Victim Compensation Board approves grants for six trauma recovery centers, reserves $84,321 for May review
March 20, 2026 | California Victim Compensation Board, Agencies under Office of the Governor, Executive, California
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The California Victim Compensation Board on March 19 approved staff recommendations to fund six Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs) and set aside $84,321 for reconsideration after the governor's May budget revise.
Deputy Executive Officer Katie Gardenas told the board, "I'm here today to request approval of staff's recommendation for funding trauma recovery center grants." The board voted to adopt the recommendation after public comment; roll call recorded ayes from the members present and the motion passed.
Gardenas said 42 organizations applied — the highest number in the TRC grant program's history — and 33 met minimum statutory qualifications. Staff estimates available funding at about $10.5 million while qualified applicants requested roughly $62 million. Because of that shortfall, staff recommended awarding funds to the six highest-scoring applicants and applying a $2.2 million cap to any larger requests so awards remain operationally viable.
The recommendation prompted sustained concern from board members about geographic equity. Member Linda Johnson pressed staff on whether the scoring and NOFA process adequately account for crime rates and statewide distribution, saying the board risks "abdicating our responsibility" to consider geography and crime rate under statute. Member Becton urged the board to consider victim impact and who loses services when established TRCs are defunded.
Public commentators described the local impacts of the staff recommendation. Amy Turk, CEO of Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles, said, "we are grateful to be recommended for continued funding," and emphasized outreach and no-cost care for survivors. Michelle Arnelas Knight, director of the UC Davis Trauma Recovery Center, said defunding an established TRC "undermines this" model by eliminating a trusted provider and would leave service gaps in surrounding counties.
Board staff explained scoring uses 60 narrative points (including a question that asks applicants to address local crime rates, service availability and regional needs) and 40 administrative points; geography is one factor within that narrative score. Gardenas said staff would return in May with any funding updates following the governor's budget revise and that the board could consider policy options such as regional NOFAs in the future.
The board adopted the awards with the reservation of $84,321 and direction to revisit distribution after the May revise.
The board is scheduled to revisit TRC funding and any May-revise changes at its next meeting.
Deputy Executive Officer Katie Gardenas told the board, "I'm here today to request approval of staff's recommendation for funding trauma recovery center grants." The board voted to adopt the recommendation after public comment; roll call recorded ayes from the members present and the motion passed.
Gardenas said 42 organizations applied — the highest number in the TRC grant program's history — and 33 met minimum statutory qualifications. Staff estimates available funding at about $10.5 million while qualified applicants requested roughly $62 million. Because of that shortfall, staff recommended awarding funds to the six highest-scoring applicants and applying a $2.2 million cap to any larger requests so awards remain operationally viable.
The recommendation prompted sustained concern from board members about geographic equity. Member Linda Johnson pressed staff on whether the scoring and NOFA process adequately account for crime rates and statewide distribution, saying the board risks "abdicating our responsibility" to consider geography and crime rate under statute. Member Becton urged the board to consider victim impact and who loses services when established TRCs are defunded.
Public commentators described the local impacts of the staff recommendation. Amy Turk, CEO of Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles, said, "we are grateful to be recommended for continued funding," and emphasized outreach and no-cost care for survivors. Michelle Arnelas Knight, director of the UC Davis Trauma Recovery Center, said defunding an established TRC "undermines this" model by eliminating a trusted provider and would leave service gaps in surrounding counties.
Board staff explained scoring uses 60 narrative points (including a question that asks applicants to address local crime rates, service availability and regional needs) and 40 administrative points; geography is one factor within that narrative score. Gardenas said staff would return in May with any funding updates following the governor's budget revise and that the board could consider policy options such as regional NOFAs in the future.
The board adopted the awards with the reservation of $84,321 and direction to revisit distribution after the May revise.
The board is scheduled to revisit TRC funding and any May-revise changes at its next meeting.
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