FRANKFORT - Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary BG Norman E. Arflack today announced funding is available through his cabinet for the federal program -- Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). Approximately $5.5 million in grants is available for awards.

The VOCA program is for hands-on assistance to victims of crime, which includes expanding direct services to the victim. These services may include crisis intervention and follow-up, therapy, group counseling, information and referral, court advocacy and assistance with victim compensation claims.

Private/non-profit programs such as domestic violence shelters, child advocacy centers, rape crisis centers, prosecutorial and crisis intervention programs, and other advocacy programs that currently provide or want to provide direct service to victims of violent crime may obtain an application, at our web-site: http://justice.ky.gov/departments/gmb/ or may contact the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for additional information.  Please contact Tanya Dickinson, Grants Branch Manager, 125 Holmes Street, Frankfort, KY 40601, 502-564-3251, tanya.dickinson@ky.gov , with application questions.

Applications are available online May 1, 2007; must be submitted by June 15, 2007; and, awards are scheduled to be announced in September 2007.