El Paso County commissioners approved multiple grant awards on Nov. 24 that fund a range of victim-services programs across county departments and partner organizations.

Budget and Finance staff presented awards including the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protective order court grant (approximately $104,765.40; matched per agenda materials) and several Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) awards to the county attorney, district attorney, domestic relations office and sheriff’s office. Grant managers explained that many programs are on sustainability plans that require annual reductions in grant requests and rising local matches.

Judge Selena Saenz described the protective order court’s record of handling protective-order applications and monthly disposition clearance rates above 100 percent for recent months, arguing the court’s program provides critical and timely access to protection orders. District Attorney program staff and the sheriff’s office described how advocates and in-house crisis counselors serve hundreds to thousands of victims annually – the DA’s victim program covers El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson counties.

Staff noted required county matches (percentages varied by grant) that must be covered by general-fund transfers previously approved in the budget. Commissioners expressed appreciation for the grants and noted that diminishing state/federal awards will require future local budgeting decisions.

Next steps: county finance will finalize contracts and transfer match funds as approved, and service providers will continue delivering victim advocacy, counseling and supervised-visit services funded by the grants.