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Medford funds Community Works advocate to help domestic-violence survivors navigate courts
Summary
Council approved $160,000 per biennium to fund a full‑time domestic-violence and sexual‑assault advocate embedded with the Medford Police Department; officials said the position improves survivors’ access to services and court navigation.
The Medford City Council voted Sept. 17 to continue funding a full‑time domestic violence and sexual assault advocate through Community Works at $160,000 per biennium (about $80,000 per year).
Ryan Martin, the city’s chief financial officer, described the grant as a long-standing, noncompetitive general-fund allocation that began when a federal Violence Against Women Act grant ended; the city has been funding the role for roughly 12 years. Chief Justin Ivins said the advocate is housed within the Medford Police Department’s detectives division, is a non-sworn position, and provides survivor resources, court-navigation assistance and a crucial non-law-enforcement point of contact for people reporting abuse.
"This position works in partnership with our domestic violence officer...they provide resources for survivors," Ivins said, emphasizing the role’s importance in helping victims navigate the court system. Councilors described the funding as an "immediate need" that could not wait for the general grant review in November. The motion to allocate the funds carried 8–0.
Staff said most of the $160,000 biennial allocation will cover salary; the grant is intended to allow Community Works to continue hosting the advocate position and to preserve the coordination between the non-profit advocate and MPD detectives.
