Expansion of Victim Services

This grant award made to Cayuga County, is funded under OVC FY 2020 Law Enforcement-Based Victim Specialist Program, Purpose Area 1: Small-Agency, which is designed to develop or enhance and sustain crime victim specialist programs within law enforcement agencies and better coordinate services to victims to more quickly and more effectively serve the victim assistance and compensation needs of all crime victims and inform them of their rights as crime victims. The grantee will develop and execute a coordinated response and expansion of services for crime victims in Cayuga County, N.Y. The program will fund a.75 FTE Victim Specialist who will be located in the Cayuga County Sheriffs Office. Cayuga County will subcontract with Cayuga Counseling Services, Inc. (CCS) to implement the project. The Victim Specialist Program will improve the availability of services for all crime victims in Cayuga County by: developing and implementing a Victim Specialist Program; responding to the emotional, physical and/or psychological needs of crime victims; connecting victims to supportive services that assist them with stabilizing their life following their victimization; promoting the program and services available to crime victims; and developing and printing brochures and visor cards that describe crime victims' rights in NYS. The project will also provide training to law enforcement about the services available from the Victim Specialist to promote referrals for services. The program will operate 7 days a week, 24 hours a day utilizing a crisis hotline and on call services. CA/NCF