By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Services to women who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault are being cut because of statewide budget problems.
State agencies have been ordered to make 10 percent cuts each of the past two months on top of a 5 percent cut each month since July.
The cuts include counseling and prevention services and the closing of administrative offices. at the Women's Resource Center in Norman. And Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault director Marcia Smith says staff and benefits are being cut just to keep services such as battered women's shelters open.
The cuts come as demand for services increase. The Victim Services Unit of the state Attorney General's Office says the number of women and children served by the programs rose from 17,495 in 2008 to 18,686 in 2009.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.