Post on 28-Dec-2015
VICTIM SERVICE RESTRUCTURING IN
IOWA
Talk about the evolving climate of victim services in Iowa;
Provide a brief overview of the process and priorities for changing services in Iowa;
Discuss the impact of our service delivery changes; and
Share results of these changes in Iowa
EXPECTATIONS FOR TODAY
Lots and lots and lots and lots of people lead and helped and
challenged
WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE THIS ALONE
$8.5 million dollar budget facing an approximate $1.4 million cut to federal funding sources (VAWA & VOCA 2011)
Uncertainty with state funding levels
Inevitably, programs would hobble along and eventually close
INEVITABLE CHANGE
Seasoned elected Attorney General, Tom Miller
Former CVAD director, elected into legislature
FVPSA, VAWA (STOP and SASP) & VOCA all administered by CVAD
Strong sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions with seasoned directors
Healthy reserve fund at CVAD
CLIMATE OF THE OFFICE
99 counties
20 shelters
24 dual domestic abuse/sexual abuse programs
3 stand alone sexual abuse programs
3 stand alone domestic abuse programs
279 staff
CLIMATE OF VICTIM SERVICES *THEN*
40% decrease in shelter clients in urban areas
17% decrease in shelter clients utilizing rural shelters.
The shelter vacancy rate is 42%
It costs approximately $400,000 to run a shelter; the cost of vacancy is roughly $3.36 million dollars.
About 40% of the VSS Program resources maintain shelters, reaching 11% of the crime victims in IA
STATEWIDE LANDSCAPE IN 2011
...developed into questions about whether the current
model delivers what victims need…
WHAT STARTED OUT AS A QUESTION OF RESOURCE
Effective, high quality services to all crime victims
Equitable distribution of funds and services across the state
Healthy, successful, and supported programs prepared to stretch, and rise to meet the evolving needs of victims
More victim advocates working directly with victims and providing advocacy services
PRIORITIES
Improved collaborative relationships with local service providers in existing and expanded service areas
Build on existing strengths of programs
Smooth transition with the least amount of service disruption to existing clients
PRIORITIES
Janelle Melohn, 515-242-6109 janelle.melohn@iowa.gov
Donna Phillips, 515-242-5121 donna.phillips@iowa.gov
PROCESS PRESENTATIONS
Gathered dataCreated a “plan”Brought coalitions into the processInformed DA and SA Directors and requested
inputResponded to federal funders and other
interested partiesHosted community meetings and identified
key stakeholdersDrafted, re-drafted, and finalized “the plan”
PROCESS
Bricks and mortar is expensive; yet housing is a primary and urgent need of victims
Services must be closer to victims; transportation and access are huge barriers to services
Sexual assault services must be prioritized
Culturally specific services are imperative
Services to survivors of homicide victims should be available statewide
Decisions will be driven by victims needs
PRINCIPLES
• Shelter-Based Services1
• Domestic Abuse Comprehensive Services
2• Sexual Abuse
Comprehensive Services
3
• Culturally Specific Services4
THE “PLAN”
Regionalize services
Housing First
New partnerships with different agencies
Victim gets what s/he needs through comprehensive services and case management
Emphasis on direct client assistance
Non-traditional service provision
Mobile advocacy
THE “PLAN”
99 counties
8 shelters
18 domestic abuse comprehensive and culturally specific programs for victims of domestic violence
17 sexual abuse comprehensive and culturally specific programs for victims of sexual abuse
360 staff
CLIMATE OF VICTIM SERVICES *NOW*
SFY2013 VS SFY2014 VICTIMS SERVED
Domestic Abuse Sexual Abuse
ñ24%
ñ15%
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
THEN
Shelter-bound services
Services at main offi ce
Assessments completed at discharge
Limited client assistance for limited purposes
NOWHousing First model
Mobile advocacy-services in outreach offi ces or in community (not shelter)
Intake and lethality assessments at fi rst contact
Client assistance to help with health, safety, stabilization and self-suffi ciency
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES
CLIMATE OF VICTIM SERVICES TODAY
FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14
Total Persons Sheltered
Nights of Shelter Provided
Total Persons Diverted
SFY2014 VICTIMS SHELTERED & SHELTER NIGHTS
ShelterSafe
HomesHotel Motel
Total
Victims Sheltered 2,729 106 501 3,336
Nights of Shelter 74,242 1,843 1,760 77,845
DIVERSION SERVICES
Victims Sheltered (3,336)Victims Diverted from Shelter (4,744)
SFY2014
3,602 Housing assessments
732 Assistance with rent of utilities
1,075 Other financial assistance
2,937 Problem solving and advocacy
DIVERSION SERVICES
SHELTER
THEN
20 sheltersTransitional housingRapid re-housing
(minimal)Assessment
conducted some time in shelter
NOW8 shelters4 community
supported sheltersTransitional housingRapid re-housingHotel/motelSafe homesApartmentsRent/mortgage/utility
assistanceAssessments at first
contact
SHELTER
VACANCY RATES
SFY13 SFY14
42%
26%
Housing First Centralized intake form (VI-SPDAT tool) No need to re-tell story
Tenant based rental assistance (TBRA)1 year:
77 survivors354 months of housing assistance$500/month average per client
FY15-SUCCESSES
Victim with DisabilitiesEnslaved by abusers, finally kicked out for seeking help
Program helped: Recover belongings
Apartment close to grocery & other community services Paid 2 months rent until disability kicked in
Arranged for mental health services be provided in home
Worked with landlord to provide laundry services
FY15-SUCCESSES
Victim and 2 childrenRehousedProvided first months rentHelped her moveHelped her develop a budget
Worked in two rural counties to secure multiple houses and apartments at 50% of fair market value for rent
FY15-SUCCESSES
Housing retention30 days out – 93%60 days out – 87%90 days out – 85%
SFY2015Average length of stay in shelter decreased by 3 days
FY15-SUCCESSES
“Housing Team”
ID-ing rural homes vacant for 12 months and targeting for rent
Team then facilitates conversation with homeowner to exchange upkeep and maintenance to property for fair market rent
FY15-SUCCESSES
Victim of domestic violence and childhood trauma“Without the help of Safepath Survivor Resources, I would not be here today. [I] now have something to look forward to.”
Secured her an apartment after two years of being homeless and 30 days after finding the DAC program
Counseling, budgeting, employment, and help with state medical benefits were other services provided
Currently working a full time forty an hour week job
FY15-SUCCESSES
DOMESTIC ABUSE COMPREHENSIVE
Mom & 7 year old Stayed with family first
Moved to safe home in rural area of the state Employment assistance Food cards until food stamp benefits started Personal hygiene items Worked with community college to get a scholarship to
complete GED requirements Worked with pharmacy to help get meds on a small
installment plan
Now permanently housed and employed
FY15-SUCCESSES
THEN
Come to shelter “mentality”
All services provided out of the shelter
Menu of services
NOW
Assessment at fi rst contact
Mobile advocacyDesignated satellite
offi ces; strong outreach in each county of the service area
Customized service plan for each victims
Client assistance for health, safety, stability and self-suffi ciency
DOMESTIC ABUSE COMPREHENSIVE
DHS co-located advocate focusing on offender services as well as child and family needs
“Fatherhood Initiative”Educates offender on DV and its impact on his children and partner/spouse
FY15-SUCCESSES
Victim with disabilitiesDiverted from shelter to emergency housing program
Unable to get copies of birth certificate because adoption records were sealed because of DV
Program:Facilitated trips to home stateLodging while in home stateReturn to stable short-term housing and working on permanent housing
FY15-SUCCESSES
Client assistanceTennis balls for the bottom of the walker
RX for sick child when insurance denied
Relocation
A client needed assistance with lawyer fees, which we couldn’t assist with, but instead we assisted with rent for a few months which allowed her to save up to pay her legal fees.
FY15-SUCCESSES
SEXUAL ASSAULT
THENAdvocates had dual
DV/SA responsibilities
Crisis response to hospitals and law enforcement
NOWSA designated staff
Focus on youth
Creative ways to reach survivors
Shift in crisis lines/hotlines
Criminal justice is not the primary intervention point
SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPREHENSIVE
SFY2014 vs. SFY2015
24% increase in primary sexual assault victims served
16% increase in number of in person services hours
13% increase in services provided over the phone
98% increase in transportation trips for victims
FY15-SUCCESSES
Adolescent survivor raped at 13 years old
Grounding techniques to reduce anxiety around males of a certain age
Now able to order food at a restaurant on her own
FY15-SUCCESSES
Adult Survivor of Sexual AssaultAttended court with an advocateDissolved marriageContinued No Contact Order deniedParticipates in several support groups
Equine TherapyGardeningFaith-based group
Lawyer of shelter helped with landlord housing issue
FY15-SUCCESSES
Teen survivor
Assaulted by stepfatherVictim was seeking shelterFound semi-permanent solutionNow in permanent housing
FY15-SUCCESSES
Campus Coordinator position located on campus & volunteer curriculum built into college course.
Partnership with the local Junior League of the Quad Cities whose advocacy platform is addressing SA on campuses
Screenings of The Hunting Ground and panel discussion with three of our local schools
Brooke Axtel coming to speak at our annual Rising Up luncheon and at one of the local universities.
FY15-SUCCESSES
FY15-SUCCESSES
“Five years ago I thought we provided good sexual assault services. Looking back, we provided crisis services. We
conducted very little outreach and even less community building.”
FY15-SUCCESSES
“As an agency I believe we have moved beyond simply focusing on the crisis and stabilizing a situation, to focusing equal
energy to healing. While crisis stabilization is essential, it all seems
somewhat futile if individuals and families are not able to recover from the
trauma of abuse.”
FY15-SUCCESSES
SERVICES TO VICTIMS FROM
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES
January 1- June 30, 2015
42% of clients who are immigrants were able to obtain work visas
Conducted targeted radio ads, resulting in a 20% increase in Latin@ clients accessing services in the following months
FY15-SUCCESSES
Victim who is three months pregnant Identified the baby, language and citizenship as primary barriers
Connected to Culturally Specific Provider who:Connected her to a hospital program for pre-natal treatment
Helped secure employmentFound permanent housingCurrently working toward citizenship
FY15-SUCCESSES
Staffi ng in rural IA
THEN: 1 bilingual advocate
NOW: 4 bilingual advocates
FY15-SUCCESSES
Amani (by and for the African American Community)
120 clients served
13 clients rent/utility assistance
66 clients provided assistance (food/gas cards) and transportation trips
3 clients assist with furniture after relocation
FY15-SUCCESSES
COLLABORATION
Rural Rec League
One presentation led to additional work at coaches clinics
Worked w/board members for weeks to create anti-bullying and gender equity policies
Implemented for entire regional rec league
FY15-SUCCESSES
Collaboration with the Park and Rec Board
Targeted homeless population at the RV park
Helped victims with utility and water hook-ups until housing found
FY15-SUCCESSES
County Public Health
Community Health Needs Assessment/Health Improvement Plan
Increase rural transportation options
Specifically around affordability and quality
FY15-SUCCESSES
Roll call with offi cers
Meet and greet
Brochure distribution
Training day arrangements
FY15-SUCCESSES
VOLUNTEERS
142% increase in number of volunteers
145% increase in hours volunteered (163,893 hours) 47,989 hours of these were working directly with
victims
These hours are the full time equivalent of 23 additional advocates
FY2014
One program reported an increase of 3,936 volunteer hours in 2015
Another program reported 12,331 volunteer hours
FY15-SUCCESSES
Once a month a retired nail technician provide manicures and pedicures to client
Doula services provided at a greatly reduced fee, or pro bono
Volunteer will mow yards
Rural craft store offering supplies, space and conducts alternative healing support groups for survivors
FY15-SUCCESSES
SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE SERVICES
THEN
Services in 36 of 99 counties
NOWStatewide coverage
In three of four regions, 100% of survivors have been connected to these advocates
Increase in % of funds to survivors of homicide programs
Client assistance to support health, safety, stability and self-suffi ciency of survivors
SURVIVORS OF HOMICIDE SERVICES
DV homicide victim is an adult Native American woman Program made arrangements to have the victim’s
body transported from the Medical Examiner’s Office in Mid-Iowa to the victim’s reservation in another state for funeral proceedings.
The staff member also transported burial clothing for the victim at the family’s request.
FY15-SUCCESSES
Individuals witnessed the murder of an individual in front of them 6 years ago when they were teenagers.
A triggering event caused them to seek out further counseling and support.
One of the teenage witnesses, who was a college student had a significant reaction Assisted in taking a sabbatical from college classes,
without losing their scholarship Put in contact with a therapist and psychiatrist Support was provided to their parents, as they
became suicidal. Victim has since stabilized and will be
returning to college this fall.
FY15-SUCCESSES
Program staff responded to the hospital to support the family after a baby died Staff assisted the family in securing shelter at the
local Ronald McDonald house Collaborated with the local Salvation Army so the
grandmother could return to her home by bus Collaborated with the local domestic violence
advocate for the mother Assisted the family in obtaining a bilingual priest to do
the service.
FY15-SUCCESSES
The Survivors Program increased its community response, in light of recent homicides that have occurred in public venues with multiple witnesses (grocery store and another at a shopping mall). Offered public meetings to give out information and
referrals/resources on trauma Collaborated with therapists in the area of the killings,
in order for witnesses to forego the waiting lists and be able to receive immediate services.
FY15-SUCCESSES
Recent arrest in a 20 year old case Previous involvement with the survivors was more
than 8 years ago and the program was able to offer consistency and services
SUCCESSES
“I recently told someone, working as an advocate for homicide cases, we don’t always get the “big wins”, we don’t get
to spike the ball and declare victory; someone is still dead when they
shouldn’t be, there are still families who are heartbroken, however, our
opportunity to have a positive impact, to lessen their ongoing trauma, to assist them in moving forward, is present in
hundreds of small ways. It is imperative that we are able to be present in those
moments.”
FY15-SUCCESSES
EVERYTHING IS NOT ROSY
Staff on-call timeCollaborations take time to developOvercoming the politics of relationships with
past programsStaff transportation (wear and tear)Increased scrutiny and oversight is taxingMomentum, buy-in and patienceIncreased administrative/fiscal work
CHALLENGES
Insuffi cient number of advocatesGenerating a service demand that is diffi cult
to meetDistance supervisionRoles and responsibilities between
administrators and coalitionsAdvocate training and program technical
assistanceTraditional sheltering got harder!
CHALLENGES
Iowa Attorney General’s Offi ceIowa Department of Justice
Crime Victim Assistance Division
Janelle Melohn, 515-242-6109, janelle.melohn@iowa.gov
Donna Phill ips, 515-242-5121, donna.phill ips@iowa.gov
QUESTIONS