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VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM 2002 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE WIDE ASSISTANCE REPORT Prepared By: South Dakota Department of Social Services 700 Governors Drive Pierre, SD 57501-2291 tel: (605)773-3656
STATE FUNDING INFORMATION
A. THE ANNUAL AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROJECTS: 1. Appropriations $ 250,000 2. Criminal Fines and Penalities $ 0 3. Assessments $ 241,724 4. Other $ 4,082,274 TOTAL:$ 4,573,998
B. TOTAL NUMBER OF AGENCIES FUNDED FROM THE FEDERAL GRANT: 1
C. NUMBER OF SUBGRANTS FUNDED FROM THIS FEDERAL GRANT: 39
VICTIM STATISTICS
A. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS SERVED BY TYPE OF VICTIMIZATION:
NO. OF NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED VICTIMS SERVED 602 1. Child Physical Abuse 56 7. Adults Molested as Children 882 2. Child Sexual Abuse 6 8. Survivors of Homicide Victims 64 3. DUI/DWI Crashes 31 9. Robbery 9,331 4. Domestic Violence 474 10. Assualt 400 5. Adult Sexual Assault 2,609 11. Other 37 6. Elder Abuse TOTAL: 14,492
B. THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS WHO RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:
NO. OF VICTIMS SERVED 4,529 1. Crisis Counseling 5,802 2. Followup 982 3. Therapy 1,543 4. Group Treatment/Support 3,327 5. Shelter/Safehouse 7,762 6. Information/Referral (in-person) 3,589 7. Criminal Justice Support/Advocacy 1,845 8. Emergency Financial Assistance 1,739 9. Emergency Legal Advocacy 291 10. Assistance in filing Compensation Claims 7,635 11. Personal Advocacy 7,280 12. Telephone contact Informational/Referral 4,704 13. Other TOTAL: 51,028
A. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AID TO CRIME VICTIMS: The Department of Social Services has funded a multi-disciplinary training team that is comprised of an experienced prosecutor, law enforcement officer, domestic violence advocate, and sexual assault advocate. The "Team" specializes in community response to victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other violent crimes against women. The Team also includes an overview of the Crime Victims Compensation program, and provides applications to law enforcement agencies, victim advocates, and court services staff. The Team travels to communities and provides the on-site training at no cost to local law enforcement agency personnel, victim advocates, social workers, clergy, judges, court services officers, probation, and parole. The training meets the statutory requirements for law enforcement officers and prosecutors. This has been a very successful program with more than 40 communities participating within the past two years.
B. EFFORTS TAKEN TO SERVE FEDERAL CRIME VICTIMS: The Team as described in question B, has provided training to tribal law enforcement agencies, tribal prosecutors, as well as victim advocates who work in shelters on tribal land. The Department of Social Services works closely with the US Attorneys Office on crime victims compensation claims. Nine of the victim service programs who receive VOCA funds from the state, are located on or near tribal land and serve a large number of federal crime victims.
C. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE DELIVERY OF VICTIM SERVICES: A one day workshop was held for all VOCA grantees and Board members. The workshop provided training on the fiduciary responsibility of non-profit board members, financial management, confidentiality issues, and good hiring practices for non-profits.
D. WAYS VOCA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED TO ASSIST CRIME VICTIMS: 1. Missouri Domestic Violence Center (Pierre) has established an outreach service to Sully, Hyde, Jones, and Haakon counties. The "We Are Here" outreach program offers domestic violence services to these outlying counties. An advocate travels to each county once per month and has office hours from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. In order to bring more awareness to the "We Are Here" program in Sully County, Missouri Shores sponsored a "Meet Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center" in Onida. The Presbyterian Church of Onida offered their fellowship hall and the church elders prepared a meal for everyone. Twenty-three people came to the event to meet with the MSDVC staff. MSDVC had booths at the Pierre Mall and the Discovery Center for "Week of the Young Child" and "Kid Safe Saturday." They provided games for children and prizes such as the Hands Are Not for Hitting T-shirts. The game booths were popular and approximately 400 children participated. 2. Rape & Domestic Abuse Center (Sioux Falls) requested a technical assistance visit from the Dept. of Social Services' Victims' Services program. Technical assistance included reviewing policies and procedures, establishing signed time sheets by all staff, and an overview of a fund accounting system to better track grant expenditures. RDAC meets regularly with the Minnehaha States Attorney and the Victim Witness Assistants to keep the lines of communication open and discuss ways to improve services to victims. RDAC also meets monthly with the Minnehaha County Family Violence Council to network with other victim service providers and stay informed of community services for victims. RQAC provided a booth at the local hospital's safety fair for hospital employees. The booth was well received and many people stopped for information. RDAC has been asked to provide support groups to the Bowden Youth Center. 3. The Victims of Violence Intervention Shelter (Artemis House, Spearfish) met with Black Hills State University's Student Center director, and provided information on the services of Artemis House. Artemis' director met with the Chief of Police in Spearfish to talk about how they could work together better. Artemis sponsored a family fim night to promote activities for parents and children. Artemis House sponsored a booth at the Human Services Fair at the Black Hills University. Artemis staffs were trained by the South Dakota Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities on advocacy for women with disabilities. Artemis staff participates in the quarterly Suicide Prevention meetings. Artemis received a grant from Zonta for medical needs for abused women who do not have medical insurance coverage. Artemis volunteers helped the Spearfish Police Dept. and the Lawrence County Sheriffs Dept. in the fingerprinting booth. 4. Working Against Violence, Inc. (WAVI, Rapid City) continues its involvement with the Pennington County Domestic Violence Task Force. WAVI worked with the Victims' Assistance and State's Attorneys office to plan the annual Victims Rights Luncheon. WAVI staff continues to work with a number of other community groups including the Child Protection team, Health and Human Services Board, the Homeless Coalition, SAVE Rapid City, Weed and Seed, and the Child Advocacy Center Advisory Council. WAVI held its largest fund raiser, generating over $27,000. WAVI's goal is to raise $2,500,000 for a new facility and operating fund. An unusual but interesting experiment, "Baby Think about It," has been conducted at the shelter. An example, a mother and her three teenage daughters and one son stayed at WAVI for several weeks. During that time the daughters participated in Girls, Inc., a support group for adolescent girls. With their mother's permission, the three girls agreed to be "mom" for one night. Each girl took on the care of a doll called "Baby Think about It." This doll is designed to show how having a baby is not all fan and games. The girl's mother hoped the experiment would help her daughters realize just how much work it is to care for a baby. The girls started out all smiles but by the middle of the evening they weren't smiling anymore. Their younger brother was already making plans to sleep downstairs so he wouldn't have to listen to the crying" all night. The next day the girls were very tired and happy to return their "babies." The mother thought the experiment was an excellent success!
E. ISSUES OR TRENDS IMPACTING CRIME VICTIM SERVICES: The need for transitional housing continues to be an issue impacting victims of domestic violence. Also, there is a need for funds that could be used to pay the first month's rent and utility deposits for permanent housing of victims of domestic violence. Low wages in South Dakota, plus the high cost of rent, keep many victims of domestic violence from leaving their abusive situation permanently.
F. USE OF VOCA ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS: VOCA administrative funds have been used for funding staff that provide training, technical assistance, and site monitoring to 40 victims service programs. Administrative funds have assisted program directors with travel and per them to attend national and state planning meetings. A computer system to monitor victim services and the financial status of subgrantees has been implemented and continues to be upgraded as necessary.