Hancock County Commission approves VOCA grant application to support victim services

Hancock County commissioners voted July 10 to approve an application for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) formula grant program to support local victim-assistance services. A county commissioner told the panel the application was requested by Jennifer Molick, program coordinator for the Hancock Brooke and Ohio County victim assistance program, and said the program connected 214 victims last year to mental, physical and administrative services. The commission approved the application by voice vote. The VOCA formula grant is administered at the federal level and distributed through state networks; the commissioners did not set a dollar amount during the discussion. The recorded action at the meeting was a motion to approve the application and a unanimous “aye” vote. Discussion at the meeting centered on the program request and the coordinator’s referral; no additional conditions, funding splits, or implementation details were provided during the public meeting. The commission did not specify next steps beyond approving the application; staff will proceed with submitting the county’s application as required by the VOCA program process.