VOCA Funding Overview/Update John Mahoney DCJS Virginia Department

VOCA Funding Overview/Update John Mahoney DCJS Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov VOCA Overview Virginias VOCA allocation increased from $11.5 million in FFY14 to over $50 million in FFY15. To plan for allocation of these funds, DCJS: Virginia Department of

Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Conducted survey of victim advocates statewide Conducted four regional Listening Sessions Developed formulas for core services; reserve for New Initiatives In The Last Year DCJS: Developed VOCA Funding Formulas, issued guidelines, and funded projects under: Statewide Grant Programs to Support Specialized Treatment and Services for Victims of Child Abuse

Victim/Witness Programs A single streamlined grant program consolidating sexual assault and domestic violence grant programs. New Initiatives Guidelines Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Funds Awarded In June 2016, the Criminal Justice Services Board awarded over $39 million to maintain and expand core victim services through VOCA funded projects including victim/witness programs, domestic violence shelters, sexual assault crisis centers, and child abuse programs.

In October 2016 the Board awarded $12.7 million supporting 60 VOCA New Initiative projects. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Victim/Witness Programs The number of grant funded Victim/Witness Programs is increasing from 109 to 112. Total award FY17: $17,815,345 vs. $9.7 million FY16. The number of full-time equivalent positions supported with VOCA funds in Victim/Witness Programs is increasing from 96 in FY16 to 292 in FY17. The number of crime victims served by VOCA

supported projects is projected to increase from 20,488 victims in FY15 to 72,413 in FY17. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Increase in VOCA Funded Staff 350 300 250 200 150

100 50 0 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov 96 292 Total VOCA Funded FTEs FY15 Total VOCA Funded FTEs FY17

Increase in Victims Served 80000 70000 60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 0 Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov 20488

72413 New Initiatives For Underserved Victims On September 15, 2016 the Criminal Justice Services Board approved award of more than $12.7 million to support 60 VOCA New Initiative projects statewide. Projects develop or enhancement of services and resources for: Victims with disabilities Non-English speaking victims Victims of trafficking Immigrant victims Victims within LGBTQ communities Emergency legal services for victims Forensic interviewing/nursing programs Virginia Department of

Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Applicants project serving over 100,000 additional victims through new programs and services staffed by 173 full-time equivalent positions. Formula Purpose/Description Formulas provide frame of reference and projected maximums. For once, money, people, facilities, and resources may not be our greatest limitations. Our greatest limitations may be creativity, vision, and trust in our ability to bring about the change we

seek. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Formula Purpose/Description All Formulas: Annualize FY16 increased awards and allow percentage to be deducted as One-Time costs Formulas also include: Operating cost as percentage of personnel applied across all programs New positions Funded at estimated average cost per FTE Some existing positions with FTE costs below average receive additional percentage.

Move programs toward more uniform base without harming programs with higher historic grant funded costs. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Formula Purpose/Description V/W formula incorporates updated Staffing Needs Assessments and funds all staffing gaps. To promote expanded scope and scale of services the formula also adds additional FTEs. All half-time programs funded at full-time. All 1.5 FTE programs funded for at least 2 FTEs

Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Challenges and Partnership Programs are challenged to: Ensure that funds make a difference for crime victims and that services and impact are documented. Build allowable needed services that are valued in their communities. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov

Challenges and Partnership Malpractice, waste, and inability to document dramatic improvement and expansion of services are significant threats to continued funding at these levels. We must be partners in ensuring that we focus on serving victims effectively and avoiding these threats. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov Ongoing Activities and Upcoming Events

Work with grantees, Network, Alliance on implementation of NEW VOCA PMT reporting. Revising/Redesigning CIMS and other data collection tools and software. Enter (LOTS) of PMT data. New Initiative Guidelines to be issued Spring 2017. Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services www.dcjs.virginia.gov