Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance

Background Statement

The Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) is a statewide non-profit membership organization that was founded in 1982 by crime victims and crime victim advocates. COVA became incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 1986. COVA is committed to fairness and healing for all crime victims, their families and communities through leadership, education and advocacy. We strive to operate in an inclusive and compassionate manner to create solutions and positive change for crime victims. COVA's vision is to be recognized as a national leader in building a collaborative environment where crime victims are given the opportunity to heal and restore balance to their lives. COVA's membership includes over 800 individuals from every sector of the victim assistance field, which includes, but is not limited to: systems-based advocates in the criminal justice system, community-based advocates working in non-profit agencies, victims of crime, prosecutors, judges, probation and corrections officers, as well as allied professionals such as therapists and school counselors, clergy, human services professionals and concerned citizens.

Impact Statement

COVA's vision is to be recognized as a national leader in building a collaborative environment where crime victims are given the opportunity to heal and restore balance to their lives.

Needs Statement

COVA's needs include:

Additional money to support COVA's Human Trafficking Program, which provides resources and support in helping our clients create self-sufficient lives free from exploitation.

General operating funds to assist our program in meeting needs that are not covered by current funding.

Funds to ensure our technology is up to date so we can provide our members and the victim services community with what they need and expect from our organization.

Funding for our efforts to monitor and educate on current policy issues.

Executive Director Statement

As the year draws to a close, we have the opportunity to reflect on how far we've come and the many challenges we continue to face in our efforts to create change for crime victims. Our commitment to grow and evolve to meet the needs of crime victims and those who serve them remains strong. Our 2015 annual victim services conference brought over 1000 participants to Keystone, CO and continues to be the largest of its kind in the country. Each year, our conference is designed to bring the best information on issues affecting victims of crime to the people who serve them on a daily basis, such as victim advocates, law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys. We continue to offer training around the state on issues important to crime victim services wherever and whenever needed. For 17 years, COVA has held a Crime Victim Assistance Academy, which continues to provide an intensive 40+ hours of training to a cohort of no more than 50 victim service providers, many of whom are from small, rural areas where training opportunities are limited. Our Intern Program has been encouraging the employment of individuals from underrepresented communities in the field of victim services for over 15 years and places over 20 paid interns in victim service agencies annually. We are proud to say that in the past 12 months, 18 of our 30 interns were hired in victim service agencies! The Human Trafficking Program, the only one of it's kind in Colorado, has served over 70 victims of this crime in the last 14 months alone. COVA's website, which has grown into a valuable resource for the state, houses a Victim Service Directory and acts as a clearinghouse for jobs in the victim services field. We continue to administer an Emergency Fund, a fund of last resort, which distributed approximately $35,000 to victims of crime last year alone. Lastly, COVA monitors and educates on public policy issues affecting crime victims. We hope you will consider investing in our efforts and ultimate goal of building a collaborative environment where crime victims are given the opportunity to heal and restore balance to their lives.

Nancy Lewis
Executive Director

Board Chair/President Statement

"Angels - Thank you so much for helping me with my bills this month. I was a victim of an attempted murder...Your help means so much to me"
Anonymous

"Thank you for making your funds available to the clients of the San Miguel Resource Center. It's nice to know that even in hard economic times our agency can rely on support from other victim service organizations in Colorado."

"I want to thank you for assisting me with my stay in Colorado Springs so that I may attend the trial of the individual who took my Son Kevin's life! This is a very stressful time in my life and your organization has helped to relieve some of that stress for me and as I said I "THANK YOU" so very much...it is a blessing to know that there are individuals such as yourselves out there to assist people in a time of need!"
Debra