VOCA Funding Survey

Program Impact

Thank you for participating in this survey. As most of you know, there is an anticipated reduction to California VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program and projects to $105,800,000 - $132,100,000, with $262,199,262 needed to sustain current funding levels. We understand that this funding could have a disproportionate impact on smaller, culturally specific orgs serving underserved and historically marginalized communities here in California.

The Partnership, in collaboration with VALOR, are surveying programs currently receiving VOCA funding to better understand the potential impacts that these cuts would present to programming and serving victims of crime.

This survey should take approximately 10 - 15 minutes to complete. If you have any questions or want to speak with some personally, you can reach out to the Partnership's Prevention Director Jennifer Ponce at Jennifer@cpedv.org or the Policy Director Krista Colon at Krista@cpedv.org. You can also reach out to VALOR's Public Affairs and Policy Manager Grace Glaser at GGlaser@VALOR.US.

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* 1. Name of your organization?

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* 2. Your position in your organization?

Executive Director

Program Manager

DV Victim Advocate

SA Victim Advocate

Dual DV/SA Victim Advocate

Attorney/Law Student

Batterer Intervention Program Staff

Board Member

Educator

Government Agency Staff

Immigration Organization Staff

Survivor

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Which region do you serve? Please note that the Partnership and VALOR differentiate regions slightly. (Click here for a list of all regions)

Far North

North

Bay Area

Central Valley

Central Coast

Los Angeles

South

Unsure

If unsure, which county are you located in?

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* 4. In what year was your organization established?

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* 5. Are you a primary purpose culturally specific community-based program with expertise in serving victims of violence?

Yes

If yes, which culturally-specific populations do you serve?

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* 6. What is your overall organizational budget?

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* 7. Were you aware of potential cuts to VOCA funding prior to the email sent out from the Partnership and VALOR?

Yes

Somewhat, but not sure I had all of, or the correct information.

Any additional information you would like to include:

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* 8. Were you aware of the meetings convened by California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) regarding the latest concerns with VOCA funding? If you are not already signed up for the Cal OES emails, you can sign up here.

Yes

If yes, did you attend? If you didn't attend, why not?

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* 9. Are you familiar with the proposed options by California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to address the decrease in funding?

Yes

Somewhat but not entirely

Anything you would like to add?

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* 10. If you are familiar with the funding options, do you have a preference?

Reduce all VOCA grants by 30% in Fiscal Year 24-25 and reduce the number of awards for every competitive grant by 50% at the grant's next competitive cycle.

Reduce all programs 40% in 2024/2025.

Prioritize programs for a tiered reduction approach.

Make all funding competitive.

I'm not sure I understand all of the details enough to make a decision

I'm not familiar at all.

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Number of years you have received VOCA funding?

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* 12. Which year did you first receive VOCA funding?

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* 13. Approximately, what percentage of your overall budget is made up with VOCA funds?

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* 14. How many individual programs are funded by VOCA within your organization?

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* 15. Please share, per program, the percentage of that program that VOCA funds. (For example, the percentage of your shelter budget that VOCA funds.)

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* 16. Do you currently receive VOCA funding to provide culturally-specific services to traditionally unserved/underserved communities.?

Yes

Unsure

If yes, which culturally-specific populations are you funded to serve?

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* 17. If you responded yes to question 16, how would a 30% reduction in this funding impact your unserved/underserved services?

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* 18. What has current VOCA funding allowed your program to do? (check all that apply)

Hire more staff

Develop or expand services for traditionally marginalized populations

Increase salaries and/or benefits

Provide new services you weren’t able to provide without these funds

Provide or expand financial assistance to survivors - third party payments to landlord, cash assistance for necessities, etc.

Provide or expand criminal justice system support - assist victims and survivors to understand and participate in the criminal justice system

Expand direct services including counseling and support groups

Expand housing services (including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Housing First)

Provide services to address issues beyond domestic and/or sexual violence – ex: human trafficking, child abuse

Provide or expand civil legal services and support

Create a crisis line for survivors

Other (please specify)

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* 19. How would the loss of VOCA funding impact your organization? (check all that apply)

Loss of a staff position

Loss of more than one staff position

Waiting lists for survivors to access services

Loss or significant reduction (more than 50%) of legal assistance and support

Loss or significant reduction (more than 50%) of financial assistance to survivors and/or their families

Loss or significant reduction (more than 50%) of criminal justice system support

Loss or significant reduction (more than 50%) in direct services to survivors including counseling and/or support groups

Loss or significant reduction (more than 50%) in housing services (including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Housing First)

Loss of crisis line

Loss or significant reduction (more than 50%) of services to address issues beyond domestic and sexual violence - ex. human trafficking and child abuse

Other (please specify)

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* 20. If a reduction will result in wait listing survivors, can you share what you think that will mean to survivor safety?

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* 21. Is there anything else you would like to share regarding proposed cuts to VOCA funding?

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* 22. Would you like more information regarding VOCA funding?

Yes

If yes, please provide your name and email address.