Five Years Later: CalVCB Continues to Aid Victims of the San Bernardino Terror Attack

Five years ago today, during an office holiday party in San Bernardino, a husband and wife shot and killed 14 people and injured 22 others. Immediately after the December 2, 2015, terror attack, the California Victim Compensation Board began assisting victims with getting the help they needed, providing reimbursements for medical and mental health treatment, income loss and funeral expenses.

At the time, victims had three years to apply for CalVCB benefits; however, the law has since been changed, extending the deadline to apply for benefits up to seven years after the incident. (Senate Bill 375)

Since the attack, CalVCB has approved 182 claims filed by victims of the San Bernardino shooting and compensated victims more than $2.6 million.

• Income/Support Loss: $2,248,587.26
• Medical: $224,478.71
• Funeral/Burial: $79,834.00    
• Mental Health: $49,048.40     
• Residential Security: $13,310.22       
• Relocation: $3,645.00
• Total Payments: $2,618,903.59         

A year after the deadly shooting, the federal Office for Victims of Crime’s Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program awarded CalVCB a $4 million grant to support crisis counseling, post-trauma recovery workshops, peer support training, crisis leadership training and identity theft protection. The grant money also funded community resilience forums to provide education and resources to those affected by the attack.

Victims can apply for compensation in several ways:

• Online: online.victims.ca.gov
• By mail

California Victim Compensation Board
P.O. Box 3036

Sacramento, CA 95812-3036

• Through a Victim Witness Assistance Program

CalVCB offers applications in English, Spanish and 16 other languages.

Recovering from a violent crime can be traumatic, challenging and difficult. CalVCB’s mission is to assist victims of violent crime and help them overcome the barriers to recovery. 

Provider 101: How to Become a CalVCB Authorized Provider

The California Victim Compensation Board assists victims with certain crime-related expenses, including hospitalization, surgery, ambulance transportation, prescriptions, dental x-rays, repair or replacement of broken or damaged teeth and dentures, mental health treatment, funeral or burial expenses, crime scene clean-up and more.

If you are a service provider looking to partner with CalVCB, there are a few things you need to know depending on the type of service you offer. First, all service providers must be authorized before CalVCB can pay a bill. Crime scene clean-up providers must also register with the California Department of Public Health as a trauma-scene waste management practitioner.

Next, you will need to:

• Submit a copy of your practicing license
• Submit a W9 you have signed or dated within the last 30 days; billing name and address (must match the name and address listed in box 33 of the CMS 1500 form)
• Email completed documents to info@victims.ca.gov.

Once CalVCB has the necessary documents, we will add you to the system, and you will receive an email containing your CalVCB Provider ID number and start date.

Providers can opt to manually submit bills or create an account at CalVCB Online to submit them electronically. However, you will first need your CalVCB Provider ID, CalVCB Provider start date, federal tax ID and email address to create an account.

The online portal allows providers to view application and bill status, upload bills and documents, update contact information, upload W-9 and license documentation, access copies of 1099s and set up accounts for your administrative staff.

CalVCB also requires you to complete certain forms to submit bills.

Medical bills must be submitted on a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 1500 or 1450 form and must contain:

• Patient name and address
• Date(s) of service
• Type(s) of service(s) provided (ICD-10 and CPT codes)
• Billed amount
• Provider license number, federal tax identification number (FEIN or SSN), business address, telephone number, signature or signature stamp, and billing date

Mental health providers must submit treatment bills on CMS 1500 or 1450 forms.

• Providers may be required to submit specified mental health documentation before payment. Depending on the length of the treatment, required documents may include a Treatment Plan (TP), an Additional Treatment Plan (ATP), or session notes.
• Providers are required to complete a Treatment Plan (TP) before the client's 4th session.
• If a therapist believes the claimant needs additional treatment beyond the initial session limits, file an Additional Treatment Plan (ATP) to request treatment beyond the session limitations of 15, 30, or 40.
• CalVCB allows up to five telehealth sessions per application. Once a patient reaches the five sessions, the treating mental health provider must request additional telehealth sessions by submitting a Telehealth Therapy Verification form.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CalVCB has modified our process to remove all barriers for victims seeking medical and mental health telehealth services consistent with stay at home orders and based on feedback we received from providers. CalVCB will now allow all medical and mental health telehealth sessions billed while stay at home orders remain in effect.

• During this time, Mental Health providers will not be required to submit the Telehealth Therapy Verification form and a Treatment Plan (TP). However, when billing mental health telehealth sessions, please note the following:
• Reimbursement for telehealth is limited to only the cost of therapy
• Telehealth sessions do count against the claimant's session limit
• On the CMS 1500 billing form, indicate "GT" for Audio and Video Telecommunications as the technology used to facilitate the telehealth session in box 24 D "Modifier.
• Use the following CPT Codes for mental health telehealth sessions:
• 98968:  Telehealth, non-psychiatrist
• 99443:  Telehealth, psychiatrist

At any time, Medical and Mental Health providers can also enroll in a CalVCB eLearning course to better understand the process.

Dental providers do not need to use a CMS form; most submit bills on an ADA Dental Claim Form with the following information:

• Patient name and address
• Date(s) of service
• Type(s) of service(s) provided (diagnosis and procedure)
• CDT (Current Dental Terminology) code(s)
• Tooth number (if applicable)
• Charges for each procedure
• Total charges
• Provider name, license number, federal tax identification number (FEIN or SSN), business address, telephone number, signature or signature stamp, and billing date

Dentists may be able to obtain pre-authorized approval for treatment. Dentists must submit a pre-treatment estimate on an approved American Dental Association (ADA) Claim Form to the Board for review; however, the Board will only issue payment for preauthorized treatment after the dentist provides services.

To receive compensation for funeral and burial expenses, the person responsible for paying for funeral arrangements should apply for funeral and burial benefits. The Board cannot accept applications filed directly by a service provider such as a mortuary, funeral home or cemetery.

You can find information on CalVCB’s current reimbursement rates in the Providers section of the CalVCB website.

Providers may wish to contact the Victim/Witness centers in the counties surrounding their practice. Some Victim Witness Centers maintain referral lists that they give to victims.

CalVCB Recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Abuse can come in a variety of forms –physical, financial, digital, emotional, sexual. An estimated 10 million men, women, girls and boys experience intimate partner violence a year, with approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men saying they’ve been physically abused by a partner in their lifetime. For children who witness abuse, it can have a long-lasting negative effect on them emotionally, socially and academically.

Every October, the California Victim Compensation Board joins with people and organizations nationwide to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month and acknowledge all intimate partner victims and survivors. This year, the effort to raise awareness is even greater, as it’s feared many victims are being forced to shelter-at-home with their abusers, who may use the COVID-19 pandemic as another way to control their partners.

California Governor Gavin Newsom also recognizes the impact the pandemic is having on abuse victims and published resources on the state’s COVID-19 website.

Approximately a quarter (12,547) of all applications submitted to CalVCB in Fiscal Year 2019-20 were from intimate partner violence victims and their children, who received nearly $13 million in compensation:

●       Mental Health: $6,869,715.83

●       Relocation: $2,742,022.00

●       Income/Support Loss: $1,550,391.66

●       Medical: $734,752.20

●       Funeral/Burial: $356,216.33

●       Dental: $297,869.11

●       Residential Security: $255,113.42

●       Crime Scene Clean-Up: $9,898.94

Direct and derivative victims may apply for an emergency award to avoid or mitigate a substantial hardship that is a direct result of the crime, including the inability to provide food, shelter or medical care. CalVCB regulations (§ 649.8. Emergency Awards) state victims can indicate on the application, subsequent application or a bill that they are applying for an emergency award. Upon receipt, CalVCB expedites the process for verifying the application, subsequent application or bill to determine if an emergency award is appropriate. A decision is then promptly communicated to the applicant. If approved, the amount of an emergency award is based on the applicant's immediate financial need as a direct result of the qualifying crime. In Fiscal Year 2019-20, CalVCB approved 114 domestic violence claims within 30 days of receipt, awarding those victims more than a half-million dollars.

There are several ways to apply for compensation:

●       Create an application using the new CalVCB Online – a secure and private portal that can be easily accessed from a phone, tablet or computer.

●       Contact a local county Victim Witness Assistance Center.

●       Call the CalVCB Help Line at(800) 777-9229.

●       Download an application from CalVCB's How to Apply page.

An application for CalVCB compensation should be filed within seven years of the crime, seven years after the direct victim turns 18 years of age, or seven years from when the crime could have been discovered, whichever is later.

For those experiencing abuse, or for those who suspect someone is being abused, several resources can help create a safety plan, find shelter and get help:

●       National Domestic Violence Hotline: call 800-799-SAFE, or text LOVEIS to 22522 for 24/7 help in English or Spanish

●       TheHotline.org

●       Victims of Crime Resource Center: 800-VICTIMS

●       California Partnership to End Domestic Violence: 916-444-7163 (Monday through Friday from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm)

 

CalVCB Help is Still Available for Route 91 Harvest Festival Survivors

 

October 1 marks the third anniversary of the deadly Route 91 Harvest Festival attack in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and wounding 411 others. The panic and chaos to escape to safety that followed this deadly shooting would injure hundreds more. Although the attack lasted for ten minutes, the trauma, grief, fear and recovery continue.

As the tragic accounts of people rushing to safety unfolded, it became apparent that many of the victims were not from Nevada. Seeing this, CalVCB’ s Mass Violence Response team immediately stepped in to aid the Nevada Victims of Crime Program. A joint application process was established within days. Final counts would later show that approximately 65 % of the more than 24,000 festival attendees were from California.

At the time of the mass shooting, the deadline to apply for compensation was three years from the date of the crime. However, as of January 1, 2020, victims of all violent crimes now have seven years from the date of the crime to file. For minors, it is seven years after the direct victim turns 18 to apply. The timeline extension now gives Route 91 Harvest Festival victims until October 1, 2024, to apply for CalVCB compensation.

In addition to compensation, CalVCB recently partnered with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and Give an Hour to offer support services to the survivors and family members of those who died through a program called “SoCal Route 91 Heals Project.” People living in eight counties, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura, will have free access to services focusing on their long-term needs, including web-based support groups, peer support training and an online mass trauma resource library. Regardless of location, all victims are eligible for the recovery services offered.

Victims can apply and learn more about services available to them on our website.

For further assistance, call our CalVCB Customer Service team at 800-777-9229, or email info@victims.ca.gov. We also have answers to some of the basic questions we’ve received in the aftermath of the shooting on our frequently asked questions page for victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival Attack.

 

Victims’ Services Count On the Census for Federal Funding

Every 10 years, people across the country and in California fill out the Census in order to have an accurate count of all people in the United States. This year, we have until 11:59 pm on September 30 to answer the nine questions that ultimately help determine how much funding will go to programs, including victims’ services. Everyone has the right and responsibility to participate in the Census.

In 2010, based on the response rate and estimates, the U.S. Census determined California’s population at 37,253,956. The higher the population, the more federal money gets allocated to key areas, including education, health care and public safety.

In addition, grants, including the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grants, are distributed to states based on population. Each state gets a base amount of $500,000 from the Crime Victims Fund, and American territories get a base amount of $200,000. The remaining funds are then distributed to states based on their population in relation to other states.

Using California’s 2019 estimated population of 39.5 million people, our state received just under $196 million in VOCA funds for Fiscal Year 2019-20. Those VOCA grant funds were then distributed to counties throughout the state to “provide subgrants to local community-based organizations and public agencies that provide services directly to victims. Direct assistance to crime victims includes crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, shelter, therapy, and additional assistance. Funds may also be used to develop new programs that address emerging needs, gaps in services, and training of victim service advocates” according to the Office for Victims of Crime.

Separately, California also receives VOCA Victim Compensation Allowances. These grants provide funding to supplement state compensation programs, including CalVCB, that provide financial assistance and reimbursement to victims for crime-related out-of-pocket expenses, including medical and dental care, counseling, funeral and burial expenses, and lost wages and income.

Victims can apply for compensation at online.victims.ca.gov.

In addition to the decennial Census, the Census Bureau also conducts a biannual National Crime Victimization Survey to collect data measuring the crime numbers and types of crime involving those ages 12 and older. The information from this survey includes information about victims and crimes, including crime in schools, the cost of crimes, law enforcement response and any trends in violent crimes.

According to Census records, 10 years ago in the 2010 Census, our state’s response rate was 73 percent, compared to the national average of 74 percent. A decade before, in the 2000 Census, 76 percent of Californians responded compared to the national average of 72 percent. Our state faces an added challenge in that 25 of our 58 counties are considered hard-to-reach due to a number of factors, including highly mobile people, racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speakers, low-income people and more.

The Census counts everyone living in the United States, regardless of background or immigration status. The Census will not include a question about citizenship status. By law, all your answers are kept safe and confidential. The Census Bureau cannot share the information you provide with your landlord; therefore, it is important to count everyone who is living in your house, even if they are not family or are not listed on your lease or rental agreement. The Census lists specifics about how families should report college students and members of the military.

All Californians can now complete the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail. It is available online and on the phone in 13 languages. Video and printed guides are available in 59 non-English languages.

CalVCB May Provide Compensation for Victims Forced to Stay at Home With Their Abusers

COVID-19 forced all Californians to stay home to save lives. However, for intimate partner violence and child abuse victims, staying at home often means staying with their abusers 24/7, with little or no access to family, friends, co-workers, teachers or others who can offer support and assistance.

The California Victim Compensation Board can provide compensation for intimate partner and child abuse survivors when a crime or threat of injury has occurred. This includes medical and mental health treatment, dental, home security, income loss and more. CalVCB may also reimburse a claimant up to $2,000 per household for expenses incurred in relocating. An applicant may request an emergency award for reimbursement of any eligible expense if the Board determines that such an award is necessary.

We also work directly with 59 Victim Witness Assistance Centers — one in each county and one more in the City of Los Angeles —to assist victims with completing and submitting an application and navigating the criminal justice system. CalVCB also provides grants to 15 Trauma Recovery Centers that provide mental health and case management services to victims of crime, their families and loved ones.

In April of 2019, CalVCB launched an online portal, allowing victims to apply for compensation digitally. The application site features a Quick Escape button, so applicants can quickly exit if needed. Since the state’s shelter in place order began in March, nearly half of all applications have been submitted through CalVCB Online. However, we have seen a drop in the number of intimate partner and child abuse claimants applying for compensation. In Fiscal Year 2018-19, CalVCB received nearly 10,000 child abuse applications and more than 12,000 domestic violence applications. In April of 2019, nearly 900 child abuse compensation applications were submitted – that number dropped to just under 500 applications in April of 2020. For domestic violence compensation applications, more than 1,200 applications were filed with CalVCB in April of 2019, compared to slightly more than 800 in April of 2020. That downward trend continued in May, June and July.

A 2015 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found about one in four women and one in seven men experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. That same survey found about 33% of California women—about 4.5 million—have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.

Additional help and resources can be found on California’s COVID-19 website and the Department of Public Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Branch for those experiencing, or suspect, abuse.

 

How CalVCB Helps Human Trafficking Survivors

Human trafficking is a $150 billion-a-year industry, but the women and men, boys and girls, trafficked for both sex and labor never see that money. When they finally manage to break free, many do not have access to funds for housing, a car, food or other essentials and can end up back with their trafficker.

In California, that's no longer the case. Survivors can now apply for up to $20,000 in income loss from the California Victim Compensation Board. The law bases the compensation on minimum wage at the time the crime occurred and caps it at $10,000 a year for up to two years. Victims must apply within seven years of the date of the crime. Minors may apply up until their 28th birthday, but CalVCB will not release the income loss funds until that minor victim turns 18.

Assembly Members Christy Smith and Lorena Gonzalez authored Assembly Bill 629, which passed the Legislature with unanimous bipartisan support and was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill closes a loophole and allows CalVCB to rely on evidence other than official employment documentation when considering and approving income loss applications for human trafficking victims.

For years, crime victims have qualified for income loss compensation through CalVCB; however, applicants need to submit formal documentation, such as a W-2 form, to prove their income. For the thousands of human trafficking victims statewide, this regulation made it impossible for them to qualify. 

That all changed on January 1, 2020, when AB 629 went into effect. Under regulations adopted by CalVCB in May, six weeks before the July 1, 2020, deadline, human trafficking victims will still need to provide CalVCB with evidence of a crime, including, but not limited to, a statement under penalty of perjury from the applicant, a caseworker, a licensed attorney or a witness, or a law enforcement report. The law applies to California residents, and those brought from other countries and trafficked in our state.

Since the beginning of the year, CalVCB has approved five human trafficking income loss applications and compensated those survivors more than $70,000.

Applicants may also qualify for medical, dental and mental health treatment, home security and relocation compensation.

Victims, advocates, representatives and attorneys can apply for compensation in several ways:

• Create an application using CalVCB Online — a secure and private portal users can easily access from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
• Contact a local county Victim Witness Assistance Center.
• Call the CalVCB Help Line at (800) 777-9229.
• Download an application from CalVCB's How to Apply page.
• E-mail CalVCB at info@victims.ca.gov

Customer Service Increases Productivity While Working From Home

“Hello, thank you for calling the California Victim Compensation Board. How may I help you?”

Thousands of victims, victim advocates and providers hear those words every month when they call Customer Service and that didn’t change during California’s Stay-at-Home order. In fact, CalVCB’s dedicated staff exceeded expectations since transitioning to telework in mid-March.

“Recognizing the important role we play within the Board, we take pride in delivering information to our victims in a compassionate manner and expeditiously resolving issues,” said Tisha Heard, the Customer Service Section manager.

Her team is made up of 12 dedicated, knowledgeable, empathetic and trauma-informed individuals, and serves as the primary point of contact for those in need. They handled more than 10,400 calls in May from applicants looking for answers about their applications and compensation. 

The transition to telework didn’t come without challenges but Heard said they quickly overcame the obstacles and found solutions. Since transitioning to telework, they’ve increased productivity and people calling into CalVCB have experienced decreased wait times, a trend Heard is confident will continue in the coming months

Despite the challenges of the job, CalVCB’s Customer Service Section regularly recognizes the accomplishments made by individual team members and takes pride in knowing they’re able to help victims.

“My team and I get the opportunity to offer emotional support and program assistance to victims of crime and their families throughout the State,” said Heard. “It is truly gratifying knowing that you’ve helped someone begin the healing process as they try to get back to ‘normal.’ Despite the stress and challenges that come along with my job, I wouldn’t trade places with anyone. I love my job. In my next life, I see myself continuing this type of work. It’s in my DNA.”

Some of those applicants Heard and her team help are victims of older and dependent adult abuse, which CalVCB observes and raises awareness of in June. From July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019, CalVCB approved nearly 220 compensation applications from both direct and derivative victims. Applicants received more than $200,000 in compensation, with the majority covering medical ($88,904), dental ($32,031) and funeral/burial ($29,921) expenses. Compensation is also available for mental health treatment, income loss, relocation and residential security. Older Californians who have suffered abuse may apply for compensation at victims.ca.gov.

CalVCB Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights Week April 19-25, 2020
By Lynda Gledhill, Interim Executive Officer

This April is one different from any other we have experienced. With California under a stay-at-home order, everyone is learning to deal with a different reality. This makes it even more important that we take the time to raise awareness for crime victims’ rights.

Each year we join a broad array of communities to recognize significant events such as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and Denim Day. These observances serve to remind us of the role we all play, to assist victims in their journey to becoming survivors.

The California Victim Compensation Board and its dedicated team of professionals administer programs designed to provide reimbursement for many crime-related expenses. Eligible individuals include victims who suffer physical injury or the threat of physical injury as a direct result of a violent crime. CalVCB funding comes directly from restitution paid by criminal offenders through fines, orders, penalty assessments and federal funds.

As the interim Executive Director of CalVCB, I want to assure anyone who is in need of our services, and those in the community assisting victims, that we are working just as hard, albeit remotely, to review applications, process claims and compensate victims and providers who look to us for help. Our online resources make that process even easier to access.

Last year, CalVCB launched an online portal allowing individuals to apply for reimbursement directly from our website. Since then, more than 5,000 people have used this new feature.

Applicants and advocates are encouraged to access this online option whenever possible. Providers can also use the portal to upload and submit necessary documents.

As CalVCB transitioned to telework, continuing to help victims of violent crimes was always the first priority. Our call center staff are all working from home and while call volume has remained steady, wait times have dropped.

CalVCB staff have processed 4,576 applications in the last four weeks, about 950 applications more than the month prior to the shelter from home order. Similarly, payments made were comparable to payments for to the month prior to working from home.

We know, however, that for some a stay at home order brings with it additional challenges and possible victimization. That can be because victims are forced to shelter in place with their abuser or additional challenges created by being separated from family members or friends. That is why it is important that our resources and services remain available and accessible for everyone in the state who is impacted by crime.

We acknowledge that money cannot alleviate the trauma of being a victim of crime. We proudly work with trauma recovery centers, district attorneys’ offices and law enforcement statewide.

This month concludes with the observance of Denim Day on April 29, a day in which individuals wear denim to support survivors and educate themselves and others about all forms of sexual violence. We here at CalVCB will join the millions of supporters throughout the world and wear denim as a sign of our solidarity.

As our lives continue to shift in this time of uncertainty, be assured that CalVCB will be here to help. 

For more information: victims.ca.gov.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Every April, the California Victim Compensation Board joins survivors, advocates, law enforcement and others to recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Denim Day, which is on April 29th this year.

In Fiscal Year 2018-2019, CalVCB received more than 4,500 applications from sexual assault victims and paid almost $62 million to claimants.

Sexual assault survivors are every gender, race, age, income and sexuality.

One outspoken survivor now works with other girls and women, while continuing to break barriers. We are honored Preet Didbal, the former mayor of Yuba City, shared her survival story with CalVCB.

I spent the next few hours drifting in and out of consciousness while the doctors examined me. I felt very confused and groggy. It was during the next several hours I learned what happened to me- I had been raped. As the effects of Rohypnol started to wear off, I began seeing flashbacks of red and blue police lights, shadows of bushes or trees, the reflection of glass shields of some sort, with a mix of conversations and noises happening around me. Although I was not completely coherent, I recognized these images and sounds, but then I would drift off again into unconsciousness. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this began a journey that would challenge me to my very core. 

I wish I could write my story is unique, an anomaly, or a deviation from what has become all too prevalent in many women's experiences, but it is not. Sadly it is more commonplace than we may ever know or comprehend. Often survivors of sexual assault trauma like mine do not report it to the authorities because women are too afraid or ashamed to come forward. Consequently, their stories are only shared after they die, whether as a result of trauma inflicted by their abuser or because they find continuing life unbearable and resort to taking their own lives. I know how many times I contemplated taking my own life, and how close I came to doing just that. I know how it feels to hold the knife in your hand and rationalize that cutting your wrist is not just the only way to stop the pain, but also the best way. When I work with women's shelters today, I hear from far too many other women whose experiences mirror my own. If the physical violation is not traumatizing enough, the victim shaming, cultural prejudice, and gender bias inflicted by others only exacerbate the pain to the point of demoralization and even dehumanization. Ostracization becomes the pathetic new normal. For so long, I carried the physical and emotional scars inside of me and felt alone in battle. As difficult and scary as it was to talk about, my personal healing began with the support of strangers. People I never met before I was assaulted extended a hand of support, or words of kindness, when no one else did. It was with this benevolence and the repetitive words of my dad, ”one foot in front of the other; one step at a time” that I began my healing. 

My journey has not been an easy one, but I found the courage, despite the fear, to start asking for help. Asking for and receiving support were key steps in finding myself. None of the steps in recapturing one’s self-worth are easy, but it is important to note that it is possible! I, a Sikh American female, the first female in my family to go to college, who heard “no” and “you can’t” for 40+ years and navigated countless twists and turns in my path, was finally able to get traction in reclaiming my life and its value. Through the love and support of others and my own hard work, I was able to break through the stigma that a woman- sexually assaulted, brutally scrutinized, then re-victimized by society- had little to contribute. I am a contributor. In 2017 I became the first Sikh American woman in United States history elected the mayor of a city. 

Although I recognize the gravity of this accomplishment, I also realize the real triumph is sharing my story with other women in hopes it will give them aspiration, confidence, and

empowerment in their response to sexually inflicted trauma. I continue to work with women and young girls through Redefine and Empower, as well as serving as a Board Member of Casa de Esperanza, to instill courage, confidence, and self-esteem. We must continue to educate and provide resources to support, guide in healing, and restore women to ensure we do not lose any more precious lives as a result of this horrific act of violence. Every step, big or small, is a step toward finding the light in oneself. 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and I encourage everyone to share resources and come together to help those in need. 

With much gratitude, Preet Didbal https://redefineandempower.com 

The California Victim Compensation Board assists victims of sexual assault. Victims can apply for reimbursement for several services, including medical and mental health treatment, home security and relocation assistance.

Victims, victim advocates, victim representatives and attorneys can apply for compensation in several ways:

• Create an application using CalVCB Online — a secure and private portal that can be easily accessed from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
• Contact a local county Victim Witness Assistance Center.
• Call the CalVCB Help Line at (800) 777-9229.
• Download an application from CalVCB's How to Apply page.
• E-mail CalVCB at info@victims.ca.gov.

Victims can apply within seven years of the date of the crime. Minor victims can apply by their 28th birthday.

CALIFORNIA LEADS COUNTRY IN NUMBER OF REPORTED SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING CASES

By Lynda Gledhill, Interim Executive Officer

Sex trafficking. Forced labor. Domestic servitude. All are considered human trafficking. Every January, the California Victim Compensation Board strives to raise awareness and let millions of victims know there is help, and a way out of this modern-day slavery.

Sex and labor trafficking are a $150 billion-a-year industry and the epidemic isn’t just occurring in foreign countries with lax laws. In the United States, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reports it handled nearly 11,000 human trafficking cases in 2018. California has the highest number of reported cases, with 1,656 reported cases, followed by Texas (1,000) and Florida (767).

Human trafficking affects people of all genders and races; however, women and girls are disproportionately trafficked. The International Labour Organization reports women and girls account for 99% of the victims in the commercial sex industry.

The cycle of human trafficking takes a heavy toll on victims. Human traffickers often prey on those considered vulnerable, including runaways, homeless youth and those in the child welfare system. According to the Polaris Project, some victims stay with their trafficker because they’re afraid to leave, lack transportation or a safe place to stay, are being held against their will, or have been manipulated to the point they do not even recognize they are under the control of another person.

Beyond recognizing the potential red flags, the Polaris Project points out there may not be anything visible to alert you a stranger is a victim of human trafficking. However, if you do suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, call 911 or your local law enforcement agency, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, or any of our partner organizations.

“We need people to stop stigmatizing the drug addict or prostitute on the corner as a lost cause, and begin to ask ourselves how they got there,” survivor Marjorie Saylor told the San Diego Union-Tribune in December. The founder and CEO of The Well Path went on to say, “We need more compassion for others. Recognize that not everyone who is being trafficked is aware that they are being exploited. Understand that our resilience is so much stronger than our trauma and that recovery can happen. Understand that recovery sometimes looks like going back out, again and again, until it finally sinks in.”

The California Victim Compensation Board assists victims of sex and labor trafficking. Human trafficking victims can apply for reimbursement of medical and mental health services and relocation assistance. In addition, under Assembly Bill 629, which became law on January 1, 2020, human trafficking victims may be eligible for up to $10,000 of income loss per year they were trafficked, for up to two years ($20,000 limit). For minor victims of human trafficking, the funds will be released after their 18^th birthday.

Victims, victim advocates, victim representatives, and attorneys can apply for compensation in several ways:

• Create an application using CalVCB Online — a secure and private portal that can be easily accessed from a smartphone, tablet or computer.
• Contact a local county Victim Witness Assistance Center.
• Call the CalVCB Help Line at (800) 777-9229.
• Download an application from CalVCB's How to Apply page.
• E-mail CalVCB at info@victims.ca.gov.

Victims must apply within seven years of the date of the crime. Minor victims must apply by their 28^th birthday.

Victims can also get help from several local, national, and international organizations.

CalVCB encourages everyone to take some time this month to learn more about how to help human trafficking victims.