S.C.O.R.E.S. Program Helping NYC DV Victim with Scar Removal (Project Lily Update)

I want to personally thank those who donated to Project Lily last month, and I would also like to update everyone on Lily's treatment plan through the ASDS. Lily has been accepted by this program and will be starting with laser treatments that will remove some of her old domestic violence scars. According to Lily's new doctor, she is the first SCORES patient that was sent to the office from the NCADV. Lily will be receiving laser treatments starting January 8, 2010 and she will be using your donations for traveling expenses to and from the hospital. As of now, Lily is still waiting for her Face to Face application and Give Back a Smile application to be processed so that she can seek treatments for her teeth and facial scars. Thank you for your support and donations, and I will be periodically updating everyone about her treatments.


"The program sponsored by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) was formally known as the Skin Care Outreach Empowers Survivors or S.C.O.R.E.S. Program and was started in 1999. This program is no longer recognized by ASDS as of 2004 although they still provide volunteers from their membership that offer dermatologic surgery to domestic violence survivors to repair skin injuries (scars, burns, tattoos) on the body caused by an intimate partner or spouse. The toll-free number for the program formally known as S.C.O.R.E.S. is 1-888-892-6702."

Starting the Appeal Process with Crime Victims Board in NYS

Last week Crime Victims Board in NYS partially denied my claim, and since then I have been working on starting the appeal process with Rockland Family Shelter. Being a victim of domestic violence, my medical records are inaccurate and do not state domestic violence as the cause for my injuries. This situation is common for many domestic violence victims and survivors because many women are in fear of their life and in fear of violent retaliation from their abusers. As a result of fear and shame, victims of this crime do not report to the police or to medical staff, and this leaves victims at a disadvantage at so many levels. I am one of those women that was in fear and had a lot of shame, and as a result, the documentation I have from police officers and doctors are confusing and inaccurate. And as a result of my medical records, CVB has partially denied my claim, and I am left to start an appeal with the help of my shelter.

Crime Victims Board is a state program that is funded by federal grant dollars, our tax dollars, penalty charges from the state, and the legislature. This program compensates innocent victims of crime for various injuries, funeral costs, moving expenses, etc. Although I have stated this in the past, this program is not prepared to handle DV claims, which are very complex and confusing claims to process. Crime Victims Board must have police reports and medical records to back all injuries a claimant wants compensation for, and if there is anything that is unclear, they usually deny the claim. For all other crimes, except domestic violence, this system seems to work. There are medical records that state the cause of injury, there are accurate police reports, and everything seems cut and dry. But, for domestic violence crimes, claims are confusing and accurate medical records and police records may not exist, putting the victim at a complete disadvantage when trying to receive compensation. I've suggested that NYS CVB look into this situation, and form a specialized DV unit to address these specific claims where the documentation may be lacking for DV victims. Instead, NYS Crime Victims Board and other state compensation programs, deny DV victims due to lack of information or inaccurate medical records, never taking into consideration the fear factor a victim of DV has during intimate partner abuse.

After CVB denies a domestic violence victim, the victim has the right to appeal the decision and prove their case. The Chair designates three other Board Members to make a final decision on the claim, and if it is denied again, CVB will pay $1,000 to the denied victim for a civil lawyer. Yes, the program that is given federal grant money for victims of crimes can deny the victim and then still have extra funds to pay for the victim's lawyer so that the victim can sue them. This seems like a good way to spend tax dollars. Rather than understand this complex crime, and try to find solutions to this situation for all domestic violence victims, NYS Crime Victims Board rather deny my claim, force the Rockland Family Shelter to work long hours on helping me appeal the decision, and then, eventually pay for my lawyer so that I can civilly sue them for their decision. Complex is an understatement. This is becoming foolish, and I think it is a big waste of federal dollars.

For the next few weeks I will be writing about my experiences with this appeal process. It is very important for me to write about this process so that other victims of this crime can learn through my experiences with NYS Crime Victims Board and other state compensation programs for crime victims.

My only advice to women that will become domestic violence victims is this: Always report the truth, even if it will put you in danger. Always file a police report, even if you are in fear of retaliation. Make sure you press charges for any domestic violence related crime, even if your abuser threatens you or your family. If you make it out alive, at least you can get compensated from Crime Victims Board without any hassles or appeals.

This advice may seem horrible, or even silly, but my advice stems from a state program that isn't prepared to handle domestic violence claims. Following this advice would almost guarantee an approved claim, although I'm not sure you would be alive to actually be compensated.

Another resource that is not working for victims--National Stalking Resource Center

More confusion about organizations receiving government tax dollars that claim to help victims, and fail. Below, Michelle Garcia (Executive Director of the National Stalking Resource Center), insists that Survivors in Action stop referring victims to her, as her organization is NOT for victims, but for law enforcement and professionals. Why is there a hotline number on the website? On the top of this website it actually reads "For Victim Assistance please call 1-800-FYI-CALL".

Written by Alexis A. Moore



There are way too many organizations being funded by government tax dollars who do literally nothing to help victims of crime yet they are granted the "Lions Share" of the funding.

The reality for victims of domestic violence, rape, stalking and cyberstalking is not what is being portrayed by the media or by the organizations that receive millions in funding every year.

Survivors In Action received an email from Michelle Garcia the executive director of the National Stalking Resource Center requesting that Survivors In Action not refer victims to the agency because they are not a victim service provider. Confused, I visited the National Stalking Resource Center web site where it indicates that they do serve victims and for victims to call the hotline?

Are you Confused?

Me too, but needless to say this is the typical run around victims of domestic violence, cyberstalking and stalking deal with on a daily basis and this is unacceptable.

Many organizations that are receiving VAWA dollars, (your tax dollars) are wasting the money and not doing what is needed to help and assist victims.

VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)dollars are being wasted and victims are being left behind.

It is time for the organizations that do the work and actually support the victims to be allocated the funding so that "No Victim is Left Behind".

Survivors In Action and others continue to push for DV Reform so that victims of abuse, rape and stalking receive the services that they need.

When will VP Biden listen?....

When will President Obama do more than sign a domestic violence proclamation?...

Appointing Lynn Rosenthal was a good start, however now is the time for the White House to do more than read our blogs and emails, it is time for action.

Every dollar wasted on a failing program is a dollar that could be allocated to a program and service that actually works to help victims.

Domestic violence (DV) victims continue to suffer and die at the hands of their abusers—and even one victim who suffers or one life that’s lost to domestic violence is way too many. Yet the victims of domestic violence and their children are not getting what they need from the organizations that have been established to help them. Quite simply, victims are falling through the cracks. In the United States and in the 21st century, there simply is no excuse for this.

The appointment of Lynn Rosenthal as White House Advisor on Violence Against Women (VAW) signals recognition on the part of the White House that the critical problem of domestic violence needs a higher profile. Ms. Rosenthal has the opportunity to spearhead real, effective change that will save lives and give victims renewed hope—if she provides strong leadership and uses her position to enforce accountability on the part of agencies that provide services to victims.

More specifically, what kinds of change should Ms. Rosenthal make? Here are the key steps I think she should take:

1) Implement uniform protocols and procedures in every state to ensure that every federally and state-funded domestic violence victim organization operates under the same standards—standards that ensure that victims are not turned away and get the help they need.

2) Appoint a liaison in each state that victims and their advocates can contact to voice concerns and complaints when victims are refused service or do not receive the assistance they need, as well as report positive experiences. The state liaison does not necessarily have to be a public official (such as California Domestic Violence Committee Chair Fiona Ma). It could be a representative of any one of the many non-profit organizations—such as Survivors in Action—or state coalitions willing to serve as a clearinghouse. Today’s technology permits many things to be accomplished quickly and effectively, making it possible for such a clearinghouse to begin operating rapidly and at minimal or even no cost.

3) Form a national oversight agency or committee, reporting to her, to which state DV agencies and resources would be accountable and would report what is and isn’t working, and to which state liaisons could escalate grievances that cannot be resolved at the state level.

4) Provide strong, effective leadership for the many non-profits, volunteers, and other individuals who are eager to bring about domestic violence resource reform. To be effective, all these resources need to be marshaled and organized. Lynn Rosenthal, along with an effective oversight committee, can provide that leadership and organization. I am happy to offer my services and those of Survivors In Action to serve as a liaison to the White House, help form an oversight committee, and organize the wealth of resources committed to this cause.

NYS Crime Victims Board Denies Compensation for Domestic Violence Victim

After one full year of fulfilling CVB requests, and coercing my doctors to fulfill their endless requests, CVB has denied my claim for compensation and has turned away another domestic violence victim due to inaccurate medical reports.

This is an Amended Decision.

The Board received medical records from St. Lukes for 10/25/07 and office notes from Orange Physical Therapy for 10/26/07 which has determined that the claimant's neck pain is not casually related to the crime injury. Pursuant to the recommendation of that report it is the determination of the Board that the Board will not reimburse for any neck/back related treatment.

Jacqueline Mattina
Board Member


I have spent one year struggling to get my doctors to send in itemized bills, explanations of benefits, and I was encouraged by my local shelter and CVB members to keep submitting bills for my injuries. As a result, I have been seeing doctors I can't afford to see and spending money I can't afford to spend on an injury that I didn't have before I was battered. Obviously my husband did not do a good enough job beating me in the head. A brutal assault and neck restraint and a large object thrown into my head and face did not convince this state program that my neck and back injuries were caused by severe abuse, even after they accepted my claim for my broken leg. Rather, CVB relies on inaccurate medical records to make their final decision. I will say it again, CVB needs a specialized DV unit, people that are experienced in domestic violence, handling claims for these cases. There are many, many women that get denied every year across the country by State Victims Compensation Programs because the representatives dealing with the claims need perfect paperwork, perfect medical records, and perfect police reports. This program fails to see that women involved in domestic violence crimes often do NOT have accurate documents due to the fact that they are too afraid to report the abuse, and due to fear of retaliation. Crime Victims Board, I will appeal this decision and I am not going anywhere until someone with domestic abuse experience and understanding gives me a better answer than the one above. When will the state realize that victims of domestic violence are being turned away at every end, even by those who claim to be the payers of last resort?