Anticipated cuts will not change care for family violence victims

Sandy Stevens, Executive Director of North East Wyoming Advocacy Resource Center (NEWARC) has been visiting municipalities in Crook and Weston Counties to ask for funds to assist victims of domestic violence.

This year, she is advising the councils with whom she speaks that, while things are running relatively smoothly now, in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, Victims Of Crime Act (VOCA) funding is anticipated to be cut across the board 40%.

However, she and her associates are already making plans to adapt to the changing situation.

“The Division of Victims’ Services is researching other types of funding to supplement that reduction in VOCA funds,” she said.

Stevens understands, though, that there are not any guarantees that there will be money available.

If these cuts do arrive, they will not affect the NEWARC offices until July of 2025 and the director already has the change of procedure in mind.

“We’ll have one person at each of the agencies – one in Newcastle that covers Weston County and one here, in Crook County. We’ll just have to do limited office hours and limited office days,” she said.

She occasionally has to leave the office unattended now, and simply puts a sign on the door with the number to an associate from the other office for immediate assistance.

Stevens assures people that this expected cut in funding will not affect the help available to those who call.

“There won’t be any reduction in services for our clients…The services will still be provided, they’ll just look a little different, whether my advocate comes up from Newcastle or I go down to Newcastle to cover for her, all victims will receive services,” she said.

Stevens asks for tolerance if this does transpire, stating, “I hope people give us a little grace during the transition.”