Susie’s Place warns VOCA cuts could force service reductions; seeks bridge funding

Kathy Stoll, speaking for the Hendricks County Child Advocacy Center’s Susie’s Place, told the Jack Hopkins committee the organization views a pending reduction in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) dollars as the primary driver behind its request for bridge operational funding.

"We've been advised to confidently expect... that VOCA next round of VOCA funding is gonna be about a 40% cut," Stoll said, describing a scenario that would leave the center with fewer staff and increased workload across its Bloomington, Avon and Terre Haute locations. She warned that reducing staff capacity would lengthen response times for forensic interviews and stretch the team that provides 24/7 on-call coverage for acute child-victim needs.

Stoll described strategies to avoid layoffs—such as natural attrition and redistribution of staff between locations—but said any reductions would harm response capacity for children and complicate coordination with partners including DCS and law enforcement. The presenter said Susie’s Place is ramping up other fundraising and organizational capacity-building efforts to reduce dependence on shrinking government dollars.

Committee members asked for clarification about overlap with other county CASA services and Stoll explained Susie’s Place focuses on the earliest stages of response (safe space and initial interviews) while other organizations provide later-stage services.

The committee did not vote at the meeting and thanked the presenter for the detailed explanation.