Amador County - Operation Care announced Monday that it has received additional state funding for its domestic violence program.

Local Operation Care director Lynn Sheild said "last year, when Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the budget package containing the full restoration of statewide domestic violence shelter funding, California Emergency Management Agency re-distributed their state general fund allocations, in order to justly distribute the money to all of the agencies providing the mandated services."

There are about 96 agencies statewide, and only three of the agencies, including Operation Care, have never received funding from the state, Sheild said, though they did receive some funding through the Cal-EMA for their domestic violence programs.

Linda Zender, Board President of Operation Care said "Cal-EMA went to bat for Operation Care and the other two agencies that have never received these funds. It just didn't seem equitable to leave us out when we have been providing the same services and programs as the other agencies, with substantially less funding. We are very pleased to finally be able to increase our assistance to those most vulnerable."

The re-distribution of funds was applied to Operation Care's 2010-2011 fiscal year, ending June 30. Sheild said: "Because these are non-competitive grants, as long as the state continues to provide domestic violence shelter funding, these funds should be ongoing for Operation Care."

Zender said the "additional funds are allowing us to increase staffing at the safe house, and to focus on day-to-day client assistance when they need it most." It also allows re-allocation of "other budgets to provide essential community education programs, to increase awareness of family violence, and to make people aware of the services available to them."

Zender said: "We are excited about the opportunity to increase our program support at the safe house and at the office. Over the past few years, our team has been stretched very thin, and though we were able to provide basic services to all victims, we are now able to extend the one-on-one assistance so important to an individual in crisis."

She said it was important to note the organization's "recently appointed Executive Director Clara Osborne resigned her position last week, to move out of the area to be closer to her fiancé."

Zender said it "will in no way affect the services provided," and its direct service staff, guided by our Deputy Director Tammie Crabtree, remain devoted to their work and will seamlessly continue providing services to those in need".

Operation Care is at 619 New York Ranch Road in Jackson.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.