Statement on Appropriations Committee Proposals Related to Domestic Violence
Thursday, April 07, 2022
"We are grateful for the investment that the Appropriations Committee has proposed making in the domestic violence service system," said Meghan Scanlon, President & CEO, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV). "The pandemic has exacerbated domestic violence and left victims facing increasingly complex challenges due to ongoing financial stressors. And the impact on children has been significant as they deal with increased violence in their home on top of pandemic isolation. We thank the leadership of the Appropriations Committee for prioritizing the needs of victims and their children and call on the entire General Assembly to support these critical investments."
The Appropriations Committee budget proposal includes an additional $1,440,000 in state funding under the Department of Social Services to fund 18 full-time domestic violence child and family advocates at CCADV's member organizations. These are advocates who provide trauma-informed care to children and the non-offending parent in both shelter and community-based settings. Services they provide include counseling, coordinating basic needs, school and childcare enrollment, scheduling transportation, and advocating for the child and non-offending parent within the courts and child welfare system.
Also included in the Appropriations Committee proposal are two key one-time ARPA allocations in FY23, both of which were also included in the Governor's proposed budget:
- $2,900,000 under the Department of Social Services to provide additional supports for victims of domestic violence. This funding will assist CCADV's 18 member organizations with providing critical assistance to victims including sheltering/hoteling, food, transportation costs, basic needs, childcare assistance, housing, moving, utilities, and furniture assistance.
- $14,865,300 under the Judicial Branch to enhance funding for victim services providers. This funding will offset temporary reductions in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding that support various victim services nonprofits. This includes approximately $3.7 million specifically for domestic violence services through CCADV and its 18 member organizations.
