Carson City, Nevada - The Division of Child and Family Services has selected the agencies that will be awarded Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Formula Grant Program funding for the 2020 state fiscal year.

The VOCA Formula Grant Program, created under the 1984 Victims of Crime Act, provides federal funding nationwide to support victim assistance and compensation programs, to provide training for diverse professionals who work with victims, to develop projects that enhance victims' rights and services and to undertake public education and awareness activities on behalf of crime victims.

The VOCA Request for Applications was released on January 4, 2019, for a total funding amount of $20,000,000 in State Fiscal Year 2020.  Funding was awarded to 59 applicants including 6 new agencies that provide innovative programs such as crisis intervention services on school campuses in Clark County, victim services in Mesquite and doula services to victims. 

Under the VOCA Program Guidelines, funding priority is given to programs serving victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. At least 30 percent of each year's formula grant must be allocated to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse services, 10% for each category. An additional 10% must also be allocated to victims of violent or property crime who are "previously underserved," which indicates that the particular victim population historically or currently has not had access to or been provided with specialized or adequate services. DCFS has determined that the previously underserved populations that will be targeted for funding are: Children and Minors, Immigrants, Elderly, People with Disabilities, LGBTQIA2+, Tribal Communities and Homeless.

The $20,000,000 in awarded funding adheres to the four priority funding areas:  Child Abuse will be funded at $6,424,443 or 32 percent; Domestic Violence will be funded at $6,269,075 or 31 percent; Sexual Assault will be funded at $2,273,988 or 11 percent; Underserved Populations will be funded at 2,110,948 or 11 percent; and All Other services will be funded at $2,921,546 or 15 percent. Clark County will receive 64 percent of the total funding, Washoe County will receive 26 percent, and the Rural Counties will receive 10 percent.

*Funding for SFY20 is dependent upon the Office of the Inspector General’s audit of the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Services being closed and subject to the availability of funds.