Safe Haven, CASA brace for impact of Victims of Crime Act cuts

ASHLAND — David Miller, the team lead for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Ashland and Knox counties, spends much of his time helping volunteers navigate the court system. 

He and his volunteer coordinators help volunteer advocates request records, set up meetings and help advocates navigate sometimes challenging family dynamics. 

The advocates, known as CASAs, serve as a voice for youth going through family court cases. The volunteer opportunity isn’t for everybody, said Miller and Catherine Swope, who directs Advocates for Families in Ashland, which houses the CASA program. It requires a healthy dose of empathy. 

But wrapped up in the challenges comes a chance to really make a difference in a child’s life, Miller said.

In part, funding for CASA in Ashland comes from federal dollars through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). 

That act, passed in 1984, “provides federal support to state and local programs that assist victims of crime.” The funds come from fines paid by federal criminals. 

In addition to funding CASA, VOCA dollars also provide some funding to Safe Haven Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Shelter and the Ashland County prosecutor’s office’s victim advocate. 

But VOCA funding is set to drop this year from its 2023 level by $700 million. That’s a cut of 40% across the board, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence. 

Since 2018, the amount of VOCA dollars coming into the state has dropped by 78%, falling from around $117 million to $26 million the state will receive this year. 

That means fewer dollars to go around to local nonprofits running victims service programs, like CASA. Cuts may not be doled out evenly across the board, though, Swope said. Some agencies could maintain most, or all, of their typical funding, while others could receive no cuts at all.

CASA and Safe Haven of Ashland have braced for the worst-case scenario when it came to VOCA cuts. It’s still uncertain how much of a cut either will receive, if any.

Cutting corners

Still, both CASA and Safe Haven say they’ve faced budget cuts from VOCA in the last four years, which means they’re already spread thin trying to make fewer dollars than normal go as far as possible. 

Safe Haven received approximately $135,372 from VOCA last year, according to program director Rebecca Garcia. 

Safe Haven’s operating budget is typically around $750,000, Garcia said. The other funding sources come from the state, grants and some money from local organizations, like the Ashland County Community Foundation and the United Way.

Still, the VOCA dollars, Garcia said, are necessary for Safe Haven to continue offering and expanding its services. If Safe Haven receives a cut of 47% or more, Garcia said it would be keenly felt for the organization. 

She couldn’t yet offer specifics of what impacts the cut might have. 

“We’re anticipating the worst, which could possibly mean job loss, program loss,” Garcia said.

She said the shelter already turned away people last year. Sustaining more cuts is “just not reasonable,” Garcia said.

CASA’s cuts

CASA offered similar sentiments. Since 2019, Swope said CASA’s share has gone from around $165,500 down to around $67,480. 

The organization had some money in reserve, received some money from pull tab collections in the community and has tried to pursue other funding options. But VOCA makes up the lion’s share of CASA’s funding. 

Swope said the loss of VOCA dollars doesn’t make CASA volunteers any less needed. As of May 16, Swope said CASA volunteers were involved in 27 cases, with 54 children. Those cases are only the ones CASA has the capacity to help out on. 

“We have, you know, probably 15 volunteers, and that’s going to impact all of them,” Swope said. “If we don’t have funding for staff, we can’t run volunteers, and it’s a trickle effect.”

With factors like an attorney shortage in the county and an already-compressed budget that means there’s little capacity to train new volunteers, Swope said. CASA already doesn’t meet the demand for its services.

If it receives the full force of the cuts, she said it’d likely handicap the program. 

“These volunteers go the extra mile for these kids, and if the program dries up here, there will be nothing to replace it,” Swope said.

“… Yes, there are counselors, and we work with the counselors. There’s mentors, which we do mentoring. There’s still people in their lives, but it’s not targeted toward what’s (in) their best interests, and presenting it to a judge.”

Marsy’s Law

While CASA and Safe Haven both face funding concerns thanks to the potential cuts, the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office said it isn’t expecting to be overly impacted by the cuts. 

VOCA pays part of the salary of Ruth Rafeld, the office’s victims assistance coordinator. Christopher Tunnell, the county prosecutor, said VOCA dollars also cover the costs of somebody to write the grant each year, and some materials for the office.

His office receives $34,492.75 from VOCA, he said. It also receives $4,070.25 from the State Victims Assistance Advisory board. Those combine and go toward the victim program. It doesn’t cover the whole program, or even Rafeld’s whole salary. The rest comes out of the county’s general fund, Tunnell said.

Tunnell explained VOCA’s funding increased by several million dollars a few years ago. 

He didn’t specify exactly when that happened. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, between 2017 and 2018, the funds available for distribution jumped from $2,145,000 to $3,851,000. It dropped in 2020 and 2021, increased a bit in 2022, and has seen decreases each of the last two years. 

When the increase happened, according to Tunnell, many agencies took the opportunity to expand programs and apply for the increased funding. Tunnell said his office did not. 

So, when the last couple rounds of cuts to VOCA happened, Tunnell said his office didn’t receive any change to its funding. He speculated it was because his office didn’t increase its ask when the extra dollars became available. 

But, even if Tunnell’s office were to receive cuts, he said the victim advocate his office employs would still remain in her position. That’s because of Marsy’s Law, Tunnell explained. 

Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment added to Ohio’s constitution via voter approval in 2017, establishes “comprehensive victims’ rights laws.” The law states victims have several rights, ranging from the right to be informed to the right to an advocate. Tunnell said under the law, Rafeld’s position is a requirement in county prosecutors’ offices. 

Tunnell said if her funding was cut, the county would have to pay her out of its general fund. Part of her salary already comes through that fund, he said. 

The bigger challenge for his office is that Rafeld’s workload is heavy. It’d be nice to hire more help. But, unless the money is readily available, Tunnell hesitates to ask for it.

In need of support

CASA and Safe Haven each said they hoped the community would rally around them in a time of need for each of their organizations. 

Garcia said Safe Haven is made up of Ashlanders helping Ashlanders.

Swope, with CASA, echoed Garcia’s sentiments. According to her, help for CASA looks like volunteering and advocacy. 

“One of the things I’m very passionate about is our agency in particular was started by community members, and it should be a community-funded and supported agency,” Swope said.

Safe Haven’s two biggest fundraisers, a golf outing and its “Run With the Stars 5K,” brought in just shy of $20,000 last year. The organization would need to bring in an additional $63,000 on top of that to make up the potential loss if it receives the full impact of VOCA’s cuts this year. 

Still, Garcia said there’s room to grow each fundraiser. The “Run With the Stars 5K” is the organization’s big push currently. People can sign up to run, or simply offer donations. 

Garcia added people can also donate items, contact the Ashland County Community Foundation to contribute to Safe Haven’s fund or donate to the golf outing fundraiser.

Swope said, for CASA, advocacy and volunteering are key ways to help out.