Press Release  MOVA & AG CAMPBELL COMMEMORATE VICTIM RIGHTS MONTH ON WEAR TEAL DAY

BOSTON, MA., April 5, 2024 — The Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) and Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, chair of the Victim and Witness Assistance Board, brought together survivors, elected officials, and providers to mark the commencement of Victim Rights Month at the Massachusetts State House this past Tuesday. Attendees donned teal and navy ribbons in observance of Wear Teal Day, an occasion honoring Sexual Assault Awareness Month as well as Child Abuse Prevention Month, both occurring in April.

Tuesday’s event epitomized the collaborative endeavors of stakeholders in advocating for trauma-informed services over the past four decades. Enacted in 1984 and celebrating its 40th anniversary, The Massachusetts Victim Bill of Rights ensures rights and services for crime victims. Since its enactment, allied professionals have made significant advancements in enhancing access to services for survivors across Massachusetts.

“We [Massachusetts] are the leaders in helping people, in serving people. We are the place where people go to find out how they can serve this many people,” said Audrey Morrisey, member of the Victim and Witness Assistance Board, Associate Executive Director of My Life My Choice, and a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation, recognizing the progress that has been made over the last forty years. In fiscal year 2023 (FY23), MOVA-funded programs served over 94,000 survivors, the largest number in the agency’s history.

Victim service partners Hema Sarang-Sieminski, Esq., Deputy Director of Jane Doe Inc., Caddie Nath-Folsom, Director of Legal Advocacy at DOVE, and Tom King, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, underscored the significance of passing what has become referred to on Beacon Hill as "The VOCA Bridge." The VOCA Bridge is a state funding request to bridge the depletion of federal funding for victim services through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). VOCA funding refers to the monies allocated to each state in the country to support services for survivors of crime. VOCA funding is currently at a historical low, impacting programming across Massachusetts.

To date, the Legislature has allocated a total of $40 million for the VOCA Bridge in FY23 and FY24. In FY23, Bridge funding supported over 203,000 services to over 33,000 individuals. MOVA is currently advocating for an additional $20 million in funding to sustain services in FY25. Several legislative champions spoke during the program and honed in on the urgent need for this funding, including Representative Marjorie Decker, Representative Natalie Higgins, and Senator Robyn Kennedy.

“The theme of this year’s [Victim Rights] month is advocating for options, services, and hope for survivors. And what better way to commemorate this year’s theme than by passing the VOCA Bridge?” reflected Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. $20 million from the state will ensure the sustainability of programs and will help maintain accessibility to these vital, free services amid devastating reductions in federal funding.

Liam Lowney, Executive Director of MOVA, expressed enthusiasm for the organization's ongoing dedication to advancing victim rights and ensuring the provision of essential services for survivors. “We’re excited about how far we’ve come, and we are excited to take on the work that we still have left to do,” said Lowney.

To learn more about the 40-year history of MOVA and the VOCA Bridge, please visit the MOVA website, as well as our digital toolkit.

###