TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, City Manager
FROM: Trevor Womack, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
title
Salem Police Department Domestic Violence Response Team STOP Violence Against Women Act Grant Application
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe and Healthy Community
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SUMMARY:
summary
The STOP Violence Against Women Act’s formula grant program funds projects that encourage the development and strengthening of effective law enforcement, prosecution, and judicial strategies to end violent crimes against women, and the development and strengthening of victim services in cases involving crimes against women. The City of Salem uses these federal grant funds to maintain a full-time Domestic Violence Response Team coordinator.
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council authorize the City Manager to accept awarded grant funds from the federal STOP Violence Against Women Act grant program in an amount of $130,993.00 to help support the City of Salem Police Department Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT)?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to apply for, and if selected, accept awarded grant funds from the federal STOP Violence Against Women Act grant program in an amount of $130,993.00 to help support the DVRT program.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. Since 1997, the STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant program has supported Salem police services for victims of domestic violence, and now supports one full-time DVRT coordinator, one full-time crime victim advocate, and more than 10 volunteers.
2. The VAWA grant award request of $130,993.00 during 2026 will allow the DVRT to continue to operate. This grant award is a one-year continuation of grant funds from our current FY23-25 award. This will cover a portion of the DVRT coordinator position at approximately .65 FTE and will include funds allocated under Emergency Services to provide temporary hotel stays for victims without alternative safe housing options.
3. A 25 percent match by the City is required for this grant. This amount will be met through the remaining FTE costs of the DVRT coordinator position, one full-time crime victim advocate’s wages and benefits, in-kind volunteer hours, and supplies and equipment used to support the DVRT program, which is consistent with previous years.
4. The City, i.e., the DVRT coordinator, is required to provide quarterly financial and outcome measure reports, as well as semi-annual and annual narrative reports, along with a final progress report to our grant monitors at the Department of Justice, Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division.
5. The City is required to comply with certain federal guidelines including compliance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act; compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Program and Civil Rights requirements; compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity Assurance; maintain the confidentiality of survivor information; compliance with the Office on Violence Against Women financial requirements; compliance with Oregon Department of Justice, Crime Victims’ Services Division policies regarding addressing discrimination complaints; compliance with training requirement for VAWA-funded staff and volunteers; requirements for reporting the inadvertent release of personally identifying information; and requirements for compliance with employment eligibility information. The City will be required to submit Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and drug-free workplace requirements, as well as provide standard assurance that the City will comply with all applicable federal statutes, regulations, policies, guidelines, and requirements. The City will also be required to provide a Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement, as well as certifications regarding other grant terms and conditions.
6. The City may not use these grant funds for lobbying, fundraising, research, building renovations, purchasing vehicles, prevention activities, offender treatment, reimbursing victims, and in providing certain services to children. The City also may not use these grant funds to supplant or replace funds. There are also restrictions on use of any income from the program.
7. As part of the VAWA grant process, the City has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Marion County Victim Assistance Division, Polk County Victim Assistance Division, and the Center for Hope and Safety. The MOU outlines each agency’s role and key responsibilities in providing a coordinated response to victims of domestic violence.
The City Manager may execute amendments to the agreement if the following requirements are met: The amendments 1) do not substantially expand the City’s obligations; 2) do not broaden the scope of the agreement to subjects other than the VAWA grant program; 3) do not increase the City’s financial obligations; and, 4) may extend the term or renew the agreement so long as any other changes to the agreement do not substantially expand the City’s obligations.
BACKGROUND:
The City has applied for and been awarded VAWA grant funds every year since 1997. The VAWA grant was reauthorized for a one-year continuation award effective January 1, 2026.
In 2024, 586 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking received services from the Salem Police Department DVRT program. The District Attorney’s Offices in Marion and Polk counties prosecuted approximately 92 percent of the cases referred to them by the Salem Police Department that involved a DVRT advocate.
Trevor Womack
Chief of Police
Attachments:
1. 2026 Violence Against Women Act Formula Grant Program Continuation Request for Applications
2. Salem Police Department Domestic Violence Response Team Partner Memorandum of Understanding