Family Advocacy Program and Victim-Witness Assistance

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Family Advocacy Program and Victim-Witness
Assistance
U. S. Army Community and Family Support Center
(USACFSC)

• DoD Victim-Witness Assistance Regional Training
  Conference, 8-9 May 2002
• San Antonio, Texas
• Sharon S. Llewellyn

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Order of Briefing

• Family Advocacy Program (FAP)
• Incidence of Abuse
• Victim Advocacy and Services Program (VASP)
• Transitional Compensation
• Transitional Compensation Performance
• VASP Initiatives
• VASP Objectives

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Army Family Advocacy Program (FAP)

• An effective program provided at all
  installations dedicated to
• Prevention
• Advocacy and Support for Victims
• Reporting
• Treatment for Abuser
• Prompt Intervention
• Offender Accountability
• Strengthening Families and Self-reliance

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FAP Components

• The Family Advocacy Program Manager (FAPM)
• Prevention Services
• The Family Advocacy Case Review Committee (CRC)
• Family Advocacy Committee (FAC)
• Family Advocacy Training (ACS)
• Family Advocacy Treatment (SWS)

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FAP Organization
Installation Commander
Garrison Commander
Family Advocacy Committee
Medical Treatment Facility Commander
DCA
Chief, Social Work Service
Family Support
ACS
Case Review Committee Intervention - Clinically
Based

• Army Family Advocacy Program (FAP)
• Overall Program Management
• Prevention/Support
• Educationally Based

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Family Advocacy Case Review Committee (CRC)
SOCIAL WORKERS
CHAPLAINS
CIVILIAN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
LOCAL MEDICAL COMMANDER
LAW ENFORCEMENT (PROVOST MARSHAL
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS)

ALCOHOL DRUG ABUSE CLINICAL DIRECTOR
ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE (FAPM)
PHYSICIANS
SOCIAL WORK SERVICE
LEGAL
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH EMPHASIZES

• Early Identification
• Timely Reporting
• Protection of Victims
• Intervention for Victim and Abuser Through
  Treatment

CONUS ONLY - BSB COMMANDER CO-CHAIRS IN USAREUR
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U.S. Army Child Abuse Cases
7978
8222
7563
7456
6590
6666
6579
Data from Army Central Registry
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U.S. Army Spouse Abuse Cases
11192
10437
9977
9946
8250
7579
7693
Data from Army Central Registry
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Child and Spouse Abuse Rates/1,000
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Victim Advocacy and Services (VASP)

• Crisis Intervention and Assistance Provided in
  Response to Reported Incidents of Abuse
• Safety planning and referral to military and
  civilian shelters.
• Liaison with medical facilities, financial and
  legal resources, law enforcement, community
  agencies, and the command.
• Assistance in securing medical treatment.
• Specialized Education for Military Personnel,
  Victims, Soldiers, and Families
• Information on legal rights, entitlements, and
  resources available to victims through military
  and civilian programs.
• Information on dynamics of abuse and
  interventions.

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Victim Advocacy andServices (VASP)

• Legal and Court Advocacy in Collaboration with
  Victim-Witness Liaisons
• Information concerning legal rights and resources
  available through military and civilian programs.
• Pre-trial and post-trial support for victims.
• Transitional Compensation in Collaboration with
  Victim-Witness Liaisons
• Information on transitional compensation for
  eligible dependents when the soldier is separated
  administratively or through court-martial or
  sentenced to forfeiture of all pay and allowances
  for a dependent-abuse offense.
• Information on resources available to victims
  through programs such as Office for Victims of
  Crime and Crime Victim Compensation Program.

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Transitional Compensation

• Established in FY94 National Defense
  Authorization Act (P.L. 103-160).
• Implemented in accordance with DoDI 1342.24,
  Transitional Compensation for Abused Dependents,
  23 May 95.
• Entitlement begins on the date the convening
  authority approves the court-martial or the date
  the administrative separation is initiated.
• Compensation for 12 months or the soldiers
  obligated period of service, whichever is longer,
  up to 36 months. Monthly disbursement -
  935/spouse234/child.
• Dental care through military facilities and
  medical care as TRICARE beneficiaries.
• Access to commissaries and exchanges (subject to
  host nation agreements overseas).
• Split payments to spouses and legal guardians or
  the states if eligible children are in foster
  care.

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Transitional Compensation Performance
2,550K
2,405K
2,180K
1,560K
1,165K
892K
168
153
73
61
72
80
28K
3
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VASP Initiatives

• Validation of staffing requirements and inclusion
  of 4.9M in the FY04-09 POM for victim advocacy
  Army-wide.
• Implementation of program standards for ACS
  Accreditation in accordance with AR 608-1.
• Update and revision of AR 608-1.
• USACFSC administrative and policy revision to
  improve efficiency and reduce time needed for
  approval.
• USACFSC automation system upgrades to increase
  program capabilities.
• USUHS Study on the Transitional Compensation data
  base.

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VASP Objectives

• Fully implement victim advocacy and transitional
  compensation in collaboration with SJA at all
  Army installations.
• Ensure that program services provided meet
  professional standards and ACS/FAP Accreditation
  standards.
• Maintain strong liaison with commanders, and
  military and civilian legal, medical, and
  financial resource organizations.
• Increase professional education opportunities for
  all victim advocates through military and
  civilian resources.
• Leverage resources through partnerships with
  other organizations such as the Department of
  Justice and the American Bar Association.

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• Bottom Line The Army is people. Our goal is
  self-reliant soldiers, civilians and families.
  Victim Advocacy is one of the commanders best
  resources for early intervention to help families
  restore self-reliance and well-being when abuse
  occurs.