Help us secure LD 888 funding for Maine's sexual assault and domestic violence support services!

In the last legislative session, Maine’s first increase in funding for sexual assault and domestic violence service providers in more than two decades was approved. However, those funds (referred to as Funds for Healthy Maine or FHM) were only appropriated for two years. This June, that FHM funding will run out, and our state’s prevention and victim advocacy services will see a $5 million deficit. LD 888: An Act to Ensure Ongoing Services for Victims of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence would ensure continued, vital funding for domestic and sexual violence services across the state.

In the Central Maine area, we received $140,000—more than 15% of our annual budget—from FHM. This funding has allowed us to enhance the organizational planning and staffing of our prevention education team. As a result, our school-based prevention education participation has increased and our community-based prevention education participation has increased as well. That means many more school-aged children (and even more community members) have been able to learn about ways we, as individuals and a community, can work together to end interpersonal violence in Maine. Additionally, we were able to provide much-needed Mental Health resources for families who have utilized the Children's Advocacy Center of Kennebec & Somerset Counties by providing onsite consultation with a mental health professional.

Without funding to maintain our current team, our ability to provide prevention education and onsite mental health support services in our Central Maine communities - especially services targeted towards youth - will be severely and directly impacted… just as we anticipate an increase in service needs as we come out of isolation from the pandemic. LD 888 would help to prevent gaps in prevention and response services across the state and right here in Central Maine.

How can you help?
We’re looking for supporters who are willing to give oral or written testimony in support of LD 888. That includes anyone impacted by sexual or domestic violence:

• Survivors
• Loved ones of survivors
• Community partners and providers
• Parents and caregivers with children who participate in school-based education
• Businesses who have registered for one of our trainings
• College students who attend a center’s SV/DV presentations
• Community members concerned about interpersonal violence ​

Click here to see the PDF with information about the bill, testimony needs/requirements, and a template for your submission. All testimony will be published online with the submitter’s name and town (or the name of the organization you are representing). All testimony must be submitted no later than noon (12pm EST) on March 29 in order to be reviewed for the hearing on March 30. Testimony can be submitted via email to Maine Coalition to End Sexual Violence, via email to Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center, or entered into our online submission form below. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration. We can’t do this without you!