County may include DVIP in next budgeting cycle

LEE COUNTY – The Lee County Board of Supervisors may consider making a donation to domestic violence efforts in the county.
October is Domestic Violence Prevention Month and supervisors heard a presentation from Domestic Violence Intervention Programs (DVIP) about the efforts underway through the eight-county consortium.
Alta Madea-Peters, the incoming co-executive director for DVIP/RVAP (Rape Victim Advocacy Program), was presenting an annual update on the programs within the county, including an Shop for Safety event Wednesday which is an in-kind donation event at local grocery stores to collect gift cards and non-perishable items.
On Oct. 19, they will be at Fat Jimmy’s in Montrose from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. for “Smokin’ for a Cause” where part of the proceeds will go towards victim survivors in Lee County.
During the conversation, supervisor Garry Seyb asked about their funding streams and Madea-Peters said about half comes from federal and state funding sources and the other comes from local participation.
The group assisted 214 individuals with domestic violence and sexual assault through June 30th.
“If you think about that in the scope of 365 days a year, it sends chills down my spine. The other thing when you talk about domestic abuse and advocacy, a lot of times, there are children involved,” Seyb said.
“They are the secondary victims and that’s something we need to act on in Lee County and things we have been working on.”
Madea-Peters said the group is actively involved in fundraising to help support prevention education for youth around dating violence and knowing what good, happy relationships look like.

She said 54% of the funding comes from state and federal dollars and the rest is community foundations, individual donors, and municipalities and counties.
“We don’t receive specific funding from the county, but the (Lee County) Community Foundation does provide support,” she said.
Johnson County provides a number of grants and helps fund the group’s emergency shelter, but other counties contribute anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000.
“Maybe we should keep that in mind for our next budgeting process,” Chuck Holmes said.
“If you could somehow contact us around January when we’re looking at the budget and remind us of your interest in getting funding.”
Alta-Meters said she would do that.
Lee County Board Chairwoman Denise Fraise asked how other counties determine funding levels, and Madea-Peters said it was not based on per-capital formulas, but more what the county decided to contribute.
Seyb encouraged the group to apply for funding from the county because Lee County is still struggling statistically compared to other counties when it comes to child neglect and abuse.
“There’s a direct correlation here and we’re not, and obviously we’re not (contributing), we should be.”
Madea-Peters backed that up saying that in about 48% of the homes experience domestic violence, there is child neglect occurring, as well.