City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 7, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KATE GARVEY, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND
HUMAN SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Grant Application to the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) for Gun Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiatives.
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ISSUE: City Council’s consideration of a Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) grant application seeking new funding for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence.
RECOMMENDATIONS: That City Council:
1. Authorize the submission of a grant application for funding to DCJS for $400,000 for the duration of twenty (20) months with a 25% match required, to provide domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking prevention programming in the City of Alexandria.
2. Continue the support of one full-time (1-FTE) Prevention Program Supervisor position and one full-time and (.50-FTE) Prevention Project Manager Consultant who oversees the Prevention Program Supervisor and the prevention program that grant revenues will fully support if the competitive request is successful. In addition, continue the support of six Young Adult Peer Advocates and funding for the Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP) to deliver the Safe Dates curriculum; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: For more than 10 years, DCHS has received prevention funding which has supported the staff position for the City’s sexual assault and domestic violence crisis and core services. The Virginia Department of Health, which oversaw the Rape Prevention Education Grant, changed the guidelines, making local sexual and domestic violence programs ineligible. In 2022, DCHS was awarded a three-year grant from the Office on Violence Against Women for the Grants to Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking Against Children and Youth Program.
That funding supported a full-time (1-FTE) Human Services Specialist II, a full-time (1-FTE) Prevention Project Coordinator Consultant, six Young Adult Peer Advocates, and funding for the Capital Youth Empowerment Program (CYEP) and Safe Space NOVA to carry out prevention initiatives and curricula. In 2025, DCHS’s reapplication for this grant was unsuccessful.
DCHS applied for the Concept Proposal to Prevent and Respond to Family and Domestic Violence Victimization and Perpetration, to replace the funds lost from not receiving the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) grant. DCJS let us know that our Concept Proposal was not selected; however, in the email stating that our program was not selected, our program was invited to apply for this grant opportunity.
DISCUSSION: Although our initial concept proposal was declined, the DCJS review committee formally invited our program to apply for the full grant opportunity. DCJS advised that the opportunity is available by invitation only to applicants that submitted promising concept papers under the Domestic Violence Funding Opportunity and cautioned that the competition will be highly competitive. For this grant opportunity applicants must demonstrate how the project proposed under the Domestic Violence Funding Opportunity aligns with the Byrne/JAG Gun Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiatives Funding Opportunity.
If awarded, the grant would support the development and expansion of prevention programming addressing domestic violence and sexual assault. Funding through this competitive opportunity would allow DCHS to continue supporting the positions and services described above, strengthening the quality and reach of its sexual and domestic violence prevention programming while complementing existing core services.
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding request in this grant application is for the period covering January 1, 2027, through August 31, 2028, and totals $400,000. There is a 25% match required that will be fulfilled by volunteer hours.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Alethea Predeoux, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Routt, Director Office of Management and Budget
Barbara Paulson, Director, Center for Children and Families, DCHS
Joshua Williams, Fiscal Officer III, DCHS
Debra Evans, Division Chief, DCHS