To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): District Attorney
Staff Name and Phone Number: Shane Lewis 565-3150, Tatiana Lopez 565-2822
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
District Attorney 2024 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Awareness Project
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the District Attorney to accept $4,994.47 in grant funding for the 2024 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) Community Awareness Project.
end
Executive Summary:
On February 13, 2024, the District Attorney’s Office was notified its project was selected to receive funding from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators, in cooperation with the Office for Victims of Crime for the 2024 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) Community Awareness Project. Board approval and authorization is requested to allow the District Attorney to accept the grant award and to authorize the budgetary adjustments for Fiscal Year 2023-24 in the amount of $4,994.47.
The National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) Community Awareness Project seeks to raise public awareness for and during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 21-27, 2024.
Discussion:
Beginning in 1981, the observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW) during the month of April has provided the opportunity for communities across the United States to honor survivors and to promote crime victims’ rights and services.
This week is dedicated to learning about victimization, the effect victimization has on individuals, families, friends, and the community, and to promote laws, policies, and programs to help victims of crime. The annual event highlights the important voices of crime survivors and the countless service providers and first responders who work tirelessly to support them. Every year, thousands of communities across the nation honor the dedication of those that established victim rights and renew the commitment to guarantee that all victims have the rights and services they need to recover from crime.
The National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators, in cooperation with the Office for Victims of Crime, sought proposals for innovative and collaborative approaches to promoting community‐wide public awareness of the rights and available services for victims of all types of crimes during NCVRW, April 21 - 27, 2024. The NCVRW 2024 theme is “How would you help? Options, services and hope for crime survivors.” Award recipients are selected through a competitive process and selected agencies will receive up to $5,000 each in reimbursement for approved NCVRW public awareness activities through the NCVRW Community Awareness Project. Over the past 15 years, the NCVRW Community Awareness Project has supported more than 1,000 community projects to raise public awareness about victims’ rights and services. Within many of these communities, including Sonoma County, “traditional” NCVRW events were enhanced by the collaborative partnerships that were formed during the planning phase of the project. This is the third consecutive year that Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office has been a recipient of this award.
Project funds will be used to host two events to honor victims of crime and to highlight providers’ efforts to improve services for all in the community. The focus will be on services available to victims of crime and community members, in an effort to educate and bring awareness to victims’ issues and available support. Each event will be hosted to honor the lives of those lost due to violence, while also creating a space for service providers to connect and strengthen collaborative efforts.
On Wednesday, April 24th the District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Division will host a webinar to discuss the levels and steps of trauma informed care and how to incorporate those principals to improve outcomes for victims, from their physical/mental/spiritual wellbeing to the processes of law enforcement and the judicial system. The webinar will host a panel of professionals who will discuss ways to collaborate to provide a more cohesive understanding for the victims we serve and to highlight the challenges faced in working toward healing. Crime victims can often feel that they are not heard when discussing their trauma. The event will be culturally sensitive and informative as to how others may be able to impact victim services work. We anticipate at least 50 individuals will attend this webinar.
On Saturday, April 27th, the community resource fair will take place in Downtown Santa Rosa, Old Courthouse Square. The location is ideal in size and proximity to local businesses and other nearby attractions. Having the event on the square allows increased visibility as this is a location that is frequented for recreational fun on the weekends. We will be expanding on our prior year event by including the honoring of those lost as a result of crime, while still highlighting prevention and community resources.
The resource fair event will symbolize the conclusion of Victim’s Rights Week and offer an opportunity for victims and members of community to see the supportive nature of all the service providers. Partner agencies, such as, VOICES, Humanidad , and others will have booths to offer information about services. A goal this year is to invite Danza Xantotl to host a ceremony to honor those lost due to crime and to create a safe space to grieve. The estimated number of attendees is 250 individuals.
Funds from this grant will be utilized to advertise both events and to pay all associated fees. Advertising for the community events will occur over radio, social media, bus ads, and school district newsletters throughout the month of April and during NCVRW. Flyers will be on various electronic newsletters and social media pages of partner agencies with the specific intent of reaching the more isolated areas of the County like the towns of Sonoma, Cloverdale, Geyserville, and along the coast. The objective of the campaign will be to encourage agencies and community members from more rural county areas to participate in the events.
With the goal of bringing awareness to services available in the local area, advertisements for the events will be available in multiple languages and placed at various locations. We will share with senior and community centers, schools such as Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University, as well as victim centered service provider offices to create more visibility.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
April 18, 2023: The Board approved the acceptance of grant funds from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators to fund the 2023 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Awareness Project.
April 19, 2022: The Board approved the acceptance of grant funds from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators to fund the 2022 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Awareness Project.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$4,994.47 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Total Expenditures |
$4,994.47 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$4,994.47 |
$0 |
$0 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$4,994.47 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The award provides reimbursement for certain activities held during NCVRW, April 21-27, 2024. The After-Action Report/Reimbursement request is due no later than June 30, 2024.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
A. Resolution - Grant Acceptance
B. Resolution - Budget Adjustment
C. 2024 NCRVRW Community Awareness Project Award Agreement
D. Addendum to Award
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A