City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: MARCH 21, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: KATE GARVEY, DIRECTOR, DCHS
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Grant Application to the Department of Criminal Justice Services for the Sexual Assault Services Program Special Funding Opportunity.
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Consideration of a grant application to the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) requesting new funding for the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) to continue providing programming for sexual violence.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Retroactively approve the submission of a grant application to the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) for $20,000; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: For more than 20 years DCHS has received funding from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services that has served to support six full-time staff positions and two part-time positions for the sexual assault and domestic violence crisis and core services through several grants.
DISCUSSION: DCJS was authorized to administer a competitive grant process for local sexual and domestic violence programs and released the notification of the opportunity to apply for a one-time competitive grant on February 28, 2023. The grant cycle period is from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. DCHS Sexual Assault Center staff was notified of the grant opportunity on March 6, 2023. The grant submission date is March 28 by 12:00 p.m.
The grant proposal is to enhance and expand DCHS’s programming for sexual assault programs. If awarded, this one-time supplemental funding will enable a one-year increase of the part-time Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) position from twenty hours of weekly direct service to twenty-five hours of direct services to survivors of sexual assault for underserved Latino and African American youth survivors, ages 11 to 24 and their non-offending caregivers. The increase in hours in this service provision will help to meet the increase in demand for service in these populations. In addition, this funding will cover printed material (brochures, FACT cards, and support materials) for the Sexual Assault Center.
FISCAL IMPACT: Grant awards will be for 12 months and there is no match requirement. DCHS will request the total amount of $20,000 which is the maximum allotted amount.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
STAFF:
Kendel Taylor, Interim Deputy City Manager
Federico Gutierrez, Deputy Director, DCHS
Debra Evans, Division Chief, DCHS