Mix”; “Learning to Live after Homicide: A Different Kind of Death”; “Representing the Civil Rights of Rape Victims”; “Forgotten Victims of Crime: Homeless, Prostitutes, Immigrants and Refugees and Victims with Disabilities”; “Sticks and Stones: Bullying in the Schools”; and, a Garden of Peace/Honoring Ceremony. The conference also recognized five individuals who have done work within the Commonwealth to help victims through public awareness and education. Award categories included a legislator, media professional, victim witness advocate, special recognition, and victim advocate service awards for those individuals providing service in the field for ten, fifteen, and twenty years. Use of these administrative funds is extremely crucial to MOVA’s ability to employ staff to manage the VOCA grant, provide innovative training to victim service providers throughout the Commonwealth, and create outreach materials to increase awareness of victim services.