The Michigan Advocate

Michigan VOCA Council of Advocates
Each year the Michigan Crime Victim Services Commission (CVSC) and the Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) host a day-long meeting with a group of crime victim advocates in Michigan—the VOCA Council of Advocates. These meetings have occurred annually since 1999 and largely take the form of a focus group and roundtable discussion. Every participating advocate is an employee of a Michigan agency that receives Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) funds administered by the CVSC. Additionally, each advocate represents an agency specializing in services to one or more diverse victim populations, such as child abuse, domestic violence, drunk driving crashes, sexual assault, crime victims in American Indian communities, those accessing hospital-based services, and victims working with prosecuting attorneys.

The annual gathering of the VOCA Council of Advocates serves several purposes. The CVSC is required to receive feedback from VOCA Grantees with respect to prospective changes to the grant administration process. Of equal importance, these meetings serve to enhance the sharing of valuable information concerning crime victim services in Michigan and allow the participants to network with each other and the respective staff members of the CVSC and MPHI.

A summary is generated from each Council of Advocates Meeting and distributed to all VOCA Grantees in order to share valuable discussion topics and enhance communication. The following reports are available for review:

Ninth Annual
VOCA Council of Advocates
December 13. 2006
Report Summary

Eighth Annual
VOCA Council of Advocates
December 07. 2005
Report Summary

Seventh Annual
VOCA Council of Advocates
December 01, 2004
Report Summary

Sixth Annual
VOCA Council of Advocates
December 03, 2003
Report Summary

Fifth Annual
VOCA Council of Advocates
November 20, 2002
Report Summary

Fourth Annual
VOCA Council of Advocates
November 1, 2001
Report Summary