TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Jerry Moore, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
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Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) Stop Violence against Women Act Grant Application
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council authorize the City Manager to apply for and accept, if awarded, grant funds from the federal STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant program in an amount of up to $210,000 to help support the City’s Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT)?
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the City Manager to apply for and accept, if awarded, grant funds from the federal STOP Violence Against Women grant program in an amount of up to $210,000 to help support the City’s DVRT.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The STOP Violence Against Women 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 DVRT Coordinator.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. The City has applied for and been awarded these grant funds every year since 1997.
2. In 2016, 486 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking received services from the DVRT program. The Marion and Polk County District Attorney’s Offices prosecute approximately 89 percent of cases referred to it by the Salem Police Department that involved a DVRT advocate.
3. The STOP Violence Against Women grant program supports one full-time DVRT Coordinator, one staff assistant and over 14 volunteers.
4. The STOP Violence Against Women grant award of $210,000 during 2018-2019 will allow the DVRT to continue to operate at its current level. The City would request $100,000 be awarded in year one of the grant and $110,000 be awarded in year two, up from $90,000 a year in the FY 15-17 grant award.
5. A 25% match by the City is required for this grant. This amount would be met through the City’s share of the costs of the DVRT Coordinator; one part-time DVRT assistant’s wages and benefits; in-kind volunteer hours; and supplies and equipment used to support the DVRT program, which is consistent from previous years.
6. The City is required to comply with certain federal guidelines; compliance with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA); compliance with EEOP and Civil Rights requirements; compliance with non-discrimination and Civil Rights code; compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity Assurance; maintain the confidentiality of survivor information; compliance with Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) financial requirements; compliance with Oregon Department of Justice, Crime Victims’ Services Division (CVSD) policies regarding addressing discrimination complaints; and, compliance with training requirements for VAWA-funded staff. The City will be required to submit Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; And Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; to provide Standard Assurance that the City will all comply with all applicable Federal statutes, regulations policies, guidelines, and requirements; and provide a Racial and Ethnic Impact Statement.
7. 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 grand funds to supplant or replace funds.
8. As part of the VAWA grant process, the City will be entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Marion County Victim Assistance Division, Polk County Victim Assistance Division, and The Center For Hope And Safety. The MOU will outline each agencies’ role and key responsibilities in providing a coordinated response to victims of domestic violence.
Skip Miller
Deputy Chief
Attachments:
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