The California Victim Compensation Board held a webinar on February 1, 2025, to discuss the Advocate Portal and address feedback from users. The meeting focused on several key issues raised by advocates regarding the functionality and accessibility of the portal.

One significant concern was the inability of advocates to view correspondence within the Advocate Portal, a feature that was available in the previous CARES system. The Board clarified that due to privacy regulations, correspondence cannot be displayed in the portal. Alternatives were suggested for obtaining this information, including contacting claimants directly or requesting copies from the Board.

Another topic of discussion was the layout differences between the paper application and the online portal. Advocates expressed a desire for a more consistent experience between the two formats. The Board acknowledged this feedback and indicated they would explore potential improvements while explaining that the current design is necessary for account creation purposes.

Technical issues were also a major point of concern, with advocates reporting slow system performance and freezing. The Board advised users to first consult their IT departments for troubleshooting, emphasizing the importance of providing detailed information about any issues encountered.

Additionally, advocates raised questions about entering multiple applications with the same details into the system. The Board is currently evaluating this request for future updates.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for further feedback from advocates on their experiences with the portal. The Board expressed a commitment to enhancing the tool to better assist victims of crime and encouraged open communication to identify areas for improvement.