Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS — February 25, 2021
VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT VICTIM ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM
DUE DATE: April 8, 2021
The Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division (CPJAD), as the State Administering Agency for the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Grant Program, requests proposals from qualified applicants to provide direct services to crime victims in Hawaii. Approximation of total funds available for this Request for Proposals (RFP) is $3.2 million. Federal VOCA grant funding shall be for a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $650,000 for a two-year grant period. A Request for Information was issued on January 19, 2021, and a response from CPJAD was posted on February 11, 2021.
Download the Request for Proposal document:
- Hawaii State Procurement Office HANDS website; Opportunity #19992, at https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities/opportunity-details/19992
Download the CPJAD forms below:
- FY 2020 Title Page and Description of Project (fillable) (MS Word)
- FY 2020 VOCA Table of Contents (fillable) (MS Word)
- FY 2020 Exhibit D-Timeline (fillable) (MS Word)
- FY 2020 Exhibit J-Match Waiver Request Form (fillable) (MS Word)
- FY 2020 Goals, Objectives, and Performance Measures (fillable) (MS Excel)
- FY 2020 Indirect Costs Form (fiillable) (MS Excel)
The Victims of Crime Act of 1984, Public Law 98-473, as amended, and codified at 34 U.S.C. § 20101, et seq. (VOCA) established the Crime Victims Fund in the United States Department of Treasury to collect the fines assessed against Federal criminals and serve as the funding source for carrying out all of the activities authorized by VOCA, including the VOCA Victim Assistance Grant Program (VOCA Grant). The primary purpose of the VOCA Grant is to support the provision of direct services to victims of crime. In Hawaii, the Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Division (CPJAD) Grants & Planning Branch is the State Administering Agency (SAA) for the VOCA grant funds.
VOCA provides Federal financial assistance to States to provide direct services to victims of crime. Services are defined as those efforts that: 1) respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims; 2) assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after victimization; 3) assist victims of crime to understand and participate in the criminal justice system; or 4) provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security.
Funding for the program is provided by fines collected from Federal criminals, and not by Congressional appropriation or tax dollars. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
MATCH REQUIREMENT
VOCA requires at least a 20% match of the total VOCA project.
VOCA PRIORITY AREAS
A minimum of 10% of Hawaii’s VOCA funds must be budgeted to each of the following priority areas:
- Sex Assault
- Domestic Violence
- Child Abuse
- Underserved Population (i.e., Hawaii’s definition of undeserved includes victims of assault, adults molested as children, victims that are tourists/visitors, immigrants/victims with Limited English Proficiency, elderly, persons with disabilities, survivors of homicide/negligent homicide, victims of DUI/DWI, victims of property crimes, victims of sex trafficking, LGBTQQ victims, and those victims of crime residing in rural or geographically isolated area.)
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
- Public or private non-profit organizations that provide direct services to crime victims.
- Criminal justice agencies such as law enforcement, prosecutor offices, courts, corrections, probation and parole authorities are eligible to help pay for victim services. For example, prosecutor-based victim services may include victim-witness programs, victim notification, and victim impact statements. Corrections-based victim services my include victim notification, restitution advocacy, victim-offender mediation, and victim impact panels. Police-based victim services may include victim crisis units or victim advocates, victim registration and notification, and cell phone and alarm services for domestic abuse victims. VOCA funds may be used to provide victim services that exceed law enforcement normal duties. Regular law enforcement duties such as crime scene intervention, questioning of victims and witnesses, investigation of the crime, and follow-up activities may not be paid for with VOCA funds.
- Eligible recipients must utilize volunteers.
- Eligible recipients must assist victims in seeking crime victim compensation benefits.
APPLICATION AND AWARDS
Below is a list of the FY 2018 and FY 2019 VOCA sub-grantee awards.
FY 2018 VOCA Victim Assistance Sub-Grantee Awards | ||
Agency Awarded | Title of Application | Award |
Maui Prosecutor’s Office | Special Needs Advocacy Project | $646,528 |
Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office | Victim Witness Kokua Services Project | $1,636,404 |
Kauai Prosecutor’s Office | Kauai Victim of Crime Act Expansion Project | $283,784 |
Hawaii Prosecutor’s Office | Victim Assistance Program | $985,188 |
Department of Public Safety | Victim Restitution Collection Team for Public Safety | $189,984 |
Catholic Charities Hawaii | Treating Victims of Child Abuse – Hawaii Island Counseling Center | $530,400 |
Child and Family Service | Enhancing & Expanding Crisis Intervention Services for Victims of DV on Hawaii Island | $376,000 |
Child and Family Service | Hope & Healing: Counseling and Prevention Services for Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Sex Trafficking | $450,000 |
Child and Family Service | Transitional Housing & Domestic Abuse Shelter Services | $259,000 |
Children’s Law Project of Hawaii | Victim Options for Investigation, Child Empowerment & Safety (VOICES) | $355,988 |
Domestic Violence Action Center | Advance | $388,195 |
Domestic Violence Action Center | Specialized Advocacy Services | $282,875 |
Hale Kipa | Commercial Sexual Exploitation/Trafficking Assessment Center/Shelter | $404,800 |
Hale Kipa | Youth Outreach | $200,000 |
Hawaii Police Department | SANE/SAFE Program Expansion and HPD Training | $354,824 |
Judiciary | TRO Modification Project | $55,000 |
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii | Legal Assistance for Elderly Victims of Crime | $491,208 |
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii | Legal Assistance for Immigrant Victims of Crime | $571,751 |
Maui Family Support Services | MFSS CAN Victim Services and System Coordination | $738,690 |
Maui Farm | Farm-Based Transitional Housing | $576,242 |
Maui Youth and Family Services | Safe House Shelter for Girls | $810,000 |
Parents and Children Together | Haupoa Child Sex Abuse Treatment Center | $664,653 |
Susannah Wesley Community Center | Beacon of Hope – Victim Assistance Program | $806,200 |
The Sex Abuse Treatment Center | Helping Victims Heal: From Crisis to Counseling | $497,935 |
University of Hawaii | Gender Violence Advocacy Program | $530,609 |
Women Helping Women | Shelter Case Management | $142,600 |
Women Helping Women | Supportive Services Program | $226,800 |
YWCA Kauai | Enhanced DV & SA Services | $607,563 |
Catholic Charities Hawaii | Kuola | $320,000 |
Residential Youth Services & Empowerment (RYSE) |
VOCA Project | $342,590 |
Women Helping Women |
Community Based Advocacy Program | $82,000 |
FY 2019 VOCA Victim Assistance Sub-Grantee Awards | ||
Agency Awarded | Title of Application | Award |
Maui Prosecutor’s Office | Special Needs Advocacy Project | $659,460 |
Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office | Victim Witness Kokua Services Project | $1,669,136 |
Kauai Prosecutor’s Office | Kauai Victim of Crime Expansion Project | $289,460 |
Hawaii Prosecutor’s Office | Victim/Assistance Program | $1,004,892 |
Department of Public Safety | Victim Restitution Collection Team for Public Safety | $193,784 |
Adult Friends for Youth (AFY) | The AFY Redirectional Therapy (RT) Counseling Program | $185,221 |
Catholic Charities Hawaii | Kupuna to Kamalii | $520,000 |
Child and Family Service | Sustaining and Maintaining Vital Sex Assault Services in Maui County | $530,000 |
Child and Family Service | Hawaii Island Hope and Healing | $708,494 |
Crime Victim Compensation Commission | CVCC-HPA Crime Victim Advocacy Project | $274,171 |
Domestic Violence Action Center | Legal & Advocacy Services for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence | $436,432 |
Family Promise Hawaii | Shelter, Housing, and Supportive Services for Homeless | $569,958 |
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children | Enhancing Resources to Help Victims Heal | $660,800 |
LASH | Legal Assistance for Youth and Family Victims | $504,321 |
Maui Youth and Family Services | Mental Health and Support Services for the Safe House | $150,000 |
Parents and Children Together | Victim Support Services for Domestic Violence Victim/Survivors, PACT Oahu Family Peace Center | $367,828 |
Catholic Charities Hawaii | Kuola | $320,000 |
Residential Youth Services & Empowerment (RYSE) | VOCA Project | $429,654 |
Women Helping Women | Community-Based Advocacy Program | $82,000 |
STRATEGIC PLAN
Plan for Training Victim Service Providers in Hawaii
VOCA COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT
In October and November 2018, CPJAD conducted a survey and series of community focus groups to gather feedback on the gaps and needs in services to victims of crime in Hawaii and to collect suggestions to improve and expand these services. Overall, 185 people submitted a survey and 38 people participated in focus groups (Hawaii County – 8, City and County of Honolulu – 12, Kauai – 12, Maui – 6). Additionally, 4 interviews were completed to ensure representation from the different VOCA priority areas and populations.
VOCA Community Assessment Summary
RELATED TRAININGS AND EVENTS
Hawaii has received a substantial increases in funding from the Federal VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant, from $2.2 million in federal FY 2014 to $10.1 million in federal FY 2016. These additional funds will provide Hawaii with an opportunity to increase direct services to victims of crime. It is also important to ensure that VOCA victim assistance providers are adequately and appropriately trained in working with victims. The Department contracted with Ho’omaluhia, a Hawaii based program of the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute, to conduct a training need assessment of victim service providers in Hawaii. A VOCA Training Advisory Committee was convened to assist with developing a plan for training victim service providers in Hawaii.
- Plan for Training Victim Service Providers in Hawaii
- VOCA Grantee Training Request Form (protected page; password required)
- Crime Victim Compensation Commission Training Slides (10-31-2017)
- VOCA Only Reporting Slides (03-02-2021 FINAL)
- VOCA Grant Administration Checklist (03.2021)
TRAINING EVENTS BULLETIN BOARD
CPJAD is providing an electronic bulletin board of trainings for government and nonprofit agencies serving crime victims in the State. Agencies and individuals are invited to submit training flyers with registration information to [email protected] to be posted on the Training Events Bulletin Board.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
VOCA recipients are required to submit the following reports:
Program Reporting
- Project Self Assessment Tool – Due 7 days after contract execution
- Performance Outcomes Report – Due January 15 and July 15
- Subgrant Award Report (SAR) (11-2018) – Due 14 days after contract execution
- Performance Metrics Tool (PMT) – Due online every quarter (January 15th, April 15th, July 15th and October15th)
- VOCA Grantee Report (Narrative)– Due once a year on October 15th
Fiscal Reporting
- Request for Funds (RFF) – Due to CPJAD office by the 15th of every month
- Project Expenditures and Obligations (PEO) – Due to CPJAD office by the 15th every quarter (April 15th, July 15th, October 15th and January 15th)
VOCA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
VOCA ALLOWABLE AND UNALLOWABLE COSTS
Allowable Costs
- Immediate Health and Safety. Those services which respond to the immediate emotional and physical needs (excluding medical care) of crime victims such as crisis intervention; accompaniment to hospitals for medical examinations; hotline counseling; emergency food, clothing, transportation and shelter (including emergency, short-term nursing home shelter for elder abuse victims for whom no other safe, short-term residence is available); and other emergency services that are intended to restore the victim’s sense of security. Also allowable under this category is emergency legal assistance such as filing restraining orders and obtaining emergency custody/visitation rights, boarding-up broken windows and/or replacing locks.
- Personal Advocacy and Emotional Support. Services such as working with the victim to assess the impact of the crime; identification of victim needs; case management; management of practical problems created by the victimization; provision of information and referrals; traditional, cultural, and/or alternative therapy/healing (e.g. art therapy; yoga).
- Mental Health Assistance. Services that assist the primary and secondary victims of crime in understanding the dynamics of victimization and in stabilizing their lives after victimization such as counseling, group treatment, and therapy.
- Assistance with Participation in Criminal Justice Proceedings. These services may include advocacy on behalf of crime victims; accompaniment to criminal justice offices and court; transportation to court; child care or respite care to enable a victim to attend court; notification of victims regarding trial dates, case disposition information, and parole consideration procedures; and assistance with victim statements.
- Forensic Examinations. For sexual assault victims, forensic exams are allowable costs only to the extent that other funding sources are unavailable or insufficient, and such exams conform with state evidentiary collection requirements.
- Costs Necessary and Essential to Providing Direct Services. Pro-rated costs of rent, telephone services, and transportation costs for victims to receive services, emergency transportation costs that enable a victim to participate in the criminal justice system, and local travel expenses for service providers are allowable.
- Special Services. Services to assist crime victims with managing practical problems created by the victimization such as acting on behalf of the victim to other service providers, creditors, or employers; assisting the victim to recover property that is retained as evidence; assisting in filing for compensation benefits; and helping to apply for public assistance.
- Personnel Costs. Costs that are directly related to providing direct services, such as staff salaries and fringe benefits, including malpractice insurance; the cost of advertising to recruit VOCA-funded personnel; and the costs of training paid and volunteer staff.
- Restorative Justice. Opportunities for crime victims to meet with perpetrators, if such meetings are requested or voluntarily agreed to by the victim and have possible beneficial or therapeutic value to crime victims.
- Perpetrator Rehabilitation and Counseling. VOCA funds do support rehabilitative services provided to offenders who are victimized. This includes services to incarcerated individuals, when the service pertains to the victimization of that individual
- Relocation Expenses. This would include moving expenses, mortgage payments, and rental deposits.
- Transportation. Transportation of victims to receive services and to participate in criminal justice proceedings.
- Public Awareness. VOCA funds can be used for public awareness and education campaigns in schools, community centers, and other public forums that are designed to inform crime victims of specific rights and services and provide them with (or refer them to) services and assistance.
Allowable Costs Needing CPJAD Approval
- Skills Training for Staff (*should not be a significant percentage of the total VOCA award; training request above 10% must obtain CPJAD approval)
- Training Materials
- Training Related Travel
- Equipment and Furniture
- Leasing Vehicles
- Advanced Technologies (i.e. Case Management systems; automated victim notification systems, etc.)
- Contracts for Professional Services (NOTE: VOCA funds should not be used to support contract services. However, it may be necessary for VOCA subrecipients to use a portion of the VOCA grant to contract specialized services such as assistance in filing restraining orders, establishing emergency custody rights.)
- Operating Costs (i.e. printing, supplies, equipment use fees, etc.)
- Supervision of Direct Service Providers
- Repair of Replacement of Essential Items
- Public Presentations
- Indirect Organizational Costs (Federally negotiated rate/10% de minimis)
- Legal Services
Unallowable Costs
- Lobbying and Administrative Advocacy. VOCA funds cannot support victim legislation or administrative reform, whether conducted directly or indirectly.
- Research and Studies. VOCA funds do not support any efforts conducted to study and/or research particular crime victim issues.
- Prosecution Activities. VOCA funds cannot pay for activities that are directly related for the purpose of prosecution and/or improving the criminal justice system’s effectiveness and efficiency.
- Fundraising activities.
- Compensation for Victims of Crime. Reimbursing victims for expenses incurred as a result of crime such as lost wages, replacement of stolen property, insurance deductibles, medical bills, and funeral expenses are not supported with VOCA funds.
- Medical Care. This includes examples such as nursing home care, home health care costs, in-patient treatment costs, hospital care, etc. VOCA funds cannot support medical costs resulting from victimization, except for forensic medical examinations for sex assault victims.
- Salaries and Expenses of Management Salaries, benefits, fees, furniture, equipment, and other expenses of executive directors, board members and other administrators
- Activities Exclusively Related to Crime Prevention.
- Capital Expenses. Capital improvements, property losses and expenses, real estate purchases, mortgage payments, and construction.
VOCA FORMS
- Performance Outcomes Report
- Subgrant Award Report (11-2018)
- Subgrant Award Report Cheat Sheet (10-3-19)
- Performance Metrics Tool (PMT)
VOCA INFORMATION LINKS
- Office for Victims of Crime
- Office for Victims of Crime Grants & Funding
- OJP Performance Measurement Platform
- DOJ Grants Financial Guide
- Acceptance of FY 2019 VOCA Special Conditions (VOCA 103F) (08_2020)
- Acceptance of FY 2019 VOCA Special Conditions Govt (08_2020)
VOCA STATUTORY CERTIFICATIONS