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
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe Community.
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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 (VAWA) grant program in an amount of $331,629.00 to help support the City’s Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT)?
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the City Manager to accept awarded grant funds from the federal STOP Violence Against Women grant program in an amount of $331,629.00 to help support the City’s DVRT.
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SUMMARY:
The STOP Violence Against Women 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 DVRT Coordinator.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
1. The STOP Violence Against Women grant program supports one full-time DVRT Coordinator, one staff assistant and 16+ volunteers.
2. The STOP Violence Against Women grant award of $331,629 during 2020-2022 will allow the DVRT to continue to operate at its current level. The City will request $132,121.25 be awarded in year one of the grant, $139,681.25 be awarded in year two, and $142,733.75 be awarded in year three. This is up from the $100,000-$110,00 a year in the FY 18-19 grant award.
3. A 25% match by the City is required for this grant. This amount will be met through the remaining FTE costs of the DVRT Coordinator; one .5 part-time career DVRT assistant’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. DVRT Coordinator) is required to provide quarterly financial and outcome measure reports, semi-annual and annual narrative reports, and a final progress report to our grant monitors; Department of Justice, Crime Victim’s Services Division. (DOJ/CVSD).
5. 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; compliance with training requirements for VAWA-funded staff and volunteers; requirements for reporting the inadvertent release of personally identifying information; and requirements for compliance with employment eligibility verification. 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; 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 grand funds to supplant or replace funds. There is 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 Marion County Victim Assistance Division, Polk County Victim Assistance Division, and The Center For Hope And Safety. The MOU outlines each agencies’ 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: 1) The amendments do not substantially expand the City’s obligations; 2) The amendments do not broaden the scope of the agreement to subjects other than the VAWA grant program; 3) The amendments do not increase the City’s financial obligations; and, 4)The amendments 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 by Congress in August 2019 and allows Law Enforcement and Prosecution to apply for a 3-year grant for 2020-2022.
In 2019, 446 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 88 percent of cases referred to it by the Salem Police Department that involved a DVRT advocate.
Skip Miller
Deputy Chief
Attachments:
1. 2020-22 VAWA Competitive Grant Agreement.
2. MOU with DVRT Partners