Steve Blankinship

This Implementation Plan for the Iowa STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program outlines the strategy for 2026-2030 to decrease incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. It focuses on supporting trauma-informed, victim-centered services that promote offender accountability and improve victim safety. Key strategic areas include strengthening culturally specific victim-serving programs, enhancing survivor accessibility and experience within the criminal justice process, improving resources beyond direct advocacy, expanding options for victims who choose not to report, and implementing a multi-part plan to reduce domestic violence homicides. The plan also emphasizes effective law enforcement and prosecution responses, improved court experiences, comprehensive training, and administrative enhancements for grant management.

This Strategic Funding & Services Plan outlines changes to funding and service delivery for Iowa Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse Services. Its primary goal is to ensure the equitable distribution of available funds to provide quality, sustained services to all crime victims across the state, particularly in response to funding cuts. Key focus areas include restructuring service types into Emergency Shelter, Domestic Abuse Comprehensive, and Sexual Abuse Comprehensive services, with a specific set-aside for culturally specific programs. The plan advocates for a shift towards rapid re-housing and comprehensive outreach, away from a sole focus on shelter, while minimizing administrative costs and increasing victim advocates. It also standardizes multi-county crisis lines and proposes a new funding formula (Formula #1) to ensure statewide service coverage and sustainability.

This document is a draft implementation plan for the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program for the State of Iowa, covering fiscal years 2026-2029. It outlines strategic goals and objectives aimed at decreasing incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking by supporting trauma-informed, victim-centered services. Key focus areas include strengthening culturally specific victim-serving programs, improving survivor accessibility and experiences within the criminal justice system, enhancing resources beyond advocacy, and implementing strategies to reduce domestic violence homicides. The plan also emphasizes promoting victim-centered responses from law enforcement and prosecution, improving court experiences for vulnerable populations, and clarifying prevention education, while addressing the needs of underserved populations and ensuring equitable fund distribution across the state.

The Executive Council approved the request for retention of special counsel to provide legal services and representation to the University of Iowa Health Care regarding the antitrust lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield related entities. The law firms of Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC and Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP will serve as special counsel, with Paul Hastings LLP covering their hourly fees as case expenses.

The Executive Council approved the request for retention of special counsel Iowa Code section 13.7 to represent the State of Iowa with respect to an antitrust lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield related entities for violations of state and federal antitrust laws. The law firm of Paul Hastings LLP will provide legal services and representation to Iowa with respect to an antitrust lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield related entities for violations of state and federal antitrust laws.