Van Hollen Awards the Women's Center, Inc. $56,600 for Children Who Witness Domestic Violence in Waukesha County

WAUKESHA   Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen today announced the Wisconsin Department of Justice has awarded $56,600 in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to the The Women's Center, Inc. program.

"I am pleased that agencies that serve victims will receive additional support," said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. "With this funding, the Women's Center's Children's Domestic Violence Counselor will provide individual counseling and support to child witnesses of domestic violence from Waukesha County." 

Counseling services will be available for children in The Women's Center's shelter for battered women as well as child witnesses to domestic violence from the community.

The Women's Center, Inc. is one of 16 programs that Van Hollen has chosen for more than $900,000 in funding to help crime victims under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The Attorney General said this money reflects his desire to improve the quality of life for innocent crime victims of all ages who live in communities across Wisconsin.  Trauma counseling, crises intervention and other advocacy services are essential to restoring victims to a sense of wellness. 

 Enacted in 1984, VOCA is administered by the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law on February 17, 2009.  The law provides funding to assist victim service programs create and retain direct victim services positions.