PRESS RELEASES
September 2026
introducing violence free iowa: the coaliton against sexual and domestic violence
For more than four decades, the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) provided statewide leadership to a shared network of victim service provider organizations through trauma-informed training, coordination, and policy change. This work strengthened sexual and domestic violence victim services across the state and unified individual organizations, cross-sector partners, and policymakers in addressing the needs of survivors.
Earlier this year, their boards and leadership announced a collaborative decision to centralize coalition responsibilities at ICADV, including training and education, technical assistance, and policy advocacy representing victim service provider organizations across Iowa.
Today, that work moves forward under a new name – Violence Free Iowa: The Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
“The name ‘Violence Free Iowa’ reflects the future we are building for every individual in Iowa – not the problem we are responding to, but the outcome we are working toward,” says Dr. Maria Corona, CEO of Violence Free Iowa. “It is a name that puts the goal first.”
Violence Free Iowa leads and supports a statewide coalition of 25 victim service provider organizations advancing sexual assault and domestic violence prevention efforts, crisis intervention, and long-term stability. Sexual assault and domestic violence remain distinct and equally vital priorities of the organization.
January 2026
Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault announce transition to strengthen statewide victim services
The Board of Directors and leadership of both the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) and the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) made a collective decision to move forward as one, unified organization. This transition responds to feedback from key stakeholders and strengthens support for the network of 25 statewide victim service provider organizations currently supported by the coalitions. Direct victim services to sexual assault survivors are still available and not affected by this transition.
“The transition positions us to increase capacity to meet the evolving needs of service providers, manage significant threats to funding for victim services, and continue to offer coordinated and reliable support to organizations to help them effectively serve survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence across Iowa,” says Dr. Maria Corona, executive director of ICADV.
Today marks an important moment in Iowa’s anti-violence movement. By strengthening leadership expertise, and operational infrastructure, the unified coalition can bolster training and technical assistance for victim service providers and help ensure statewide access for all survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
“For more than four decades, IowaCASA has shaped Iowa's response to sexual violence, building a legacy grounded in advocacy, survivor-centered practice and strong partnerships across the state and nation,” said Dawn Collins, board chair of IowaCASA. “I am confident the unified coalition will prioritize the needs of sexual assault service providers and survivors.”
IowaCASA's Board of Directors has appointed Mary Ingham, executive director of Crisis Intervention Service, and Johna Sullivan, executive director of Crisis Intervention & Advocacy Center, as acting co-interim directors during the transition. Their extensive experience in both rural and statewide systems and long-standing commitment to sexual assault advocacy will be instrumental during the transition. Under their leadership, they will work closely with grant managers and stakeholders to answer any questions throughout the transition.
Once again, direct crisis response victim services to sexual assault survivors are still available and not affected by this transition. To find your local program and connect with an advocate in your community, click here.
August 2025
Court Blocks Unlawful Restrictions on Violence Against Women Act Grants
August 8, 2025 – Today, a federal court issued a preliminary order blocking the enforcement of new unlawaful restrictions on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grants from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). We are proud to be one of 17 state coalitions that joined this legal challenge to protect the funding that makes life-saving services for ALL survivors possible.
The blocked restrictions would have forced organizations like ours into an impossible choice: comply with unclear and unlawful conditions, or lose the funding that allows us to serve ALL survivors and communities across Iowa. This ruling is a critical step toward ensuring programs remain focused on safety, healing, and access to support for all.
August 2024
ICADV Applauds Governor Reynolds & AG Bird $5.5 m funding commitment for crime victim services
DES MOINES, Iowa – August 8, 2024 – The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) is relieved on behalf of the victim service providers they represent and extremely grateful to Governor Reynolds and Attorney General Bird for committing $5.5 million in federal ARPA funding from Iowa’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to help ensure Iowa crime victims continue to have access to critical support services in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.
“We are extremely grateful for their leadership and support in allocating these federal funds to victim support services. This one-time bridge funding was desperately needed to help fill a gaping hole resulting from the 42% cut to Iowa’s FY24 federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) victim assistance grant. The loss of $5.4 million to Iowa’s largest source of funding for victim services would have decimated the capacity of service providers to continue offering the same level of support to crime victims,” said Dr. Maria Corona, ICADV Executive Director.
April 2024
Victim service provider agencies urge lawmakers to increase state funding to support crime victims
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) alongside their network of 26 victim support provider agencies, express cautious optimism regarding recent legislative progress while highlighting critical concerns about the capacity to aid crime victims without additional state funding.
Yesterday, the Iowa House Appropriations Committee approved a draft budget bill allocating $5.5 million for victim services, marking a $500,000 increase from the previous year. While acknowledging this is the first state funding increase for victim services in a decade, this amount falls significantly short of the $10 million requested by victim service providers to meet the escalating demand for services.
Victim service provider agencies offer essential support services to victims of domestic violence, rape, human trafficking, child abuse, and other violent crimes. Their services range from crisis intervention to post-crisis support, including counseling, safety planning, legal system navigation, job applications, securing housing, and regaining financial stability. In the past year, these agencies served most of the 54,404 crime victims seeking assistance from agencies funded by the Iowa Attorney General's office.
Compounding this challenge, Iowa faces a daunting 42% reduction in FY24 federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance grant funding – an estimated $5.4 million loss – posing a catastrophic threat to victim service provider agencies’ ability to support crime victims adequately. Regrettably, the current Iowa Senate budget proposal offers no additional funding for these vital services. Victim service provider agencies appreciate the efforts of House Justice System Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Brian Lohse (R-45) to mitigate the immediate impact of the substantial federal funding reduction and his ongoing work to find additional dollars to ensure that support remains available for crime victims and their families.
February 2024
Advocates Rally for Iowa Crime Victims: ICADV and IowaCASA Host Advocacy Day at State Capitol
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) alongside their network of 26 victim support provider agencies, are gearing up for a crucial Advocacy Day at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Their collective goal is to urge legislators to address the urgent need for at least a $10 million investment in state funding for Iowa
crime victims.
The current landscape for the availability of victim support services in Iowa is reaching a critical moment as the demand for support services continues to rise and funding to provide victim services dwindles, stretching existing victim support provider agencies thin and struggling to meet the needs of survivors across the state. State funding for victim services has not increased for a decade and now, at the forefront of this persistent challenge is the impending 41% cut to Iowa's largest source of federal funds for victim assistance, a move that threatens the very core of support for those most vulnerable in our communities.
January 2024
Iowa Attorney General Advocates for Crucial Funding Increase to Protect Crime Victims
The Iowa Attorney General's Office submitted its fiscal year 2025 state budget request, aiming to secure a $4.6 million increase for Victim Assistance Grants designed to fortify agencies across the state providing support services to victims of violent crime. Attorney General Bird's dedication to actively seek additional state funds is applauded, recognizing the critical role these funds play for Iowa crime victims, especially in light of the imminent threat of a potential 41% reduction in Iowa's largest source of federal funding for victim services – generated entirely through non-taxpayer revenues—via the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
This looming federal funding cut could result in a substantial $5 million loss to agencies providing support services to survivors, families, and communities across the state. The impact would be particularly devastating, decimating the capacity of victim service provider agencies to maintain statewide access to comprehensive support services. Rural areas and small programs catering to communities disproportionately affected by violence would be particularly affected.
April 2023
State investment in comprehensive services is vital to the safety of Iowa crime victims
Our promise to Iowa crime victims must be clear: when you come forward for help and support, it will be available. We can do better. Access to housing is the #1 barrier to safety and stability for victims leaving an abusive home or recovering from a violent crime and the most requested support when seeking assistance from a local service provider. Still, two bills that reduce barriers to safe housing for crime victims – and all Iowans – and received overwhelming bi-partisan support at the Iowa Legislature appear unlikely to pass this session.
But there is still time for Iowa legislators to provide meaningful support for crime victims. The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA) urge Iowa legislators to approve a state budget investing $10 million in state funds for crime victim support services. Current state funding of $5 million is woefully insufficient to meet the demand for support services. It is wholly inadequate for keeping our promise to crime victims of enhancing access to the comprehensive support they need and deserve.
Collectively, the Coalitions represent a nationally recognized network of 26 local victim service provider agencies supporting victims of violent crime, including families impacted by homicide; survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including stalking, rape, and child abuse; and survivors of human trafficking. Most of the 55,000 victims* who sought support from Iowa victim service provider agencies last year received support from one of these agencies. (2022 Victim Assistance Annual Report*)
These local programs provide free, confidential services to crime victims 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Beyond the obvious importance of providing crisis assistance, when service providers help victims avoid homelessness, maintain stable employment, and keep children in school, it eases the workload of other community service providers. When these agencies assist law enforcement at crime scenes or help victims navigate legal proceedings, they enable the criminal justice system to serve victims better. In short, investing state dollars in local programs helps victims recover, which improves economic stability and helps Iowa communities.
Everyone cares about victims, just like everyone wants safe communities and Iowans to be housed and safe in their homes. But it takes money and people to provide that support. An investment of $10 million in state funds for crime victim support services helps create communities where victims feel safe and supported.