Gov. Gregoire announces federal recovery money to help crime victims

For Immediate Release: May 19, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the state Office of Crime Victims Advocacy was awarded $933,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to support crime victim service providers. This award will create 14 new jobs for victim advocates and retain four other positions across Washington state.

Funding will be distributed from the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) to service providers for victims of crimes including sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse will benefit from the services provided by these advocates.

�I am pleased to see recovery funding going straight to our communities to serve crime victims,� said Gregoire. �I applaud the hard work of the Office of Crime Victim�s Advocacy for recognizing this federal funding opportunity and ensuring Washingtonians can benefit.�

The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, part of the CTED, works in partnership with over 250 local agencies to provide confidential services to victims of crime.

Current victim service contractors in Washington were eligible to compete for the Recovery Act funds. The new crime victim service advocates will be at work in their communities by July. A complete list of contractors receiving grants follows the announcement below.

Last month, events in Washington and across the country marked the 25th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act. The act affirmed our nation�s commitment to helping crime victims rebuild their lives. The Victims of Crime Act established a fund which continues to support Washington�s compensation and victim assistance programs.

�Our people and quality of life are among Washington state�s most precious assets,� said Rogers Weed, Director of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. �The crime victim advocates hired with this Recovery funding will help preserve a valuable community service during these trying economic times.�

Washington state is administering the federal Recovery Act investments with an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability. Gov. Gregoire created a new Web site (www.recovery.wa.gov) enabling every Washingtonian to see where their tax dollars are going and hold government accountable for the results. On the federal level, President Barack Obama has appointed Vice President Joe Biden to oversee all states' recovery efforts and to root out waste and fraud. This combined oversight will ensure taxpayer dollars are put to good use and recharge the economy.

CTED is the lead state agency charged with enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in Washington and is administering more than $200 million in Recovery funding. For more information, visit www.cted.wa.gov.

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Where the money is going:

Sexual Assault Services

Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties
Monarch Children�s Justice and Advocacy Center
$65,033
Contact: Tambra Donohue 360-923-1884 ex. 1101

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
$64,432
Contact: Mary Ellen Stone 425-282-0354

Thurston County: Partners in Prevention Education
$62,816
Contact: Rosalinda Noriega 360-357-4472

Kitsap Sexual Assault Center
$43,843
Contact: Martha Wescott 360-479-1788

Benton & Franklin County: Sexual Assault Response Center
$40,774
Contact: Jodee Garretson 509-374-5391

Grays Harbor County: Beyond Survival
$17,602
Contact: Doreen Winningham 360-533-9751

Crime Victim Service Centers

King County: Northwest Immigrant Rights Network
$90,000
Contact: Jorge L. Bar�n 206-957-8609

Walla Walla County: Children's Home Society of Washington
$63,674
Contact: Richard Pankl 509-529-2130

King County: Northwest Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian, and Gay Survivors of Abuse
$50,414
Contact: Connie Burk 206-568-7777

Skagit County: Brigid Collins House
$50,413
Contact: Byron Mannering 360-734-4616

Cowlitz County: Emergency Support Shelter
$39,999
Contact: Sherrie Tinoco 360-425-1176

Domestic Violence Services

King County: NW Network of Bisexual, Trans, Lesbian and Gay Survivors of Abuse
$81,890
Contact: Connie Burk 206-568-7777

Domestic Violence Services of Benton/Franklin Counties
$63,593
Contact: Kelly Abken 509-735-1295

Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
$59,331
Contact: Emily O'Connor 360-336-9591

Spokane County: YWCA of Spokane
$42,108
Contact: Patty Wheeler 509-326-1190 x8291

Lewis County: Human Response Network
$40,224
Contact: Joan Caywood 360-748-6601

Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
$14,091
Contact: Amy Buettner 509-427-4210


Call the Crime Victims Hotline at 800-822-1067 if you need to find services in your area. For more information contact Grace Call at 360.725.2893 or [email protected].