Updated: January 9, 2014

Contact: Kate McCord, Communications Director kmccord@vsvalliance.org Kristine Hall, Public Policy Director khall@vsdvalliance.org

Streamlining Funding for Sexual and Domestic Violence ServicesVirginia House Bill 1 & Senate Bill 4: FAQs

What is House Bill 1/Senate Bill 4?House Bill 1/Senate Bill 4: Funding of sexual and domestic violence prevention, intervention, and prosecution. House Patrons: Delegate Barbara Comstock and Delegate Chris PeaceSenate Patrons: Senator Janet Howell and Senator Jill Hotzman Vogel

Establishes a Sexual and Domestic Violence Subfund at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund. This new fund will be a repository for existing and new funding. It consolidates numerous funding streams and grant programs for Sexual & Domestic Violence Agencies and will reduce administrative costs at both the state and local levels.

Why consolidate funding streams and grant programs for Sexual & Domestic Violence Crisis Centers?

The current funding structure is inefficient, burdensome and does not lend itself to the best utilization of resources.

Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence would be much better served by an efficient, streamlined funding system that prioritizes the needs of victims—allowing funds for both intervention and prevention services for adult and child victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are better served by a streamlined funding system that allows Sexual and Domestic Violence Crisis Centers the flexibility to direct funding to service gaps in their community.

Sexual and Domestic Violence Crisis Centers in Virginia submit as many as seven different funding applications to three state agencies to support their core services. (There are three

Updated: January 9, 2014

primary grant programs: two at the Department of Criminal Justice Services for sexual assault services and one at the Department of Social Services for domestic violence services.)

Streamlining the administration of state and federal sexual and domestic violence funds will result in increased efficiency, reduced duplication and relief of administrative burdens at the state and community agency levels.

Why house the funding under Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (CICF)? Victim services is central to CICF’s mission and work. At the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund

(CICF), responding to victims of crime is not only a priority—it is THE priority.

CICF is the logical agency to administer sexual and domestic violence victim services funds and coordinate efforts to continuously improve intervention and prevention services.

Consolidating sexual and domestic violence victim services at CICF will improve Virginia's capacity to mobilize existing emergency shelter and victim services networks to respond to critical events and emergencies.

CICF maintains consistent contact with victims and victim service providers in communities across the Commonwealth.

CICF places a high value on transparency, accountability, and urgency in making funds available to communities for victim services.

About the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance The Action Alliance has been Virginia’s leading voice on sexual and domestic violence for more than 30 years. We enhance response and prevention efforts through training, public policy advocacy, public awareness programs, and technical assistance to professionals.

The Action Alliance represents 53 Sexual and Domestic Violence agencies (SDVAs) in the Commonwealth. These SDVAs provide a variety of victims’ services in their community including 24-hour hotlines, emergency shelters, accompaniment to hospitals, trauma counseling, community education and prevention services.

5008 Monument Avenue, Suite A Richmond, VA 23230804.377.0335info@vsdvalliance.orgwww.vsdvalliance.org