DVAC Meeting Minutes – June 2016Approved September 9, 2016

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Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Governor / / Mark Ghilarducci
Director

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVISORY COUNCIL (DVAC)

Friday, June 10, 2016,10:00 am

Los Angeles Airport Marriott, Scottsdale Room, 5855

West Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

MEETING MINUTES

Members Present: Cherri Norvell Allison (Chair), Anastacia L. Snyder (Co-Chair),Krystle Contreras, Patricia Giggans, Louis Gill, Connie Chung Joe, Nancy O’Malley, Ben Schirmer

Cal OES Staff Present: Leigh Bills, Joimeiko Coulbourn, Ricki Hammett, Nicole Watanabe

Absent: Sheri Farinha, Robert Lehner, Lynda Smallenberger, Debra Suh, Christine Ward

AGENDA

  1. CALL TO ORDER

Cherri Norvell Allison, DVAC Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:01am.

Introductions were made of the DVAC members, and Cal OES staff, including new DVAC Member Connie Chung Joe. Ms. Joe was appointed by Kevin De Leon and is the Executive Director of Korean American Family Services (KFAM), a non-shelter based program providing services to Korean Americans.

  1. CAL OES UPDATES

Leigh Bills, Cal OES Victim Services Division Chief, provided the following updates:

  • Cal OES has hired all the new limited-term staff.
  • Applications for fiscal year 2015/2016 must be in award by the end of the month, including new Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)-funded programs.
  • The Domestic Violence Housing First (XD) Program is currently beingread and rated and Cal OES is hoping to have notification letters mailed out by the end of the month.
  • The reading and rating process is also finishing up on the Elder Abuse, Legal Assistance, and Transitional HousingPrograms.
  1. REVIEW AND APPROVE MINUTES FROM MARCH 11, 2016 DVAC MEETING

The DVAC reached a consensus that the minutes from the March 11, 2016 DVAC Meetingare correct.

  1. STATUS OF 2015 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE (DV) PROGRAM GRANTS AND SPENDING OF FUNDS

Ricki Hammett, Cal OES Domestic Violence Unit Chief, presented on the status of funds spent on the Domestic Violence Assistance (DV)Program as of June 5, 2016. There is a current balance of $14,077,932 remaining. Cal OES is in the process of extending 27 DV Program projects from June 30, 2016 to September 30, 2016. DV Program projects will receive either $475,300 or $475,302 for fiscal year 2016-17.

  1. STATUS OF NEW VOCA-FUNDED PROGRAMS

Ms. Bills went over the new funding opportunities. Ms. Bills stated that there is an increase in VOCA funds of an additional $35,391,405 for the 2016 allocation for a total of $268,114,336. Cal OES will be looking to the VOCA Steering Committee for guidance on setting priorities. Cal OES encourages all DVAC members and grant-funded agencies to read the new VOCA Rule when released to become familiar with changes and new opportunities.

DVAC members discussed how Cal OES could have done better to advertise new programs. Ms. Bills said that Cal OES received that feedback and is working on increasing outreach and is open to feedback on how to better reach potential applicants. Cal OES is willing to send funding announcements to agencies that serve as hubs and resources for victim service agencies and will add them to the list of agencies that receive funding announcements.

Ms. Bills stated that Cal OES did not receive a good response in the number of proposals for the Sexual Assault Response Team Program and is re-releasing the Request for Proposal (RFP). DVAC members discussed the possible reasons for this, including cash flow difficulties. DVAC members discussed the possibility of subrecipients receiving a partial payment up front. Ms. Bills said that Cal OES cannot advance federal funds, only state funds. Ms. Hammett indicated that this may be a Cal OES policy and not be a federal policy and that she will look into it. Ms. Bills also stated that the new VOCA Rules state that 25% of an agency’s funds must come from a non-federal source.

Ms. Bills stated that Cal OES will be re-releasing the Victims with Disabilities Program for 2017/2018 and that Cal OES did not receive a good response to this RFP. DVAC members discussed the possible reasons for a low response, including capacity issues, how people interpret service, lack of education about what people with disabilities could use or need, the need for outreach, and if the barriers are address agencies will need to provide services. Ms. Bills asked if $50,000 was enough for these grants and said that Cal OES will meet with the VOCA Steering Committee to discuss this and that the Request for Proposal would be kept as broad as possible. Ms. Bills said that the name may be changedfrom “Disabilities” to “Access”.

Ms. Bills also discussed the County Victim Services Program and that counties can have extensions for submitting their applications, if necessary. She also stated that two or three counties do not want the funds. DVAC members discussed the challenges with this program.

Ms. Chung Joe, asked if these new programs would be one-time funding. Ms. Bills stated, that if the funding continues, the two-year programs would likely become 4-year programs, as this is the current recommendation from the VOCA Steering Committee.

With the increase in funds, Cal OES asked the DVAC to provide feedback on the pressing needs, in regards to domestic violence.The following ideas were generated and discussed:

  • Domestic violence response teams (DARTS)
  • Alternative housing or long term housing
  • Non-traditional housing options
  • Underserved/underserved – domestic violence focused
  • Allowing for smaller organizations who weren’t as competitive to receive funding
  • Aftercare, after immediate services (building a sustainable future for survivors to become employed/financially dependent, which is part of the housing first principals)
  • Domestic violence specific shelter or non-shelter based programs
  • Addressing trauma from interpersonal violence
  • Transportation
  • Communities still not receiving services
  • Support for health and well-being
  • Expanding services to children
  • Funding for clinical support, behavioral health/PTSD.

DVAC members discussed funding for mental health through different funding streams and not knowing how to access funds. Members also discussed barriers in applying for funds and how some agencies do not need all the money and larger agencies can show better need with more data, making it difficult for smaller agencies to complete. Some agencies have formed conglomeration to raise the level of sophistication. Ms. Bills stated agencies can apply for less funding.

  1. GAPS IN SERVICES
  1. Gaps Identified by DVAC Members through Outreach Within the Community

This is an on-going discussion about gaps in services. The following ideas were identified:

  • Aftercare Programs
  • Transportation
  • DVRTs
  • Underserved victims
  • Transitional Housing/Housing
  • Clinical Services

DVAC members discussed whether these should be prioritized and there was a concern if they were prioritized it would inhibit shifting of prioritiesif demand is different.

DVAC members expanded on underserved populations and the idea to support an agency that has culturally-specific staff versus an agency that can serve underserved populations and the question was raisedif DVACwould support anunderserved program specifically for agencies that have never been funded by Cal OES before. DVAC members were generally supportive, but would like to discuss this further. This will be an agenda item for the next meeting.

  1. Statistics on DV Program Services From the Last Three to Five Years

Ricki Hammett providedDV Program statistics from the last three to five years.

  1. National Network to End Domestic Violence 2015 Census Information

Kathy Moore, Executive Director for the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (The Partnership),spoke about the National Network to End Domestic Violence 2015 Census Information, which is a one day count that happens every September.

  1. FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND SERVICES ACT (FVPSA) FUNDS

a. Family Violence Prevention and Services/Grants for Domestic Violence Shelters and Supportive Services/Grants to States Overview

Ms. Hammett presented information on the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Funding. She provided an overview of the Family Violence Prevention Services/Grants for Domestic Violence Shelters and Supportive Services/Grants to States. The purpose of this fundingis to assist states in efforts to establish, maintain, and expand programs and projects to prevent violence, provide shelter and supportive services, and to provide specialized services to certain populations. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) Family and Youth Service Bureau (FYSB) provides these funds.

b. Programs Funded with FVPSA and Update on Funds Spent.

Ms. Hammett provided information on the programs funded with FVPSA funds and the current DV Program balance. She also provided information on the two prevention programs funded with FVPSA funds. These are both school based and Cal OES is considering combining these into one program.

c. Unobligated Funds Discussion

Ms. Hammett stated there were a couple options for potential unobligated funding, increasing the number of subrecipient and/or increasing the number of existing programs, including non-shelter based. The DVAC generated ideas about potential uses, including:

  • Sexually exploited minors
  • Pregnant or parenting teens, risk of siblings getting pregnant
  • Providing services to children of survivors of domestic violence and others who live with domestic violence, where it gets normalized
  • Providing intervention and preventionaround children exposed to violence (community organized, new media (Instagram, Facebook, Vine, etc.)
  • Public awareness campaigns, engaging men in the movement
  • Bystander invention around domestic violence
  • First Responder perpetrator training and training to law enforcement before it elevates to domestic violence

Priorities identified were:

  • Intervention around children/teens exposed to violence
  • Public awareness campaigns and focusing on engaging men in the movement
  • Bystander intervention arounddomestic violence
  • First responderperpetrators
  1. STRATEGIES FOR ADVERTISING PROGRAMS

DVAC Members discussed having Cal OES reach out to stars, professional athletes, and major organizations to take the lead and build an awareness campaign for domestic violence and that the campaign could be statewide. The campaign could provide information on services offered to victims along with using social media. DVAC members discussed bringing the Governor in to a campaign.

  1. California Partnership to End Domestic Violence Updates
  1. Statewide Domestic Violence Conference

Ms. Moore presented information on the Statewide Domestic Violence Conference. She provided handouts which provided a summary of the conference and included feedback about the conference.

  1. Listening Tour Status and Updates

Ms. Moore provided information on the Blue Skies Listening Tour. This tour is a series of town hall-style meetings, to see what communities need to address domestic violence. Any partners, service providers, and survivors are encouraged to attend and participate. This will be a broad view of what the needs are.

  1. Cultural Responsiveness Organizational Assessment Tool(CROS)Testing and Launch to the Public

JacquieMarroquin, Capacity-Building Program Manager with The Partnership, called in and provided an overview of the CROS. This tool has been designed and validated for the domestic field. It allows organizations to take the assessment and understands their ability to provide effect services and support in a culturally responsive manner. This tool will help an agency determine how culturally responsive they are and how they can work on becoming more culturally responsive.

  1. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

a. Underserved Program Request for Proposal for organizations not currently funded by Cal OES

b. Future FVSPA projects and updates on FVPSA

c. VOCA Updates

d. Strategies for advertising programs

e. Brainstorming ideas to reach more organizations about funding opportunities

  1. ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Norvell Allison adjourned the meeting at 1:58pm.

Motion: Louis Gill

Second: Anastacia Snyder

Discussion: None

Motion Passed (Aye: 8, Nay: 0, Abstain: 4)