JULY 2021
NEWS & UPDATES
Volume 19 | Issue 7
POLICY CORNER
NYSCADV’s 2021 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

During the 2021 New York State Legislative Session, the Legislature approved several important pieces of legislation, which NYSCADV has compiled into a summary. The summary is organized by those that have already been signed into law, bills approved by both chambers and awaiting action by the Governor, or bills approved in either the Assembly or the Senate. The legislation is ordered within these categories by chapter number or bill number. NYSCADV will continue to update and re-circulate this summary as bills are either signed into law or vetoed. Click here to access NYSCADV's 2021 Legislative Summary.

NYSCADV will be holding a webinar to review these, and other, important pieces of legislation on Wednesday, August 4, from 10:30-11:30 AM. Click here to register.

*The webinar will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.
NATIONAL NETWORK TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ADVOCACY DAY RECAP
 
On June 16, 2021, NYSCADV joined the National Network Against Domestic Violence and domestic violence coalitions across the country to advocate to Congress for more funding for domestic violence survivors and service providers. This year’s virtual event enabled us to meet with many New York congressional representatives.
 
During our meetings, we advocated for the following:
 
  • Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to bring the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fix Bill to the Floor: VOCA is a critical non-taxpayer source of funding for victim services. The Crime Victims Fund (CVF), which supports VOCA grants, is in danger of running out of funds. Advocates are asking the federal government to amend the statute to deposit penalties and fines from federal non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements into the CVF, which will add millions of additional funds. The U.S. House passed VOCA with overwhelming bi-partisan support. In fact, all but one of New York’s Congressional representatives supported the bill. A companion bill in the Senate has 57 bi-partisan co-sponsors. However, the bill has not been brought to the floor for a vote. Advocates across the country continue to work hard to get this bill to the Senate floor and approved.
  • Increased funding in Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bills:
  • Fund Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) at $463 million;
  • Fund new Culturally Specific Services Program (FVPSA office) at $35 million;
  • Release $2.65 billion from the VOCA Fund with a set-aside for tribes;
  • Fully fund Violence Against Women Act programs at $1 billion, including funding for the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP), Culturally Specific Services, T-housing, and Legal Assistance for Victims; and,
  • Allocate $75 million in the HUD Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program for victim-specific housing and supportive service projects.
  • The U.S. Senate to reauthorize VAWA: VAWA supports comprehensive, effective, and cost-saving responses to DV, SA, dating violence, and stalking. VAWA needs to be reauthorized in order to provide continued access to safety and justice for all survivors. The U.S. House passed VAWA with bi-partisan support. It is now up to the U.S. Senate to do the same.
  • The U.S. House and Senate to reauthorize FVPSA: FVPSA is the only federal funding source dedicated to domestic violence and ensures that domestic violence shelters and programs are able to keep their lights on and doors open. A FVPSA reauthorization bill was recently introduced in the House, but has not yet been voted on. Congress must reauthorize FVPSA with key enhancements in order to meet the growing needs of survivors.
 
These funding requests are incredibly important for NY’s survivors and service providers because New York relies almost exclusively on federal funding streams for NY’s DV services. NYSCADV will continue to advocate on behalf of domestic violence survivors and service providers in New York State to ensure that every survivor will be able to get the supports and services they need.
CAREER EMPOWERMENT TRAINING SERIES
Join NYSCADV, and Nicole Eniclerico of the YWCA of Union County for the training series, Career Empowerment for Survivors: What Advocates Need to Know*

In this four workshop series, we will discuss key factors that affect our clientele, domestic violence survivors, in their path to a successful job search ending in employment. You will get a better understanding of how to work with and support clients through specific barriers that are limiting their capability to find employment, such as the struggle of a job search, lack of interview skills, and unstable living environments. These workshops will also provide helpful resources that can help clients reach their goals.

The workshops and topic areas are included below:


* All workshops will be recorded.
WAYS TO SUPPORT NYSCADV
GJ Attitude is a clothing company focused on projecting courage, confidence and power to women. The company is generously donating 5% of all sales to NYSCADV. Visit the GJ Attitude website by clicking here to view t-shirt collections and place an order. Thank you, GJ Attitude, for supporting NYSCADV's work!
 
Shop on Amazon Smile by following the link to Amazon Smile, login to your Amazon account, and select New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence as your charity of choice. Amazon gives to NYSCADV every time you shop!
NYSCADV | www.nyscadv.org