Will the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Get it Together for NYC Survivor of Abuse?

A few months ago I wrote a post about a NYC victim of domestic violence that was initially ignored by the NCADV after inquiring about free plastic surgery and dental work after a history of abuse. The NCADV offers free dental and facial reconstruction on their website through a program called "Face to Face", a program they are affiliated with, not a program they directly fund. Months ago I wrote about this victim, Lily in NYC, who was trying to get the attention of this Coalition, but wasn't succeeding. After I featured an article about the NCADV ignoring this victim, they quickly responded to Lily and helped her with her application for surgery. In January, Lily had her first appointment with a doctor from the Face to Face Program, and had her first laser session. Since January, I have been getting updates on Lily's case, and have been making sure the NCADV doesn't forget about her case and continuously follows up with her. Since November, Lily has been patiently waiting for the NCADV to set her up with a dentist and plastic surgeon, and, as far as I know, no one from the NCADV has been following up with this victim. She is unsure if she will ever get the medical treatment she deserves and was promised, and is confused as to why the NCADV doesn't follow up or have any answers for her at this time. In May, Lily will be appearing on Aqui y Ahora as a survivor of domestic abuse that is getting assistance from the NCADV for severe scarring due to domestic violence. Although Lily is grateful for the opportunity to speak about domestic violence on this TV show, she is humiliated because the NCADV doesn't follow up with her and she is unaware if she will be done with or even get the surgeries in time for the TV program.

It is so sad to watch so many victims and survivors of domestic abuse reach out to the many Domestic Violence Coalitions, shelters and state agencies with hope that these organizations will follow through and provide the relief they claim to offer. Unfortunately, as survivors and victims, we must remember that if we want to receive any sort of help from these corporations, we need to hound, email, phone, and bother these advocates continuously until they realize we are not going away and we demand attention. It shouldn't work this way, but it does. Being quiet, patiently waiting, and being passive doesn't work if you are a battered woman seeking real assistance. My advice to any woman seeking assistance and support from any Coalition, state agency, or shelter, is to SPEAK UP, SPEAK UP and then SPEAK UP again. We must remember, these people have jobs because of us and their mission is supposed to be ending violence against women, so make sure you get what you need out of them.

Addressing the NYS CVB and the White House Adviser, Lynn Rosenthal, on Ending Violence Against Women

After battling with the NYS Crime Victims Compensation Board for one whole year now, I feel I have enough information to effectively speak on behalf of all crime victims suffering through the claim process in every state. After an entire year, and one appeal hearing, the NYS CVB finally amended their decision and approved my claim. This positive outcome was not easy to achieve, nor was the process pleasant. Proving my domestic violence case to the Crime Victims Compensation agency was work, a full time job, and I can see why so many victims never follow through on their claims in this country, and why so many claims get denied by this agency claiming to assist crime victims. For many victims, these agencies seem almost corrupt, disorganized, and out of touch with reality. I still feel this way, even though my claim was recently approved and my days of battling NYS CVB are over (I hope). As I sit here and write, I feel triumph, like I have won this entire battle I have been fighting for for so long....like my days of persuading, fighting, arguing, and proving myself over and over to a Crime Victims Organization are long behind me. It shouldn't feel this way, but it does. Victims shouldn't have to feel like they are at battle with the very organizations designed to help and assist them, but more often than not, dealing with Crime Victims Organizations will be a greater struggle than leaving an abusive relationship, or dealing with stalking, or dealing with an offender.

As a domestic violence victim trying to understand the actual crime itself, I knew I had to go through the entire process of seeking assistance and help from many, many DV organizations, shelters, and even the NYS Crime Victims Board. To my dismay, almost every organization and agency failed me, ignored me, and provided me with little to no assistance. There has only been one agency, Safe Homes, that has actually provided me with cash so that I could seek temporary medical treatment, and Rockland Family Shelter provided me with free legal assistance for a Family Court case. Other than this, I have spent endless amounts of time struggling through the failing system that so many become accustomed to and accept over time, which is something that needs to change. While going through this system, these hundreds of DV organizations, agencies, local DV shelters, and finally NYS CVB, I have learned that the service providers are failing many women. None of the organizations seem to be connected or affiliated with the next organization and there is practically no follow-up with victims from advocates. The DV Coalitions seem to be advocating against victims and for offenders (no GPS for victims), unresponsive to actual victims, and use donations as tips to their workers rather than actual victim relief (NCADV). This is just to start with, I have observed many more things over time, but these really stand out to me at the moment.

On February 2nd, Lynn Rosenthal put out a press release about the White House being committed to ending violence against women. The press release mentions that in 2011 there will be a $130.5MILLION DOLLAR increase for the domestic violence budget, and these funds will be funneled into the typical Domestic Violence Organizations and shelters, the DV hotline (let's remember they only answer phones there), and legal assistance for battered women (this is greatly needed, but I won't believe it till I see it-as far as I know, only larger cities have access to pro bono lawyers). Other than providing funds for legal assistance, the rest seems like a status quo approach to dealing with very real, very old problems. We need better solutions to these problems, not necessarily more money being funneled into the very organizations that are failing our women in need. Over the course of a year, I have been witness to many victims speaking out against these funded agencies that claim to assist and advocate, but fail victims left and right. In my opinion, we need accountability for each and every Domestic Violence Service Provider, DV Coalition, DV shelter, and especially each and every State Crime Victims Compensation Program across the country. We already have polls and surveys about the victims that get help from the DV service providers, now we need to pay close attention to those victims getting denied, turned away, and failed by these funded agencies. We need accountability. We need new solutions, and not every solution needs to be giving these large organizations more cash without accountability.

Press Release from Survivors in Action

Sacramento, CA – In the midst of January, National Stalking Awareness Month, Survivors in Action (SIA) (http://www.survivorsinaction.com), a non-profit advocacy group created to support crime victims and their families, announced a petition for domestic violence reform. Fighting to end domestic violence, the petitioners are requesting an audit of the funding for national domestic violence coalitions. The audit will help ensure these organizations are held accountable for refusing stalking victims and victims of abuse the resources and services they need.
“Stalking is a way perpetrators of domestic violence monitor and control their victims, and the behavior often escalates. Sadly, it appears there really are no resources available to victims of stalking and domestic abuse,” said Alexis Moore, founder of Survivors in Action. “Victims of abuse who reach out to centers designated to help find out that there really aren’t direct services available to them. It’s time to ensure that ‘victim resources’ are indeed resources available directly and specifically to the victims and their families,” added Moore.
Domestic Violence Coalitions across the country receive funding from federal resources, including the Department of Justice, to help victims of domestic violence. By sponsoring the petition, SIA and the Domestic Violence Oversight Committee are requesting an audit of funds for these coalitions and accountability of their Board Members for refusing victims the resources and services they seek. So far, SIA has collected 8,857 of the 10,000 signatures needed to further its efforts to end domestic violence.

About Survivors in Action
SIA is a non-profit group created to support victims and the families of victims of any crime, including domestic violence, identity theft, elder abuse, stalking, child abuse, rape and sexual assault. Typically, organizations help victims at specific points in their victimization cycle—such as when they first report the crime or in writing parole opposition letters—leaving “gaps” in needed services. SIA is the only organization that fills the gaps and provides support through all stages of the journey from victim to survivor, with no time limitations, cut-off dates, or conditions. Our mission is to ensure that no victim anywhere in the nation is left behind. To help the cause or to learn more, visit www.SurvivorsInAction.com. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Alexis Moore, please call (916) 941-7292 or email her at Alexis@survivorsinaction.com.

Crime Victims Battling with NYS Crime Victims Compensation Program

On January 12th I traveled to Brooklyn to attend my appeal hearing with the NYS CVB. For an entire year, I have been battling with this state compensation program because they have been delaying, denying, and dragging out the entire compensation process for me. Although I believed I was the only victim in NYS that was being failed by this state program, there seems to be MANY victims of innocent crimes in NY that are going through the same battle without end.

January 12th was my last day. What does that mean? I vowed that that day would be the last day I would battle against this almighty power, and I would do what most domestic violence victims being failed by the NYS CVB do, quit. Sitting in that seat at the appeal hearing, sitting across from the Commissioner, Joan Cusack, a domestic violence victim herself, I thought I might have a shot, and that the CVB would actually approve my claim. Joan gave me the impression that she fully sympathized with my case and understood the challenges and barriers many DV victims struggle through, being a victim herself. After I gave my speech under oath, Ms. Cusack gave me another impression that she already had her decision about my claim, and that my case "was priority". I thought there would be no more delays in the process, and that they would deny me again, quickly, at least taking the wait out of it...

As the month comes to a close, no response from the NYS Crime Victims Board. No denial, no acceptance, no nothing. Still waiting for an answer after all this time. About a month ago, I posted a piece I thought was important. I wrote about the NYS CVB monitoring victims blogs, spending a lot of time during their work days reading through our websites. I still feel strongly about that post and the message it brings: These funded agencies should be spending less time reading through blogs on the clock, and more time going through victims applications and claims.

No more delays and less time spent blogging, Crime Victims Board!