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Section I. Program Announcements Collaborative Response to Crime Victims in Urban Areas (Cooperative Agreement) Award Amount: Award Period: 12-18 months for the first phase; second and third year funding is contingent upon meeting preceding year objectives and availability of funds. Goal: The goal of this initiative is to create systems of services that link faith-based organizations and victim service programs in five high crime, urban neighborhoods. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to support the creation of collaborative models for local victim assistance programs to join with faith-based organizations in high crime, urban settings to improve the range, quality, and accessibility of services to crime victims. Funding will be provided to one pass-through organization to assist five urban communities in establishing links between faith-based organizations and victim assistance programs or to substantially enhance existing links. First year funding will support selection of the sites' assessment of community needs and resources and the preliminary planning for the project. Second year funding will support the development of a plan to meet the needs of the community and the beginning of the implementation phase. Third year funding will support the completion of implementation efforts. Background: Crime victims, like others in crisis, frequently turn to spiritual leaders for support in times of need. Although members of the clergy are often experienced with issues arising from a range of social justice problems, such as poverty, homelessness, drug abuse, and even offender rehabilitation, they are frequently not trained to understand and deal with the particular dynamics of crime victimization. In contrast, victim assistance programs possess the knowledge and practical resources for responding to the immediate needs of victims, but they may not be able to address the profound spiritual crisis brought on by a criminal act. Program Strategy: This solicitation invites applicants to plan and implement a 3-year program to improve the delivery of services to victims by establishing or improving links between faith-based organizations and victim service programs in five urban communities. OVC will select one organization to serve as a pass-through for funding to the pilot sites. The organization selected will provide technical assistance to the sites during the course of the project and evaluate progress and outcomes. It will also facilitate mentoring opportunities among sites. The pass-through organization should help each of the sites develop a network of comprehensive services that links the faith and victim assistance communities. These model networks should identify critical gaps in services, build on existing resources, and develop collaborative, innovative solutions that improve the communities' responses to victims. The pass-through organization will help the sites focus efforts on planning for sustainability of the project after OVC funding ends, including strengthening organizational capacity and fund-raising capability. In its application, the applicant organization must clearly demonstrate how it will accomplish financial and programmatic oversight of the subgrantee organizations. In the first phase of the project (FY 2002/2003), the grantee (pass-through organization) will
In the first phase of the project (FY 2002/2003), using technical assistance provided by the grantee organization, the five pilot sites will
Applicants are not expected to provide a detailed strategy or budget for subsequent years of the project in their application, but should outline a projected plan for carrying out the continuation phases of the projects in their application narrative. In FY 2004, contingent upon meeting the first phase objectives and the availability of continuation funding, the grantee will
In FY 2004, contingent upon meeting the first year objectives and the availability of continuation funding, the five pilot sites will
In FY 2005, contingent upon meeting the first year objectives and the availability of continuation funding, the grantee will
In FY 2005, contingent upon meeting the first year objectives and the availability of continuation funding, each of the five pilot sites will
Evaluation: The grantee will work with each of the sites to design a basic evaluation of the project by incorporating simple, practical performance measures. An evaluation should aim to answer at least the following basic questions:
Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measures the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of this data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures for the first phase of the project are provided:
The grantee must document the completion of these tasks in the semiannual progress reports provided to OVC, with data collected from the five pilot sites through a data collection mechanism specified in the grant application. Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants are organizations that have a knowledge and understanding of victimization issues and credibility in working with faith-based organizations. Applicants must demonstrate the organizational capability to undertake an initiative that will involve serving as a channel of funding, providing technical assistance, and evaluating progress and outcomes. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact Person: Bill Brantley (telephone 202-616-3574 or e-mail brantley@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Award Amount:
Award Period: 12 -15 months; second, third, and fourth year funding is contingent upon meeting preceding year objectives and availability of funds. Goal: The goal of this initiative is to ensure that victims in five high crime, urban neighborhoods receive needed services and interventions. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to support the creation of collaborative models for grassroots, community service and victim assistance organizations to join together in high crime, urban settings to lead initiatives that will improve the range, quality, and accessibility of services to crime victims in their own neighborhoods. Funding will be provided to five high crime urban neighborhoods to develop an initiative to establish comprehensive and quality victim services (or substantially enhance existing services) for particular types of victimization identified by the grantee sites. First year funding will support an assessment of community needs and resources and preliminary planning for the project; second year funding will support the development of a plan to meet the needs of the community and the beginning of the implementation phase; and, third and fourth year funding will support the continuation and completion of implementation efforts. Background: Identifiable neighborhoods in certain urban areas of this country experience homicide, robbery, assault, and other major crimes in higher proportion than residents in other urban, suburban, and rural communities. Such neighborhoods with high crime rates usually face other social issues and problems as well, such as poverty, low academic achievement, and high unemployment. Services for victims of crime in these areas may be seriously inadequate or lacking. These neighborhoods may not receive an adequate share of victim services funding and may need additional resources. Program Strategy: This solicitation invites applicants to plan and implement a 4-year program to improve the delivery of services to crime victims in high crime urban neighborhoods. It is expected that the services will be located in the particular neighborhood. The neighborhoods will identify crime victims whose needs will be addressed and the types of victimization on which to focus. OVC is interested in projects that address the needs of unserved and underserved victims, particularly those victimized by crimes such as robbery, assault, homicide, school violence, and gang violence. Applicants should clearly describe the specific geographical boundaries of the designated neighborhood. OVC encourages applicants to include a map of the designated area. Applicants should also document the existence of high levels of crime in their neighborhood by using indicators such as crime rate, number of homicides, Uniformed Crime Report (UCR) data, calls for service to law enforcement, victimization survey results, and crime mapping data. The project must identify and join together grassroots, community service, and victim assistance organizations located in the neighborhood to work collaboratively to establish or enhance the provision of accessibility, types, and quality of services to victims of crime in that neighborhood. The following are some of the types of services that might be supported: crisis counseling; emergency financial assistance; provision of information on victims' rights; expedition of victims' access to medical care, mental health services, transportation, and information and assistance in the criminal justice system; shelter and housing, and assistance in obtaining victim compensation. To assist in institutionalizing these improved services for and responses to victims, the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) will provide ongoing technical assistance to the grantees and their community partners to fulfill the critical tasks that must be accomplished including assessing community needs and resources, strategic planning, project evaluation, and sustainability. OVC will select five victim assistance organizations or public agencies in urban high crime neighborhoods to develop promising practices and collaborative networks to improve victim access to a continuum of needed services, and interventions. These model networks or partnerships should build on existing resources, identify critical gaps in services, and develop collaborative, innovative solutions that improve the criminal justice response to victims and enhance services for victims. Resources that should be assessed include law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies; victim services organizations including sexual assault and domestic violence assistance programs; public housing; health, mental health, and social services; youth programs; parks and recreation programs; community centers; and the faith community. Additionally, it is critical that the effort focus on planning for sustainability of the project after OVC funding ends, including strengthening organizational capacity and fundraising capability. Some of the elements that OVC will consider in reviewing the applications are
In FY 2002 the grantees will
Applicants are not expected to provide a detailed strategy or budget for subsequent years of the project in their application, but should outline a projected plan for carrying out the continuation phases of the projects in their application narrative. In FY 2003, contingent upon meeting the first year objectives and the availability of continuation funding, the grantees will
In FY 2004, contingent upon meeting the second year objectives and the availability of continuation funding, the grantees will
In FY 2005, contingent upon meeting the second year objectives and the availability of continuation funding, the grantees will
Evaluation: OVC will select and fund an expert/consultant who will work with the five sites to design a basic evaluation of the project, incorporating simple, practical performance measures. An evaluation may consider some of the following basic questions:
Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measures the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of these data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures for the first year are provided
The grantees must document the accomplishment of these measures in the semiannual progress reports submitted to OVC. The progress reports must include information on the composition of the advisory committee, number and length of meetings conducted, other notable activities of the advisory committee, and the written recommendations provided by the committee to the project at large. The grantee will also provide a copy of the needs assessment tool and major findings, as well as a copy of the preliminary plan to establish or enhance victim services in the community. The grantee must describe a mechanism for collecting these data in its grant application. Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants must be nonprofit victim assistance organizations or public agencies in high crime, urban neighborhoods that have a knowledge and understanding of victimization issues. The applicant must demonstrate the organizational capability to undertake a comprehensive initiative to establish or enhance victim services and interventions at the neighborhood level. Applicants may be located in communities that currently have a Weed and Seed or Project Safe Neighborhood site. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact Person: Meg Morrow (telephone 202-305-2986 or e-mail meg@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Award Amount: Award Period: 12-18 months Goal: The goal of this initiative is to develop protocols for establishing grief centers to work with victims of violent crime, including terrorism and mass violence. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to support the creation of grief centers where victims of violent crime, including terrorism and mass violence, can find resources to meet their emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs. The project, to be awarded to one pass-through organization, will support the development of protocols for establishing grief centers in five communities. Four of the pilot sites may represent a single faith (Muslim, Jewish, Christian, etc.), but they must, as a whole, reflect multiple faith approaches. A fifth site must be ecumenical in nature. The pass-through organization will select the sites, provide technical assistance, and facilitate the exchange of information among sites and outside experts. Background: Millions of Americans call upon religious leaders for spiritual guidance, support, and information in times of personal crisis. One study found that people who have lost loved ones are almost five times more likely to seek the aid of the clergy than all other mental health sources combined. Incidents of violent crime, mass violence, and terrorism can extend the reach of trauma through entire communities, lending urgency to the need for faith-based counseling and resources. Unfortunately, communities are often unprepared for such traumatic events and are forced to spend time and resources setting up their responses, compromising the speed and efficiency with which they are able to reach out to victims and community members. For this reason, community protocols in setting up response centers, particularly to deal with the emotional, spiritual, and mental health consequences of crime, are critical. Program Strategy: This solicitation invites applicants to work with five pilot communities to develop plans for responding to incidents of violent crime, including mass violence and terrorism. OVC will select one organization to serve as a conduit for funding to the pilot sites. That organization will select the sites in coordination with OVC and provide technical assistance during the course of the project. It will also facilitate the exchange of information among sites and experts in the areas of violent crime and mass violence. In its application, the applicant organization must clearly demonstrate how it will accomplish financial and programmatic oversight of the subgrantee organizations. Each of the sites will, with the aid of the pass-through organization, develop a plan for responding to violent crime by forming councils of faith-based and victim service organizations, criminal justice agencies, health and mental health professionals, and public officials. The councils will meet to develop strategies for setting up community grief centers in the event of a violent crime or terrorist act. The councils must develop protocols for establishing the centers by building on existing resources and identifying ways to fill critical gaps. Below are some of the elements that OVC will consider in reviewing the applications:
In FY 2002, the grantee (pass-through organization) will
In FY 2002, each of the five pilot sites will
In FY 2003, the developed protocols and lessons learned from the activities of the project will be made available to other communities through OVC's Training and Technical Assistance Center. Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants are organizations that have a knowledge and understanding of violent victimization issues, including issues related to mass violence and terrorism, and credibility in working with faith-based organizations, criminal justice agencies, and public officials. The applicant must demonstrate the organizational capability to undertake an initiative that will involve serving as a channel of funding, providing technical assistance, and facilitating information exchange and discussion. Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measures the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of this data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures are provided:
The grantees must document the accomplishment of these measures in the semiannual progress reports submitted to OVC. The progress reports must include information on the composition and operation of the council, number and length of meetings conducted, other notable activities of the council, and the written recommendations provided by the council to the project at large. The grantee will also provide a copy of written protocol. The grantee must specify a mechanism for collecting the data from the pilot sites in its application. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact Person: Bill Brantley (telephone 202-616-3574 or e-mail brantley@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Award Amount: Award Period: 15-18 months for the first phase of the project (FY 2002/2003) Goal: To promote innovative practices, principles, and community partnerships that will strengthen the ability of victim assistance organizations to provide accessible and appropriate services to victims with a wide range of disabilities. Purpose: To provide funding to an organization with the interest and capability of identifying and selecting 10 victim assistance programs to receive funding, training, and technical assistance to improve their ability to identify and serve victims with disabilities. Background/Problem Statement: Disability advocates have reported an epidemic of victimization committed against people with disabilities. Research by Sobsey and Doe in 1991 indicated that 83 percent of women with cognitive disabilities had been sexually assaulted and, of those assaulted, nearly 50 percent had been sexually assaulted 10 or more times. Recent research by Sullivan and Knutson in1998 found that the relative risk for maltreatment among children with disabilities was three times that of other children. At the same time, many victim assistance agencies report that they rarely serve victims with a disability. Many individuals with disabilities report that they are unaware of victim services or that the services are frequently not accessible and not appropriate for their individualized needs. Program Strategy: This project will competitively select and provide funding to a public agency or private, nonprofit organization to develop and administer a multiyear project to assist 10 victim services organizations, based either in the community or in the criminal justice system, to strengthen their capacity to identify and serve victims with disabilities and to support these victims' access to other needed services and interventions, including participation in the criminal justice system. In the first phase of the project, FY 2002/2003, the grantee will accomplish the following tasks:
(1) Conduct a community needs assessment using a "strength-based" model that identifies (a) barriers that hinder or prevent crime victims with disabilities from reporting their victimization to the criminal justice system; (b) gaps in the provision of appropriate, accessible services and interventions for these victims; and, (c) resources, innovative processes, and strategic partnerships to overcome these obstacles. (2) Develop a strategic plan that clearly outlines the goals and objectives of the organization in reaching out to victims with disabilities, describes how existing services and interventions will be enhanced to ensure their appropriateness and accessability to victims with a wide range of disabilities, and demonstrates how to overcome gaps or barriers that impact victims' participation in the criminal justice and services delivery systems. The strategic plan should emphasize strong collaborative partnerships with the criminal justice system and the community-at-large, including disabilities, medical, mental health, human services, and other appropriate programs. The strategic plan should emphasize the use of technical assistance and training from a wide range of sources, including those identified by the grantee and OVC. (3) Develop a pragmatic evaluation plan that will identify simple performance measures relevant to each site. Develop a streamlined process for collecting the needed information and submitting it to the grantee organization for compilation into progress reports that will be provided to OVC. (4) Share information and resources and promote problem-solving among the 10 subgrantee organizations to maximize innovation and cost-effectiveness. (5) Enhance provider knowledge and understanding of different types of disabilities and the dynamics of victimization of individuals with disabilities and the additional challenges and issues that may arise when a victim acquires a disability as the result of a crime. Ensure that services to victims with disabilities are culturally competent. In its application, the applicant organization must clearly demonstrate how it will accomplish financial and programmatic oversight of the subgrantee organizations. The grantee may employ a variety of mechanisms and processes to provide technical assistance including: site visits; cluster meetings; telephonic, written, and e-mail communications; teleconferencing; the Internet; electronic and written newsletters; and publications. The grantee organization may require that each subgrantee organization designate up to $5000 of its planning subgrant to support attendance of the subgrantee project director or other key project personnel at training or technical assistance meetings or other events designated by the grantee. The OVC grant monitor will work closely with the grantee organization to identify cost-effective resources for subgrantee training and technical assistance, including training and technical assistance from the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center. FY 2004 and FY 2005 Funding and Program Strategy: OVC anticipates that future deposits in the Crime Victims Fund will support two additional phases of the project, to be accomplished in FY 2004 and FY 2005. Based on fund availability and grantee performance, OVC will award continuation funding of $1,450,000 during FY 2004 and $950,000 in FY 2005 to the grantee to continue its technical assistance and oversight activities and to provide funding support to subgrantees. (Each of the subgrantee organizations will receive $120,000 in FY 2004 and $70,000 in FY 2005 to implement its accessible services initiative. The grantee will receive $250,000 each of the subsequent years.) Applicants are not expected to provide a detailed strategy or budget for subsequent years of the project in their application, but should outline a projected plan for carrying out the continuation phases of the projects in their application narrative. At the end of the project, the grantee will produce a summary report that describes the project's development and implementation, evaluation methodology, effective strategies, core principles, and innovative practices in serving victims with disabilities as well as funding, training, and technical assistance resources available to support innovative, accessible victim services and participation in the criminal justice system. This summary should serve to inform the efforts of other victim service organizations. Grantee technical assistance and oversight activities during FY 2004 and FY 2005 will address the following:
Evaluation: The grantee must design and implement a basic evaluation of the project, incorporating simple, practical performance measures. An evaluation may consider some of the following basic questions:
Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measure the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of these data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures for the first phase of the project are provided:
The grantees must document the accomplishment of these measures in the semiannual progress reports submitted to OVC. The progress reports must include information on all of the above performance measures. The grantee will also provide a copies of the community needs assessment tools and major findings, the technical assistance and training needs assessment of subgrantees, as well as a copy of each subgrantee's strategic plan to strengthen the response to victims with a wide range of disabilities. The grantee must describe a mechanism for collecting this data in its grant application. Eligibility Requirements: Private, nonprofit organizations, colleges or universities, and units of state or local government which demonstrate strong capability in administration, planning, and provision of training and technical assistance, and whose staff have knowledge and experience in both victimization and disability issues. Disability advocacy or disability service organizations with a strong grounding in victimization issues are eligible to apply. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact Person: Joye Whatley (telephone 202-305-1715 or e-mail whatleyj@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Award Amount: Award Period: 18 – 24 months; subsequent year funding is contingent upon meeting preceding year objectives and availability of funds. Goal: The goal of this multiyear program is to ensure that underserved victims in rural areas receive needed services and interventions. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to integrate or enhance a strong victim assistance component into rural law enforcement agencies. First and second year funding will support the planning phase of the project; third and fourth year funding will support implementation efforts. Background: Law enforcement officers are often the first individuals to approach victims after a crime occurs and are often the only contact that victims ever have with the criminal justice system. Therefore, law enforcement officers have a particularly critical need for information on how to respond helpfully and compassionately to victims. Due to the isolation, geographical distances, and limited resources available to law enforcement in rural areas, the challenge of meeting the needs of victims is even greater. In the aftermath of victimization, many victims in rural areas never receive the vital services necessary to begin their emotional, physical, and financial healing. To creatively and economically meet this challenge, rural law enforcement agencies need assistance in identifying resources and promising practices. Program Strategy: This solicitation invites applicants to plan and implement a four-year demonstration program to improve the delivery of victim services by rural law enforcement. OVC will select and provide funding through a cooperative agreement to a law enforcement agency or organization to develop and administer a project to integrate a strong victim assistance component into rural law enforcement agencies. Activities should be aimed at (1) improving rural law enforcement's response to victims, ensuring that victims receive a helpful and sensitive first response and (2) ensuring that victims in rural communities receive any follow-up assistance needed to heal after their victimization including, but not limited to, crisis counseling, advocacy, mental health services, emergency financial assistance, shelter, clothing, transportation, therapy, and information on case disposition. In FY 2002 and 2003, the grantee will
Applicants are not expected to provide a detailed strategy or budget for subsequent years of the project in their application, but should outline a projected plan for carrying out the continuation phases of the projects in their application narrative. In FY 2004 and 2005, contingent upon meeting the first and second year objectives and the availability of continuation funding, the grantee will
Evaluation: The grantee will be responsible for developing and administering an evaluation of the sites. Applicants should include in their proposals a detailed description of how this evaluation will be developed and implemented and the resources that will be committed to this task. As part of its activities in monitoring the progress of the sites and conducting the evaluation, the grantee should (1) identify basic performance measures and information that can be collected across the sites, and on which the sites will be required to report; (2) develop a reporting form for the sites to use. At a minimum, the evaluation must aim to answer the following questions:
Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measure the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of these data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures for the first phase of the project are provided:
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants must be rural law enforcement agencies or organizations representing the interests of law enforcement agencies that have a knowledge and understanding of victimization issues. Applicants must demonstrate the organizational capability to undertake a demonstration project involving the administration of subgrants to 10 sites. This includes the development of a solicitation seeking applications for the project and subsequent monitoring and evaluation of the subgrant sites. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to provide guidance, direction, and technical assistance to the 10 sites. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact Person: Meg Morrow (telephone 202-305-2986 or e-mail meg@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Award Amount: Based upon grantee performance and the availability of future funds, continuation funding in FY 20003 and FY 2004 will be available. A financial and/or in-kind match for 25 percent of the total federal grant each year will be required. In addition to funding, OVC will ensure that technical assistance is made available to grantees to assist in this multiyear effort. Award Period: 12 months with the potential for an additional 24 months. Goal: The goal of this program is to assist states in developing effective strategies for establishing state Victim Assistance Academies (SVAA). Purpose: The purpose of this program is to support state efforts to provide comprehensive, academically based, fundamental education for victim assistance providers, victim advocates, criminal justice personnel, and allied professionals who routinely deal with victims of crime. Background: The victim assistance movement has grown significantly in the last 20 years and victim assistance programs have become part of the nation's criminal, tribal, military, and juvenile justice infrastructure. Victim service providers, victim advocates, and allied professionals with a wide variety of practical experience, training, and education are now working in a variety of settings from district attorneys' offices to correctional institutions to battered women shelters and rape crisis centers. There also has been a growing awareness among practitioners of the complex needs of crime victims and a demand for more coordinated, multidisciplinary responses. A comprehensive, basic-level victim assistance curriculum made available to victim service providers and allied professionals through SVAAs would greatly enhance these professional efforts. Recognizing the need for a high quality curriculum, OVC funded the development of the first National Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA) in 1995. The Academy is coordinated by the Victims' Assistance Legal Organization (VALOR) and a consortium of universities, including California State University-Fresno; the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; University of New Haven; Washburn University, Topeka Kansas; and most recently, Sam Houston State University, Texas. When NVAA was launched, one of OVC's long-range goals was to encourage a victim assistance course of study in colleges and universities across the country. In FY 1998, Michigan State University submitted a concept paper to OVC to establish an SVAA. With OVC funding supplemented with university and state Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding, Michigan held the first OVC-sponsored state academy in August 1998. Faculty members from the NVAA provided technical assistance and resource material, and Michigan adapted the NVAA curriculum to meet the needs of advocates and practitioners in Michigan. The university, in partnership with the Michigan victim assistance community, continues to sponsor an academy annually. This solicitation is intended to encourage similar initiatives in other states with the ultimate goal of establishing a network of state academies capable of meeting the entry-level educational needs of a broad range of victim assistance providers and allied professionals. The purpose of OVC's competitive discretionary solicitation in 1999 was to help seed and support state efforts to establish state academies to provide comprehensive, academically based, fundamental education for victim assistance providers, victim advocates, and allied professionals who routinely interact with crime victims. The solicitation resulted in five successful and active state academies in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado, and Utah. Modeled on the National Victim Assistance Academy (NVAA) program, the state academies in 1999 and 2000 focused on developing a planning committee or advisory board, assessing the state's training and educational needs of victim advocates, and creating partnerships with existing or new universities that could conduct the on-campus, 40-hour course of study. They also reviewed existing state curricula to incorporate state material as necessary (state laws, victims' rights, and local programs), supplemented the NVAA text with timely, state-specific material, and developed plans to fund the state academy in future years independent of OVC funding. In 2001, the five Academy grantees conducted their first year academies and the state academies made necessary refinements to the curriculum and are preparing to conduct the second round of offerings in the late spring and summer of 2002. A final planning guide for states interested in developing academies will be developed as a result of this 5-states pioneering efforts. Program Strategy This solicitation will support four states in phase one of the establishment of a state academy in FY 2002 for implementation in FY 2003, with four additional state academies initiated in FY 2003 and FY 2004. The overall 3-year project has several core components:
In addition to funding, OVC will support the four grantees by providing access to the following throughout the course of the grant:
Since FY 2002 funding is intended to support year-one planning activities, this solicitation will focus on describing Year-1 tasks and product requirements. 1. Planning/Steering Committee A major task during phase one is to establish a diverse planning/steering committee to plan and manage the project. As the response to victimization increasingly requires partnerships among multiple providers, the composition of a planning/steering committee should mirror these partnerships. At a minimum, commitments of support for establishing a state academy will be needed from the state VOCA Victim Compensation and Assistance Administrators, an accredited college/university, the state attorney general's office, where applicable, and key statewide victim advocacy coalitions and groups. Coordination with the U.S. Attorney's office is recommended. This broad-based, diverse support is critical to ensure the success of the project in Year-1 and beyond. 2. State Training Assessment Some states have recognized the diversity of the victim assistance workforce and have established minimum training requirements for their victim assistance providers, while others have already sponsored educational programs. The steering committee should oversee an assessment of existing state-sponsored educational initiatives and victim assistance training resources. A determination will need to be made regarding how existing training initiatives and resources will combine with or complement an SVAA. 3. Partnership with Academia Establishing a partnership with the academic community is essential and involves several components, including the provision of academic credit through an accredited college or university; the establishment of a college/university as a host site, and the use of expert faculty to develop state-specific curricula and oversee the academy. A college/university should also be able to provide in-resident faculty, low-cost dormitory housing and dining facilities; large and small classroom space to accommodate both plenary and smaller breakout groups; and, a computer laboratory with Internet access and sufficient computers to allow students to effectively participate in a "hands-on" demonstration of the use of technology to enhance service capabilities. 4. Curriculum Design The NVAA curriculum is a 40-hour course with a text of over 600 pages. Updated annually, the text has been reviewed by the California State University and the Medical University of South Carolina faculty and approved for academic credit through their criminology and psychology departments respectively. The text covers 37 different subject areas and serves as the basis for the course curriculum. Each chapter contains an abstract, learning objectives, and a self examination. Chapters also include relevant research, current statistical overviews, and summaries of relevant federal and state legislation. The text also covers the historical background of each topic, including its evolution and current societal regard. The course format includes lectures and discussions, experiential exercises, working group assignments, interactive on-line computer experience, and self-examinations for each issue area. Interactive exercises that help students apply this knowledge are considered essential by the NVAA. The Michigan State Academy also used interactive learning techniques. The goal of this grant is to provide a comprehensive, basic-level knowledge base to victim assistance providers, victim advocates, and criminal justice personnel. We expect that the NVAA syllabus will provide the core of the state academy's curriculum, with each state adding state information, elective courses, and interactive exercises as deemed necessary. As the NVAA curriculum has been carefully developed and tested through multiple presentations, OVC will not fund the development of new and separate educational curricula. However, states receiving funding under this solicitation are encouraged to use a small portion of the planning grant and year-two funding to develop state-specific supplements and interactive exercises. 5. Student Selection In first year of the grant, the steering committee should begin to formulate the student selection criteria, including a method for screening students, and finalize the process in year two. The Michigan Academy encouraged attendance by community "teams" of providers to help promote a coordinated community response to crime victimization. At the NVAA, a selection committee chooses students after reviewing the students' applications and two letters of recommendation. Grantees are encouraged to emphasize student diversity based on geographic location, demographics, and professional agency affiliation in their selection criteria. 6. Staffing Issues The steering committee should also address staffing, including the type and number of staff needed to plan, organize, and manage the state academy. In addition to choosing staff to direct the project and to provide administrative support, the committee should address the selection of teaching faculty and the determination of which courses will be taught by college/university faculty and which can be presented by local agency and advocacy group representatives. OVC encourages a blend of both practitioners and academicians. Finally, the committee must identify a method for assisting teaching faculty to develop presentations with an interactive format. The NVAA Training of Teachers course, which incorporates state-of-the-art adult learning principles into a universal training format, will be available as a resource in this effort. 7. Financial Plan Another first year activity must include the development of a viable financial plan for continued match of OVC federal funds in Years 2 and 3 and for continuation of the SVAA in Years 4 and beyond. Although VOCA funds cannot be used as a match for this grant, OVC has issued guidance to state VOCA administrators authorizing them to make available a percentage of their one percent training dollars and five percent administrative funds to supplement OVC funding for the development and implementation of state academies. 8. Product Requirements Each grantee will develop a report which documents the process of state academy development and an accompanying compendium of related state academy efforts and how they were developed. At the end of the second year, OVC will require each grantee to create a guide describing the Year-1 planning phase and Year-2 implementation. The guides must be submitted to OVC so that they can be used to provide technical assistance to other states interested in establishing state academies. The guide should, at a minimum, describe (1) the process of selecting and organizing the steering committee, (2) the process of obtaining support from state and victim assistance providers, victim advocates, and criminal justice personnel, ( 3) the strategies for overcoming the inevitable challenges of establishing a state academy, (4) the process of obtaining financial support, (5) the scope and findings of the training assessment and the effects it had for the planning process, and (6) the development of state-specific materials to supplement the NVAA core curriculum. Eligibility Requirements: Only one application per state will be considered. Eligible applicants must demonstrate
Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measure the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of these data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures apply to the first phase of the project:
Evaluation: The grantee must design and implement a basic evaluation of the project, incorporating simple, practical performance measures. In addition to the performance measures identified above, the grantee will be required to submit other appropriate and practical measures within 90 days following the grant award. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact Person: Laura Ivkovich (telephone 202-616-3576 or e-mail laurai@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Award Amount: $500,000 Award Period: 18 months Goal: The goal of this initiative is to increase awareness of issues related to crime victimization through a national public outreach and education campaign. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to support the development and implementation of a strategy to heighten public awareness of victims' issues and the role of OVC and the Crime Victims Fund in serving crime victims. The project will seek to reach beyond the victim assistance and criminal justice fields to educate the public on the dynamics of victimization and the importance of the services supported by OVC and the Crime Victims Fund. The project will augment OVC's activities each year surrounding National Crime Victims' Rights Week, which involves supporting the development and distribution of a resource guide of adaptable resource materials. Background: Every April during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, the victims field celebrates the progress made in improving victims' rights and services, honors advocates and service providers for their work on behalf of victims, and remembers those who have been victimized. OVC supports these activities through the development and dissemination of the National Crime Victims' Rights Week resource guide and the organization of a ceremony to honor outstanding victim advocates. While these activities enjoy the active support of the victims field and some criminal justice components, they have not been targeted as successfully to the public at large. As a result, few outside the criminal justice arena are aware of issues related to crime victimization and the resources available to crime victims. Program Strategy: This solicitation invites applicants to develop and implement a strategy to heighten public awareness of victims' issues and of the role of OVC and the Crime Victims Fund. At a minimum, the project should continue OVC's annual tradition of developing and disseminating a resource guide of adaptable resource materials including posters, model speeches, press releases, camera ready artwork, and plans for commemorative activities for use during National Crime Victims' Rights Week 2003; design public awareness activities and supporting resources for use throughout the year; and publish an article about OVC, the Crime Victims Fund, and victims' issues in at least one major national publication during the project period. The grantee will work closely with OVC and will use innovative approaches, such as enlisting celebrity spokespersons in public service announcements, profiling extraordinary survivors who have used their experience to help others, and marketing the Crime Victims Fund as the Federal government's "best kept secret" because it makes offenders, not taxpayers, pay for services to crime victims. Some of the elements that OVC will consider in reviewing the applications are
The grantee will
Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measure the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of these data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures are provided:
Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants are organizations that have a thorough knowledge and understanding of victimization issues and the capability and contacts to conduct a national public awareness campaign, using effective media outlets. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact Person: Bill Brantley (telephone 202-616-3574 or e-mail brantley@ojp.usdoj.gov).
Award Amount: $350,000 Award Period: 12 months, with potential continuation funding for 24 additional months. Goal: The goal of OVC's Training and Technical Assistance for Victim Assistance in Indian Country (VAIC) is to ensure the successful development and sustainability of victim assistance programs in Indian Country. Purpose: The purpose of the VAIC Training and Technical Assistance Program is to provide comprehensive, skills-building training and technical assistance to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations that have received funding under the VAIC Discretionary Grant Program. Problem Statement: A critical component of justice for American Indian crime victims is the provision of direct services to them. The proposed training and technical assistance program for VAIC grantees is designed to assist victims by enhancing the capacity of on-reservation victim service providers to serve victims and, as important, to sustain these services once Federal support is terminated. Yet providing such assistance can be very challenging. Currently there are 28 VAIC discretionary grant programs, and OVC intends to fund additional VAIC programs in 2003. Current grantees as well as prospective applicants need intensive training and technical assistance on a broad array of topics to help them develop, maintain, and sustain their programs. These topics range from program implementation issues such as recruiting, training, and using volunteers; serving different kinds of victims; and sustaining the program to jurisdictional issues; and victims codes. In addition to the demand for these services and the variety of issues that must be dealt with, the geographic isolation of many tribal communities and the difficulty of reaching them are other factors that complicate the delivery of training and technical assistance. Geographic isolation also affects the level of services that are needed, with some tribes having greater access to current information and technology. Finally, there is the difficulty of providing training and technical assistance services in a culturally sensitive manner by individuals who are knowledgeable of victims services and also understand how to work collaboratively with tribal members. Background: OVC initiated the VAIC Discretionary Grant Program in 1988 to establish "on-reservation" victim assistance programs to provide direct services to crime victims in Indian Country. Beginning in FY 1997, victim assistance services were funded directly from OVC rather than through the states. Funding allocated for the VAIC programs was $1.3 million with 30 VAIC program grants awarded in 1998. In FY 2002, eight programs have completed their 3-year funding cycle and will need intensive assistance in developing plans to sustain the organization once OVC funding is no longer available. In FY 2003, 20 additional programs will have completed their 3-year funding cycle and will need assistance achieving sustainability. In FY 2003, OVC proposes to conduct a competitive process to establish new victim assistance programs on reservations with Federal criminal jurisdiction and those new developing programs will need training and technical assistance to ensure their success. In FY 2003, a new program solicitation for VAIC is open to Federally recognized Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations that serve victims of Federal crimes. The average grant award is expected to be $50,000 to $60,000. Applicants from the largest Indian tribes may be awarded up to $80,000. Training and technical assistance have been available to VAIC grantees since the inception of the program through individual site visits and regional training events. Also, the more experienced VAIC program directors have been matched as mentors to new VAIC programs with training needs. In this manner, OVC hopes to grow the pool of qualified trainers with the inclusion of VAIC program staff who broaden their own skills through site visits to other VAIC programs. Program Strategy: OVC will competitively select an organization to implement the Training and Technical Assistance for VAIC grantees program. A 1-year cooperative agreement will be awarded. Additional funding will be dependent upon the grantee's performance and availability of funding in FY 2004. This responsibility will be carried out with the full collaboration of the OVC VAIC grant monitors who will provide input and guidance to the grantee on the needs assessment plan, the selection of training topics, the training curricula, and other deliverables. In addition, OVC will work closely with the grantee to share appropriate information gathered from a thorough review of the annual Grantee Performance Reports submitted by each grantee and information gathered during monitoring site visits made by OVC. Another important source of input to the program will be a VAIC advisory committee of VAIC grantees created by the grantee with approval by OVC. This advisory committee will provide guidance on training topics, curricula, and other publications and products and will serve as a link to other tribal communities in OVC's efforts to expand victim services programs in Indian country. The objectives of this training and technical assistance program are to
This proposal should describe how this training and technical assistance program will be implemented, how the objectives will be achieved, and how the program will address the diverse needs of tribal communities achieve the broadest impact on expanding victim services in Indian Country. Applicants should identify the kinds of training and technical assistance requests anticipated and strategies to be used to address them. The proposal should include a detailed discussion of the criteria for prioritizing training and technical assistance requests and the elements of a screening protocol for selecting tribes requesting training or technical assistance. Applicants must provide an implementation plan that includes a time line outlining activities and deliverables. In general, the implementation plan should foster innovation and clearly identify how resources will be used to maximize the impact of this training and technical assistance program. Deliverables: In addition to the strategy and content of the training and technical assistance design, the following are specific deliverables to be completed during the 1-year project period
The training and technical assistance delivery plan is subject to review and approval by OVC. Upon OVC's final approval of the plan, the grantee will conduct regional training sessions for several tribes, cluster conferences, or provide onsite, individualized training for a given tribe. The type of training, whether regional or individualized, should be based upon the needs assessments of the programs. OVC realizes that requests for training and technical assistance may exceed the availability of resources. Therefore, it is extremely important that the grantee develop a plan that maximizes available resources. Performance Measurement: To ensure compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), Public Law 103-62, this solicitation notifies applicants that they are required to collect and report data which measure the results of the programs implemented with this grant. To ensure accountability of these data, for which the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is responsible, the following performance measures are provided
Evaluation: In addition to the minimal performance measures identified in the preceding section, the applicant must develop an evaluation plan for assessing its own performance and the impact of the training and technical assistance efforts with the tribes. At a minimum, the evaluation should seek to answer the following
Budget Information: The grantee can assume that the VAIC grantees have funds for travel, lodging, and per diem expenses for one regional training session, if regional training is selected. Project costs will cover the development and printing of materials needed to implement the training, travel, and per diem for staff and consultants, and consultants' fees. The proposal must allocate adequate staff resources to overall management of this project and in no case shall the proportion of time of the project director be less than 50percent. The budget should also include travel costs to two locations (compute on basis of travel to San Francisco and Washington, DC) for the purpose of making presentations on the VAIC program. Selection Criteria: Applications will be rated by a peer review panel according to the criteria outlined below. Please note that these criteria replace the criteria set forth in Section II of this Application Kit under "Selection Procedure." Only applicants meeting the eligibility requirements will be forwarded for peer review. Problem to be Addressed (20 points). The applicant must demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and an understanding of direct services for victims of crime in Indian Country. In particular, under Federal criminal jurisdiction this includes knowledge of the tribal, Federal, and state systems as they relate to victims of crime; evidence of an understanding of the jurisdictional and coordination issues involved in the performance of VAIC programs; and, familiarity with VOCA Guidelines and VAIC program requirements. The applicant must also discuss the difficulties associated with delivering training and technical assistance to Indian country, adapting suitable victim-related materials and resources to the cultural diversity of Indian tribes; and, indicate how the proposed work will address these difficulties. Project Strategy/Design (35 points). The program strategy must include sufficient detail so that the reader can understand what will be accomplished, how it will accomplished, and who will accomplish it. All proposed tasks should be presented in a way that allows a reviewer to see the logical progression of tasks and to be able to relate the tasks directly to the accomplishment of the project goals(s). Projected activities should be realistic and reflect the project's allocated time, staff, and funding. A clear picture of the contents or components of the product or training is important, as is a detailed plan for packaging and disseminating the product to user groups. In the past, reviewers have given higher scores to applications that describe how they will introduce the products to the field. Such applications are encouraged over applications that do not provide this information. Detailed procedures for pilot testing and refining the products have also resulted in more competitive applications. The project design must support the purpose and goals of the grant program. Program Management and Organizational Capability (25 points). Applicants must demonstrate how their resources, capabilities, and experience will enable them to achieve the goals and accomplish the tasks of the program for which they are applying. Specifically, they must show evidence of experience in victims rights' issues and services, organizing and implementing training events, and proven ability to provide technical assistance. Points will be awarded based on the applicant's stated capability to undertake and complete a national-scope, Federally funded project, including evidence that the applicant possesses the requisite staff and expertise. Organizational capability will be assessed on the basis of (1) the applicant's described management structure, previous experience with similar or related efforts, and financial capability and (2) the applicant's project management plan and documentation of the professional staff members' unique qualifications to perform their assigned tasks. Applicants must clearly establish that their experience and resources enable them to achieve the goals and objectives of the grant for which they are applying. Program Evaluation (10 points). This criterion assigns points to the applicant's plan for measuring project progress and success. All applications must contain a plan for evaluating the accomplishment of project objectives. Applicants must describe what evaluation data will be gathered and analyzed and the resources that are being committed for this purpose. In determining the quality of the evaluation plan, the following factors will be considered
Budget (10 points). Reviewers will examine the identified project tasks, milestones, and the as-signment of staff resources within the framework of the proposed budget. The applicant must demonstrate that there is sufficient staff and time to accomplish the proposed tasks in a cost-effective manner. Applicants must show cost effective and efficient use of grant resources, demonstrating that all grant-related expenses are necessary for project completion. Tasks and activities described in the narrative should parallel the budget. All identified costs should accurately reflect the tasks, staff time, supplies, and (if applicable) travel necessary to accomplish the grant-related work. Eligibility Requirements: OVC invites applications from public and private agencies, organizations and institutions experienced in effectively administering grants that deal with victims' issues. Knowledge of mental health or legal issues, while important, is not a requisite factor. The applicant must show evidence of broad-based expertise with American Indian issues, training, and technical assistance activities. The applicant must also acknowledge who authored the proposal if it is not the signatory, organization head, or project director. Application: Applicants must follow the guidance provided in Section II, Application Kit. Application Due Date: June 28, 2002 Contact: Cynthia Darling (telephone 202-616-3571 or e-mail cynthia@ojp.usdoj.gov).
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