Challenge
In Oregon, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds are used to expand or enhance direct services provided by Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to children who are victims of child abuse. The 22 local CASA programs that serve nearly 6,000 victims of child abuse and neglect receive approximately $2.75 million in federal funding each biennium. When this federal funding fell through in early 2022 due to federal and state agency implementation issues, CASA programs across the state faced steep budget cuts and potential loss of staff.
Approach
The CFM state affairs team worked closely with the Department of Human Services, Department of Justice and Department of Administrative Services to raise awareness of the issue and lobby for $2.75 million in state funding to backfill lost VOCA funds over the next biennium. This involved extensive shuttle diplomacy between multiple agencies, resolution of a complex contracting dispute and calling in favors from key state legislators when agency hurdles seemed insurmountable.
Success
Despite the federal nature of the VOCA funding problem, state lawmakers eventually agreed to step in and provide assistance to avoid cuts to critical programs that support vulnerable children. After months of lobbying the Co-Chairs of Ways and Means, the legislature adopted CFM’s proposal to backfill the loss of federal VOCA funds with one-time American Rescue Plan Act dollars. In the final days of session, the budget reconciliation bill was unveiled containing $2.75 million for CASA programs.
