Happy New Year, Canopy Center Community! 

We're excited to embark on another year full of advocacy, transformation, and healing. This newsletter includes important updates from Canopy Center, including an exciting announcement about our Oasis Sexual Abuse Therapy Program. Here’s a glimpse of what’s happening, keep scrolling to read more! 🙂

Canopy Circle is Canopy Center’s annual giving program for individuals and businesses interested in partnering with us to strengthen families and community members impacted by trauma and adversity. Here are three ways Canopy Circle supports our ability to serve foster children, system involved families and survivors of sexual abuse:

1. Consistent, Unrestricted Funds: Annual giving provides consistent financial support that nonprofits like Canopy Center count on every year. This aids in planning and budgeting for future projects. Because annual gifts are typically unrestricted this means we can use the funds where they’re needed most! 

2. Programs and Services Aid: Annual giving is also used to fill gaps in funding from grants and county contracts and explore new ways for us to serve our community. Keep reading for information on how funding for victim services through the Victims of Crime Act is being cut by 41% in Wisconsin.

3. Community Awareness: Consistent funding can often leverage additional opportunities such as grants or corporate donations. We share, you share! The more people talking about Canopy Center the more impact we can make! 

Join our program and reach out to discuss how we can recognize you as a community partner (you can choose to remain anonymous). For businesses, we can help you reach your DEI goals, accomplish outreach objectives and work together to make an impact on our community. 

Graphic from the Wisconsin Department of Justice website.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) supports agencies that provide direct service to victims of violent crimes - a population Canopy Center serves. Despite the fact that instances of child abuse and neglect, domestic and family violence and sexual assault continue to rise, the Wisconsin Department of Justice anticipates a 41% reduction in federal funding for victim services. Canopy Center is preparing for a 50% reduction in support. 

VOCA is funded by the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) - which has steadily declined in resources since 2018. The fund consists of deposits from criminal fines, penalties, forfeited bail bonds, and special assessments collected by the federal government from people or corporations convicted of federal crimes. 

Congress addressed the funding formula in what was referred to as “VOCA Fix” legislation in 2021, but advocates say it will take years to replenish the fund. 

In the meantime, Canopy Center remains committed to our mission, undeterred by funding challenges. Here are some things we are doing to offset these challenges: 

How can you support?

We are excited to announce that our longest-running program, the Oasis Sexual Abuse Therapy Program recently became a certified mental health clinic! While the program has been operating under the same standards as a mental health clinic for some time, this formal certification recognizes Oasis’ elevated standard of care and allows Oasis to accept insurance - an important step to diversify funding in the face of federal funding cuts for victim services. 

The Oasis program is a vital resource for children who have experienced sexual abuse (1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys as reported on the National Center for Victims of Crime website), offering individual, group, and family therapy. Oasis therapists help children and non-offending parents and caregivers reduce the short and long-term effects of sexual abuse, using evidence-based, trauma-informed practices that help clients integrate their traumatic experience into everyday life.

More information about the Oasis program can be found at: canopycenter.org/agency/oasis/.

Join us at the Goodman Community Center Brassworks Building, Bea & Lau Christensen Room to celebrate the important work we do, listen to music and raise funds (don’t miss out on our silent and live auction!). 

Click here for sponsorship opportunities - ticket link coming soon! 

Canopy Center is hiring for the below positions - if you or someone you know may be interested, click here for more information or share this e-mail! 

Do you follow Canopy Center on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn? If not, we’d love your support. Every like, comment and share helps spread awareness of Canopy in the community! 

Here's what got the most attention this month: 

Be a part of the important work Canopy Center does in the community.

Questions? Check out our website, canopycenter.org or email us at info@canopycenter.org