COVA News Highlights
In this issue:
S.A.R.A. Receives National Accreditation
How to Access COVA's Victim Emergency Fund
Cold Case Website by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations
Victim Compensation Common Application
Comcast’s Missing Kids On Demand and Online
Peyton Tuthill Foundation Hearts of Hope Scholarship
S.A.R.A. Receives National Accreditation
From the Fort Morgan Times -- Sexual Assault Response Advocates (S.A.R.A.), Inc. has been awarded accreditation by National Children's Alliance, following an extensive application and site review process. As the accrediting agency for Children's Advocacy Centers (CAC) across the country, National Children's Alliance awards various levels of accreditation and membership to centers responding to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient, and places the needs of child victims of abuse first. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with National Children's alliance and denotes excellence in providing services. For more information about S.A.R.A., click here.
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How to Access COVA's Emergency Fund (Watch our quick how-to video here.)
COVA receives grant funding from State VALE to establish a Victim Emergency Fund for Colorado victims of crime. The goal of the program is to provide emergency funds for victims that have unusual needs that cannot be met through any other resource. Procedures for accessing the fund are as follows:
- All requests must come from advocates in the field, not from the victim directly.
- All traditional resources for funding (Victims Compensation, Denver Center for Crime Victims, Inter-Faith Task Force, Churches or other social groups, for example) should be exhausted at the time of the request.
- The request should address a current and immediate need that is directly connected to the crime.
- Funds should be provided, whenever possible, to the vendor or service provider, not directly to the victim.
- Documentation (invoices, receipts, etc.) must be provided to COVA for the funded services or products.
- No amount over $500 will be released with approval from either the Executive Director or the Deputy Director of COVA and at least one member of the Executive Committee of the COVA Board of Directors.
For further information or to request an application form, contact COVA at 303-861-1160 or 800-261-2682.
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Cold Case Database Website
“CBI would like everyone to view this website and consider any information they can provide to help solve a cold case and assist families and other co-victims see these cases progress towards resolution,” said Director Sloan. The database contains information about the 1,714 persons who have been verified by CBI as homicide victims or those who are missing or whose unidentified remains have been found in Colorado since 1970 to the present. “CBI hopes that by providing information about these cold cases to the public, citizens throughout the state will be able to assist local law enforcement and the CBI by offering new information that will lead to a resolution of these cases,” said Director Sloan. To view the website: https://www.colorado.gov/coldcase
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Victim Compensation Common Application
If you have been physically or emotionally injured as the result of a crime, or a member of your family has been killed as a result of a crime, you may be eligible for compensation for your financial losses. Losses directly related to the compensable crime are eligible for reimbursement, and may include: medical expenses, mental health expenses, lost wages, loss of support to dependants, residential property damage to exterior windows, locks and doors, and funeral expenses.
For a listing of eligility requirements, how to file a claim, and the Common Application, click here.
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Comcast’s Missing Kids On Demand and Online
Every year an estimated 800,000 children are reported as missing in the United States. Comcast is announcing today that it has launched Missing Kids On Demand and online at xfinity.com/news/missingkids, a first-of-its-kind public service initiative that will make information about missing children available to millions of Comcast video customers and consumers across the United States. The new initiative is in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and will enable Comcast customers and consumers to support efforts by law enforcement across the country to help bring missing children home. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website will also be available for viewers to report tips online at www.missingkids.com.
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Peyton Tuthill Foundation Hearts of Hope Scholarship
Who is eligible?
- For eligibility applicants must have completed one year of grief counseling through a counseling center, hospice, grief support group, faith-based program or other nationally recognized services.
- You must be a citizen of the United States
- You must fully complete the scholarship application
- You must be either a high school senior about to enter his or her first year of college or an undergraduate student enrolled in an Approved University. "Approved University" means a licensed public or private college or university, community college, junior college or acceptable vocational school located in the United States
- Your grade point average for the last twelve months of your education must be at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Any Applicant who has previously received a scholarship from the Foundation must have maintained at least a 2.5 grade point average for such period.
- Someone in the Applicant’s Immediate Family must have been the victim of a homicide which occurred at least 18 months prior to the submission of the Application. The term "Immediate Family" means the Applicant’s spouse, father, mother, siblings or step father, step mother or step siblings.
- You must have undergone grief counseling and/or therapy to help you deal with your grief, loss, anger and/or post traumatic stress caused by the homicide.
What does the scholarship provide?
- The amount of the scholarship will be spread equally over the Fall and Winter semester or Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter. Payment will be sent directly to the school once.
How do I apply?
- Applicants must provide copy of their letter of acceptance by the community college or university or vocational school with application to be considered.
When do I apply and where do I send the applications?
- All applications must be received by May15
- Peyton Tuthill Foundation, Inc. Scholarship
P.O. Box 3144
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Who do I contact with questions?
Will references be verified and counseling confirmed?
How and when will I be notified by the Foundation?
- Scholarship recipients will be notified by July 1 of the award. Other applicants will be notified by email or if applicant does not have e-mail then notification will be by mail.
How many scholarships will be awarded annually?
- Announcements regarding the number of available scholarships will be posted on the web site at the beginning of each year. It is the goal of the Foundation to award as many scholarships as possible to help survivors rebuild their lives and achieve their dreams.
