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Why We Are Here Today

Victim Service Center of Orange County, Inc. “Providing comprehensive, compassionate, victim-focused services to meet the needs of victims of crime, including sexual violence survivors, who reside in or were victimized in Orange County, Florida.” Presented by: Nicole Quinn, Executive Director.

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Why We Are Here Today

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  1. Victim Service Center of Orange County, Inc.“Providing comprehensive, compassionate, victim-focused services to meet the needs of victims of crime, including sexual violence survivors, who reside in or were victimized in Orange County, Florida.”Presented by:Nicole Quinn, Executive Director

  2. Why We Are Here Today In response to Orange County Government staff report of the Victim Service Center. County report was inaccurate, misleading and significantly minimized the crucial services the VSC provides in the community. The VSC was not afforded the opportunity to provide input to the staff report despite several attempts to participate in the process. Upon learning of the report going to the County Commissioners for budget discussions, the VSC met with each Commissioner to ensure that they received accurate information.

  3. VSC Services to Victims The VSC Provides Services to ALL Victims of Crime Needs assessment and comprehensive case plan for all crime victims Crisis Counseling Information and Social Service Referrals Victim Compensation Assistance Personal Advocacy Services Education on the Criminal Justice System Emergency Legal Advocacy 24-hour sexual assault hotline Therapy (sexual assault victims) Forensic examinations and Medical Intervention (sexual assault cases) Follow-up appointments for STD results (sexual assault cases)

  4. A Certified Center The Victim Service Center is certifiedby the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV)as the only rape crisis center for Orange County. There are 95 standards that must be met and sustained in order to maintain this certification.

  5. A Component of Public Safety The Victim Service Center is a component of Public Safety and facilitates Orange County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), providing best practices for serving sexual violence victims in our community.

  6. VSC’s Response to Orange County Government’s Staff Report • The VSC does not have “two components”; we are one agency with multiple programs, including the Sexual Assault Treatment Center. • General revenue funds from Orange County Government provide administrative and operating costs for ALL of the VSC’s programs • Medical intervention funds do not cover these costs. • The $375,826 in general revenue funding must be retained for the VSC to continue to operate. • Approximately $124,000 of the $165,000 medical intervention funds is reimbursed to the County by the Office of the Attorney General, Sexual Battery Claims Program.

  7. VSC’s Response to Orange County Government’s Staff Report • There is not a duplication of services provided by victim assistance programs in Orange County, including programs administered by the VSC. • It is not realistic for the VSC to continue operating on “state funding” as recommended in the report; furthermore, there were never initial discussions about VSC participating in the Citizens’ Review Panel process. • Victims that do not receive recovery services post-victimization experience an increase in substance abuse, mental illness, homelessness and suicide.

  8. VSC’s response to Orange County Government’s Staff Report Required data reporting to the County does not allow the VSC to clearly define productivity and measurable outcomes: • The VSC provided 11,444 services to 2,673 victims of crime last fiscal year. • The actual cost per client is only $314 - far from the $1,745 that the County reports. • According to recent trends, it is anticipated that the VSC will experience up to an 84% increase in the number of clients served within the next year. WHO WILL SERVE THESE VICTIMS?

  9. Funding Cuts will Result in Orange County not Having a CertifiedRape Crisis Center • Impact on the community: • Certification is non-transferable; Government agencies and dual mission programs are ineligible for certification • Loss of Federal/State funding coming to Orange County totals approximately $237,892 this current fiscal year. • Only Advocates at certified rape crisis centers receive confidentiality/privileged communication with victims per • F.S. 95.5035. • Hospitals emergency rooms will be inundated with sexual assault victims that are not a “medical priority” and victims will wait to be seen for hours unable to urinate, drink, eat or bathe.

  10. Immediate Impact on the VSC • The VSC will not be able to fill the vacant Development and Community Outreach Coordinator position. • VSC must preserve current number of direct service staff and management to operate a 24-hour rape crisis program even if some services were eliminated, as is being proposed. • The operating costs for the VSC are 18% of the overall budget. There is nowhere else to cut! • The current recommended budget cut represents 26.5% of our general operating budget.

  11. Victim Service Center of Orange County, Inc.“Providing comprehensive, compassionate, victim-focused services to meet the needs of victims of crime, including sexual violence survivors, who reside in or were victimized in Orange County, Florida.”Presented by:Nicole Quinn, Executive Director

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