City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KATE GARVEY, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Concept Proposal from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for the Rape Prevention and Education Program (RPE).
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ISSUE: City Council’s permission to submit the concept proposal and if awarded accept the award from the Virginia Department of Health, Rape Prevention and Education Program, for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. On September 18, 2026, DCHS was formally invited by VDH to submit a grant proposal for this cycle. The grantor designated an eligible funding range of $25,000 to $100,000 per year for our project concept, with the final award amount dependent upon available agency funding and program allocations.
RECOMMENDATIONS: That City Council:
Authorize DCHS in the submission of the concept proposal and if awarded accept grant funding for the lifetime of the grant from VDH in an amount ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence. This grant is renewed on an annual basis, from February 1st – January 31st; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: For more than 10 years, the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) has received prevention funding that has supported a staff position responsible for the City’s sexual assault and domestic violence crisis response and core services. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH), which administers the Rape Prevention Education (RPE) Grant, subsequently revised its funding guidelines, rendering local sexual and domestic violence programs ineligible for funding under the grant.
Following the change in eligibility gu...
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