Dane County victim-service agencies report more complex cases, funding strain and plan hospital domestic-violence response

Representatives from Dane County victim-service organizations reported rising case complexity, staff changes and funding uncertainty during the CCR network meeting, and described plans to pilot a domestic-violence (DV) response for hospital patients and to track criminal and civil case outcomes.

The agencies said they are seeing an increase in multi-trauma cases, more referrals from childcare providers and higher community exposure to gun violence, while state and federal funding uncertainty — particularly for VOCA and Medicaid-linked programs — is prompting hiring freezes and program adjustments.

Sonia Liston, a representative of UnityPoint Health Meriter’s forensic nursing program, said the program is “currently orienting 2 new staff” and reported “an increase in DV and triangulation cases within the past month or so, and an increase in complex mental health cases that are presenting as repeated assault,” making it difficult to find resources for those clients.

Amy (Victim Witness Unit)…