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Grantee Guidelines During COVID-19

CLICK HERE to access our updated guidelines and information to help answer some questions you may have during this confusing time. Thank you for your dedication to victims of crime! As always, please reach out if you need support from us. 

 

Services made possible by CCVS Grants

The Center for Crime Victim Services (CCVS) distributes approximately $9,000,000 in federal and state grant funds to 60 agencies in Vermont that provide dignified and respectful services for crime victims. These services may include:

Crisis Intervention

  • Finding emergency shelter and ensuring safety
  • Assisting with relocation
  • Being with a victim during emergency medical care
  • Performing medical exams to obtain evidence
  • Hotline counseling
  • Attending law enforcement interviews with victims
  • Securing emergency financial assistance

Criminal Justice Advocacy

  • Making sure crime victims know their rights
  • Updating victims on the status of their court case
  • Helping victims with crime impact statements
  • Helping victims prepare testimony for court
  • Prosecuting offenders and seeking accountability for their crimes
  • Informing crime victims and survivors about Victims Compensation and Restitution

Other Assistance

  • Applying for public benefits
  • Finding transportation
  • Connecting victims with interpreter services
  • Working with employers, creditors, landlords or academic institutions
  • Finding child or dependent care
  • Counseling and support groups
  • Providing civil legal help that relates to the crime, such as protection orders
  • Coordinating “wrap-around” solutions that connect many resources to help crime victims rebuild their lives

Education and Training

  • Outreach to community organizations, schools and universities to educate the public about the victim service programs available in the state.

CCVS grant funding supports ongoing staff and program development to promote trauma informed practices that support the provision of quality services.

CCVS Grant Programs

The CCVS Grant Programming is governed by federal and state regulations.  These are incorporated in the CCVS Grants Plan Guidelines which are reviewed and approved by the State of Vermont’s Commissioner of Finance and Management on a yearly basis.

Victim service programming in Vermont is currently supported 75% by Federal funds and 25% by State funds.

Pie chart of grant distribution from CCVS.

Federal Grant Programs

The VOCA Grant Program

The largest source of CCVS’s grant funding comes from the Victims of Crime Act, (VOCA) grant program from the US Department of Justice. VOCA funds come entirely from fines and fees paid by convicted federal criminals, not tax dollars.

To ensure the most judicious use of these federal dollars CCVS conducts extensive strategic planning. You can read more about this process in the CCVS VOCA Strategic Planning Guide, and the result of that effort in the Unmet Needs of Crime Victims in Vermont.

CCVS grant programs also include funds from the US Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, stemming from the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Congress sets aside the funds for these programs each year. Current VAWA programs that benefit Vermont crime victims include:

  • The Voice and Choice Grant Program:
    • The Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services (VCCVS) seeks to create a comprehensive demonstration project to place dedicated victim service staff in a variety of restorative justice programs in order to better serve victims and those affected by crime. The development of the Voice & Choice Demonstration Project was originally funded by an AmeriCorps Planning Grant through SerVermont, informed and guided by an Advisory Group, and coordinated by Marc Wennberg and Jon Kidde. The Advisory group met monthly from December 2016 through June 2017. Subsequently, VCCVS applied and eventually withdrew from a nationally competitive award process because it was highly unlikely that our program would get funded because of overall federal cuts to existing programs. All during the development phase of this project, VCCVS remained committed to the original purpose and goals by setting aside the portion of match that was required by the larger AmeriCorps application. At this time VCCVS is releasing this RFP with those set aside funds to support this smaller demonstration project.


      Purpose Statement: Most of the state’s community-based restorative efforts lack dedicated staff to address the needs of crime victims and support meaningful participation in restorative processes. Thus, victim participation and subsequent satisfaction in restorative justice based services and programs varies greatly.

      The Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services (VCCVS) is requesting proposals to support the implementation of a comprehensive, statewide demonstration project called Voice & Choice. The mission of Voice & Choice is to promote empowerment for victims by supporting high quality services at Vermont’s community and restorative justice programs.

      Voice and Choice will support the training and placement of dedicated Victim Liaisons at participating RJ programs. V & V staff members will provide meaningful outreach to victims of crime; help victims navigate the justice system and connect to resources; and explore opportunities for involvement in restorative processes.

      Resource Guide for Leaders and Practitioners in Restorative Justice

​    This program is designed to:

  • Sustainably increase Vermont’s’ capacity to serve people affected by crime at the community level.
  • Better identify and address victim’s self-defined needs, regardless of whether charges are filed.
  • Increase opportunities for meaningful and voluntary victim involvement in restorative processes.
  • Increase victim satisfaction and restore people’s faith in community.

NEW TRAINING THIS YEAR! 
The Center for Crime Victim Services will offer a Voice & Choice training – October 8 & 9, 2019 at the WSOC in Cherry Room B.

Email outreach@ccvs.vermont.gov for details.

  • The STOP Grant Program (Services, Training, Officers and Prosecution)
    • supporting teams of law enforcement, prosecutors, and advocates who respond to crimes of domestic and sexual violence.  Every four years CCVS conducts an extensive implementation planning process to determine the priorities for this funding.  Vermont’s current STOP Implementation Plan covers the years 2017-2020. Quite often other OVW discretionary grants require proposals that relate to the state STOP plan.  Vermont’s STOP Implementation Plan can be accessed here.

  • The Rural Grant Program
    • to help adults and children dealing with domestic violence in the most isolated areas of our state.
  • The SASP Formula Grant (Sexual Assault Services Program)
    • supports direct intervention and assistance for sexual assault victims.

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Grant (FVPSA) from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, supports professionals and programs that respond to incidents of family violence and dating violence. FVPSA assists crime victims by providing shelter, emotional support and other resources to adults and children who are experiencing violence in their personal relationships.

State Grant Programs

Act 174 and Domestic Violence (DV) funding is set aside each year by the Vermont Legislature to support domestic and sexual violence programming.

Vermont Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) bring together diverse professionals, including law enforcement, children’s advocates from the Department of Children and Families, prosecutors, counselors, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, doctors, and child advocates to work together to conduct interviews and make team decisions regarding cases of child sexual abuse. Vermont’s Special Investigation Units (SIUs) are also housed along with the Child Advocacy Centers. The Special Investigation Units will also respond to crimes of adult sexual assault.

Vermont’s Supervised Visitation Program (SVP) grant supports eleven programs in Vermont that provide a safe location for a child to meet with their non-custodial parent.