By Amanda Milkovits
By removing one word from an existing law, sponsors succeed in extending a benefit already available to children.
PROVIDENCE — After Cynthia McKenna was killed in February 2007, her grieving daughters needed someone to talk to.
Alicia, 27, didn’t have health insurance and couldn’t afford to see a counselor on her own. Jackie, 22, had health insurance through her job, but it limited the number of mental-health visits.
While the state crime victim compensation fund pays for the mental-health expenses for the children and siblings of homicide victims, by law it only covers those who are minors.
The odd cut-off seemed to say that mourning ends at age 18. But the pain of the McKenna sisters led to action at the General Assembly and an amended law that will make sure all children and siblings of murder victims will find help no matter their age.
Yesterday, the McKenna sisters and the bill’s sponsors joined state General Treasurer Frank Caprio at a news conference announcing the change in the law. As Jackie McKenna spoke, a silver heart pendant engraved with the word “Mom” and the date of her mother’s death shone against her neck. “A child never outgrows a need for her mother,” she said in a trembling voice. “I believe a child’s bond to a mother is endless at any age.”
The sisters were overwhelmed with mourning their mother, suddenly planning her funeral and dealing with an ongoing criminal investigation. Unable to afford counseling, they found help instead at the Victims Support Center run by The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, which advocates and offers free support for victims and survivors.
Sheila Cardente, the director of the victims support center, listened as the women told her about their search for help. Children have access to RIte Care, but adults who are uninsured or underinsured are on their own to pay for mental-health counseling, Cardente said.
Carol Peloquin, an intern at the institute working on her master’s degree in social work from Rhode Island College, decided to study the law and see what other states offered for adult siblings and children of crime victims. “I saw that other states do this. Why can’t we?” Peloquin said.
The crime victim compensation program is financed by Victims of Crime Assistance grants, court receipts, and the criminals themselves, who pay into the fund as part of their sentences. Victims of violent crimes and survivors can apply for assistance under the program, which pays expenses not covered by insurance, such as medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of earnings and the costs for mental-health visits.
The program is administered by the state treasurer’s office and currently has about $4.55 million in the account. The assistance is capped at $25,000 for each claim, though the average claim is $3,800, according to the treasurer’s office. During the period of Oct. 1, 2006, to Sept. 30, 2007, the fund paid $82,217 for a total of 293 approved claims.
By striking the word “minor,” the law will allow the adult children and siblings of victims of violent crime to seek funding for expenses of psychiatric and mental-health counseling.
Rep. Joanne Giannini, D-Providence, and Sen. Josh Miller, D- Cranston, both agreed to sponsor legislation to amend the law. “When it came into committee [House Judiciary], we talked about ‘What is the difference between 18, 19, 20 years old and to lose a mother like that?’ ” Giannini said afterward. “When we talked about the need that was there, the age didn’t matter.”
Representatives from the treasurer’s office also testified at the House and Senate to clarify that there was no fiscal impact, “and how important it was economically and ethically,” Miller said. Governor Carcieri signed the legislation, which took effect in July.
“The people who are skeptical of government can see how simple it can be — you remove one word in legislation and affect so many lives,” Miller said. [email protected] / (401) 277-7213
Originally published by Amanda Milkovits, Journal Staff Writer.
(c) 2008 Providence Journal. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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