City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 2, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: KATE GARVEY, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND
HUMAN SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) for the Sexual and Domestic Violence Primary Prevention Grant.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) requesting new funding for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to provide prevention programming for domestic violence and sexual violence.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Approve the submission of a grant application; and
(2) 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 one full-time staff position for the sexual assault, domestic violence crisis and core services. During the last grant cycle, DCHS was awarded, $84,300. In July 2022, the Virginia Department of Health, administrator of the Rape Prevention Education Grant changed the funding guidelines and local sexual and domestic violence programs were no longer an eligible grant category.
Subsequently, a supplemental funding pool for local sexual assault and domestic violence programs was authorized during the 2021 General Assembly. This supplemental funding ended on September 30, 2022. During the 2022 General Assembly, continued prevention funding was approved, and the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) was authorized to administer a competitive grant process for local sexual and domestic violence prevention programs.
DISCUSSION: VDSS released the notification of the opportunity to apply for a competitive grant October 6, 2022, and further funding guidance and award thresholds was to follow the week of October 24, 2022. The initial deadline for subsequent funding guidance and the application submission deadline of November 9, 2022, has been delayed due to technical difficulties within VDSS. Staff expects the funding guidance and a new submission deadline by mid-November. In anticipation of VDSS’ funding guidance, staff is proposing a request for funding to enhance and expand DCHS’s prevention programming for domestic violence and sexual assault programs. This will include two (2) full-time positions (Human Services Specialist II, and Community Education Specialist), and funding for facilitator training and the implementation the “Coaching Boys into Men” prevention curriculum. Staff who are hired in the two positions would sign a form acknowledging that they understand that these positions are grant funded and if we do not receive continuation funding then the positions would end. We currently have one position that is a Prevention Manager that is being partially funded through the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) and the American Rescue Plan ACT (ARPA) grants.
FISCAL IMPACT: Grant awards will be for eighteen months (18) with the possibility of three one-year extensions and there is no match requirement. The amount of DCHS’s funding request will be determined once all the additional guidance is received from VDSS.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Debra R. Collins, Deputy City Manager
Kate Garvey, Director, Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)
Federico Gutierrez, Deputy Director, Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS)
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Raphael Obenwa, Fiscal Officer III, DCHS
Debra Evans, Division Chief, DCHS