FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2018

Media Contacts:

• Jessica Merrill, Communications Manager: jessica@cpedv.org | (916) 444-7163, ext. 118
• Lorena Campos, Communications Coordinator: lcampos@calcasa.org | 916.446.2520, ext. 316

CA budget will include funding increases to address sexual and domestic violence

SACRAMENTO — California’s final state budget included $10 million in new funding for Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention, with $5 million for each the Rape Crisis and the Family Violence Prevention Programs administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. California Coalition Against Sexual Assault CEO Sandra Henriquez and California Partnership to End Domestic Violence Executive Director Kathy Moore responded with this joint statement:

“This is an important step forward, at an historic moment for the movement to end gender-based violence. Although the final funding differs from our original $50 million ask, we recognize that the budget process involves a series of complex negotiations reflecting the core values and priorities of our state. Successfully advocating for a substantial increase in funding, at a time when the state budget is under tremendous demand, is a victory that we can be proud of.

This is a move toward greater equity in services for sexual assault and highlights prevention as key in responding to and ending domestic and sexual violence! Specifically, we are proud that this is the first time the State of California has approved an increase in funding to address sexual assault. However, this budget success does not address the disparity in funding between sexual and domestic violence services, and still falls short of our goal of ongoing funding. We must continue to increase access to funds for community-based and culturally-responsive approaches. CALCASA and the Partnership are committed to working with legislators to leverage opportunities and resources for lasting change in our state, and we’ll stand together next year to advance these solutions.

Our two coalitions are extremely proud of our collaboration, recognizing that we truly are stronger together! We remain committed to leading with prevention, expanding resources for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and resourcing research and evaluation. We are sincerely grateful to our legislative champions, Assemblymember Blanca Rubio and Senator Jim Beall, as well as the legislators who signed on their support of our budget request: Assembly Members Catharine Baker, Marc Berman, Rob Bonta, Autumn Burke, Ana Caballero, Wendy Carrillo,  Rocky Chávez, David Chiu, Jim Cooper, Mike Gipson, Eloise Gómez Reyes, Tom Lackey, Al Muratsuchi, Miguel Santiago, Mark Stone, Susan Talamantes Eggman and Marie Waldron–and Senators Ben Allen, Anthony Cannella, Cathleen Galgiani, Steve Glazier, Ed Hernandez, Bob Hertzberg, Jerry Hill, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Connie Leyva, Josh Newman, Henry Stern and Bob Wieckowski.

We also extend our deep gratitude to all who added their voice to our joint effort. 140 organizations across the state signed our support letter, over 1,500 people added their names to our Change.org petition, and our coalition members participated in many calls and legislative meetings.We will continue our work collaboratively to build awareness, support survivors, families and communities—and ultimately end sexual and domestic violence.”

About the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) is California’s recognized domestic violence coalition, representing over 1,000 survivors, advocates, organizations and allied individuals across the state. Working at the local, state and national levels for nearly 40 years, the Partnership has a long track record of successfully passing over 200 pieces of legislation on behalf of domestic violence victims and their children. The Partnership believes that by sharing expertise, advocates and legislators can end domestic violence. Through our public policy, communications and capacity building programs, we create system-wide change that supports survivors and invests in prevention. Every day we inspire, inform and connect all those concerned with this issue, because together we’re stronger. With offices in Sacramento, the Partnership’s member programs span the entire state. For more information, visit www.cpedv.org.

About the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault

CALCASA is the only professional organization in California dedicated to ending sexual violence through a multifaceted approach of prevention, intervention, education, research, advocacy and public policy. The organization provides a critical bridge among the efforts made by advocates working directly with survivors, statewide policymakers and federal responses to sexual harassment, abuse and assault. Through ongoing communication and meetings with constituents, CALCASA is able to relay the challenges and successes of local work to the statewide and national levels; and at the same time convey best practices, evidence-based and practice-based evidence programs emerging at the state and national levels to local constituents. For more information, visit www.calcasa.org.

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