Celebrate Your Success

A few short weeks ago the domestic violence service providers in the state of Missouri were rocked with earth-shaking news: The House Appropriations Committee recommended a 50 percent cut in state domestic violence funding --- that’s $2.375 million dollars that would be removed from supporting Missouri’s abused women and their dependent children needing counseling services, shelter, food and hygiene products, health evaluations, tutoring, job placement assistance, case management, housing education, childcare, etc. To put this all in context, one in four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. The Women’s Safe House alone served 503 women and children in 2009 for a total of 17,693 nights of safety; the highest we have seen in our 33 year history of serving metro St. Louis.

Needless to say, as advocates in the movement to end violence against women, we could not stand for this devastating cut. Not after learning from our 2009 statewide service statistics that over 10,000 women and children received domestic violence resources, and over 9,300 were turned away due to capacity and funding constraints. This is the first time in the state’s history that victims served so closely aligned with victims we could not serve. We need to expand and enhance our services, not constrain and remove them.

After a couple weeks of joining forces to mobilize support for domestic violence services, through letters to the editor, candle-light vigils, appeals to decision-makers, and passionate phone calls, our state legislators listened. Despite a billion dollars in cuts made to the state's budget for Fiscal Year 2011, domestic violence state funding was not reduced on Thursday, March 25th, by the Missouri House of Representatives when it passed House Bill 2011, the Department of Social Services appropriations bill presented by House Budget Chairman, Alan Icet (R-Wildwood). Funding in the bill remained at current levels, $4.75 million, restoring money that had been cut by 50 percent in February by a House Appropriations committee.

In the Weeks that Followed…

CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY!!

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved full funding for domestic violence services—$4.75 million—in a hearing on Thursday, April 1, that “closed” that funding in House Bill 2011 to further debate or reductions in the committee process. There was no discussion by Senators on the committee as the unanimous decision was made in less than one minute to fully fund domestic violence services in the midst of the largest budget reductions in the state's history.

Barring a highly unlikely Senate floor amendment, there will be no DV funding reductions in the Fiscal Year 2011 state budget. This will be the first time in years and years that state funding for domestic violence services is not be at issue in a budget conference committee and subject to cuts until the very end of the appropriations process.

Pick the superlative to describe this achievement by the advocates, survivors, and allies in the Missouri movement to end violence against women: Incredible. Amazing. Wonderful. Fantastic. Powerful. Sweet.

Please know that this accomplishment has great meaning on many levels. Our movement, our unity, and collective efforts have proven that advocacy to end violence against women continues to make discernable change in our society. Those in positions of legislative authority listened to you and acted to support women and children victimized by intimate violence.

You made this happen. Please take the time to relish this victory, to be restored in your energy and determination, and to fully appreciate the importance of your perseverance in service and social change.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Colleen
Colleen Coble
Chief Executive Officer
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
217 Oscar Drive, Suite A
Jefferson City, MO 65101

*The majority of this information above was pulled from transmissions sent by Colleen Coble, Chief Executive Officer of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence as she has been keeping member agencies abreast of legislative changes and advocacy opportunities surrounding our funding.