1. FY 2017 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant Programs Guidance for Potential Applicants
presented by Linda Mielcarek, JAG Program Planner
Jacquetta Al-Mubaslat, VAWA Program Planner
Good morning everyone and thanks for joining us today for the 2017 JAG and VAWA Bidder’s Training Webinar. My name is Melissa Darby the grants administrator with OCJS and I’m here with our JAG and VAWA program planners Linda Mielcarek and Jacquetta Al-Mubaslat. Before we get started today, there are a few housekeeping items that we need to cover. The webinar is scheduled for 1.5 hours. If you have any technical difficulties, you can reconnect with the same link that you used earlier. If you have any questions during the webinar, or if you would like to communicate with us, please use the chat feature at the top of the screen and we will answer your questions at the end of the webinar. To send a message to us, right click the “OCJS” icon in the top right of your screen and select “Chat.” Make sure you press “Enter” once you’ve typed out your message to send it to us. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions over the phone at the end of the webinar. At this time, we’ve muted the phone lines, and we will explain how to unmute your line at the end when it’s time to answer questions.

2. Introduction and Agenda Overview
Purpose of Funding
How to Apply
Grantee Selection Process
Overview of JAG Grant Program
Overview of STOP VAWA Grant Program
Application Components
Today we’re going to cover the following items:

3. OCJS and Grant Programs
The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
By statute, OCJS is the lead justice planning and assistance office for the state, and is responsible for administering millions of dollars in state and federal criminal justice funding every year.
OCJS is the lead criminal justice planning agency for the state of Ohio. And as such we are the state administering agency for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant and the STOP Violence Against Women Act federal funding and we have been designated by Governor John Kasich to administer these funds for 2017.
OCJS also evaluates programs and develops technology, provides training, and products for criminal justice professionals and communities.

4. JAG Funding
Established by 2005 omnibus spending measure
Administered by U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Allows states and local governments to support a broad range of criminal justice activities
The Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program was established by passage of the fiscal year 2005 omnibus spending measure. The program is federally administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. JAG funds are designed to allow states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions.

5. STOP VAWA Funding
Administered by the Office of Justice Programs, Violence Against Women Office within the U.S. Department of Justice.
Emphasizes the implementation of coordinated community approaches and comprehensive strategies to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

6. How to Apply Read the 2017 RFPs Verify organization eligibility
Develop project strategy Write application Submit application
Applicants must submit an electronic version through
Read the 2017 RFPs to verify your organizations eligibility; once you’ve done that you’ll want to make sure your project strategy aligns with the funding stream. And you’ll use the RFP to guide the writing of your application and we’ll cover those elements in more detail later in the presentation.
All applications must be submitted through our online grants management system

7. Eligibility A unit of local government
State agencies, state-supported universities
Statewide and local nonprofit or faith-based associations
FOR JAG: Projects implemented by courts, law enforcement agencies, and mental health boards may not act as their own subgrantees
A unit of local government has legislative autonomy, jurisdiction, and authority to act in certain circumstances. Units of government include a city, county, township, or village. If two or more jointly apply, one designee to take the lead role and identify that agency's fiscal officer .

8. Eligibility
Ohio Incident-Based Reporting System or Uniform Crime Reporting Summary System, per Ohio Revised Code Section (C)(6).
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act
System for Award Management Profile (SAM.gov)
Law Enforcement agencies applying under this
solicitation must be in compliance with crime
statistics reporting using either the Ohio Incident-
Based Reporting System or Uniform Crime
Reporting Summary System, per Ohio Revised
Code Section (C)(6).
All applicants are required to comply with the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act that requires applicants to provide their data universal number (DUNS) and keep their SAM.gov profiles current. All FFATA information is required on the title page of the application.
SAM.gov is the official US government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. Current registration and profile is required to be active throughout the grant period and renewed annually.

9. Project Strategy Evidence-based Practices
For individual programs please see links listed in RFP
Provide a detailed discussion on how an evidence-based practice or a program exhibiting a best practice in the field will be implemented. For examples visit

10. Funding
All costs must directly relate to the goals and objectives of the proposed project
OCJS reserves the right to modify project budgets or provide partial funding
Receiving previous funding does not guarantee funding for this year
Funding of projects through OCJS is subject to availability of federal pass-through funding resources
FUNDING CAP - a maximum of $60,000 in VAWA funds
Properly mark applications as new or continuation

11. Format and Submission
It is critically important to follow the RFP guidelines regarding format & submission….it could mean being considered for funding or not being considered for funding simply because the guidelines were not followed.

12. Submission
The deadline for submission is:
Proposals must be in Application Submitted status by 5 p.m. EST. on May 31, 2017
Applications received after this date and time will be classified as late and will not be considered for funding.

13. Grantee Selection Process
Internal Compliance Review
Outside Peer Review
Internal Subject Matter Expert
OCJS Director’s Review
This page is an introduction to the discussion in the upcoming pages—but the most important point at this section is to READ the RFP.
Once we receive our state allocation awarded by the Feds we then release a request for proposals.
READ----Within the RFP to have an understanding of the above RFP components.

14. Assistance and Notification
Application: For technical assistance on any part of the application process, call OCJS at:
Award: If awarded, notifications will be mailed electronically via the OCJS grants management system to selected projects; and before final approval, all required forms and pre-award conditions must be completed and returned to OCJS through the grants management system. All awards will be for 12 months of funding, operating from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

15. JAG Program Areas Drug Law Enforcement Task Force (A01)
Law Enforcement Programs (A02)
Crime Prevention Programs (B01)
Cannot provide services to offenders or alleged offenders – prevention only
Please see examples of model programs

16. JAG Program Areas
Adult and Juvenile Corrections, Community Correction and Reentry Programs(C01)
Victim Services Programs (D01)
Specialized dockets, Courts, Defense and Prosecution (D02)
Cross-agency and Cross-system collaboration, Training and Research (E01)

17. JAG Step-down
First two years: OCJS funds 75% of total operating costs with a 25% match.
Third year: OCJS funds 50% of total operating costs and agencies supply a 50% match.
Fourth year OCJS funds 25% of total operating costs and agencies supply 75% match.
Funds may be limited due to decrease in federal funding
Projects will be reviewed based upon several factors including possible site visits, programmatic monitoring and updated objective information

18. JAG – Match
JAG projects may provide a match for projects, however match is not required.
Match may be waived. To submit a match waiver letter, please upload it in the Collaboration Board section of the application forms.

19. STOP VAWA
Services
Training
Officers
Prosecutors

20. STOP VAWA Requirements
Non victim service agencies
Upload a signed Attachment A affirming consultation with state or local victim service providers during the development of the proposal.
Collaboration Boards
Law Enforcement
Prosecution
Courts
Victim Service Providers
Underserved and Culturally Specific Community-based Organizations
Any other relevant service providers.
The signed Attachment A and Collaboration Board letters are uploaded in the Collaboration Board section of the online application.
All agencies that are not a victim service agency must provide confirmation that they have consulted with a state or local victim service provider during the development of their application.
Applicants will upload an attachment A to the online application that has been signed by the Authorized officials for both the Implementing Agency and Victim Service Agency.
The template for the Attachment A can be found at the link on page 4 of the RFP.
Collaboration Boards are also required. At a minimum collaboration boards must have representation from law enforcement, PR, VS providers and court and other relevant stakeholder. This could also mean inviting mental health, children’s services, health etc. to participate on the board and depending on the needs of the program.
Both the signed Attachement A and Collaboration Board letters must be uploaded to the collaboration Board section of the online application.

21. STOP VAWA Purpose Areas
The STOP VAWA grant program contains twenty purpose areas of which nineteen are applicable to Ohio.
A detailed list is provided in the 2017 VAWA Request for Proposal and the state’s STOP VAWA Implementation Plan ( ).
Likewise the scope of the project you are proposing must be eligible as defined within the federal statutory purpose areas. These are listed on page 5 and 6 in the Request for Proposal and listed in the state’s Implementation Plan. The plan is located on OCJS’ website. Applicants are expected to review and refer to the Implementation Plan.
It should be noted that:
Ohio’s FY STOP VAWA Implementation Plan is currently under review. The plan will be posted to the OCJS website following final approval. Applicants and subrecipients are expected to review and refer to the FY plan when it is posted to the OCJS website. Meanwhile refer to the existing implementation plan (FY )

22. STOP VAWA Program Areas
VA1 Training
VA2 Enhancement Efforts
VA3 Policy and Protocol Development
VA4 Data Collection and Communication Systems
VA5 Victim Service Programs and Visitation Centers
VA6 Stalking Programs
VA7 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)
The online grants system requires you to select a relevant program area on the title page of the online application.
Please refer to page 10 in the Request for Proposal for more detailed program requirements that are specific to each VA1 thru VA7 program area.

23. STOP VAWA Allocations
Federal requirements mandate the VAWA funding distribution within Ohio’s justice system.
Funding are made based on the type of agency that is benefitting from the funded activities.

24. STOP VAWA Allocations
10% of the funds from the victim service category must go to culturally specific community-based organizations.
Funds awarded from the court category must be awarded “to” courts rather than “for” courts.
20% of funds granted to the state shall be allocated for projects in two or more federal allocation categories that meaningfully address sexual assault.
10% of the 30% allocated towards Victim Services must be set-aside for culturally specific community-based organizations.
Funding from the court allocation must be awarded “to” the courts rather than “for” the courts. Courts can subcontract with a victim service provider to implement all or part of a project.

25. STOP VAWA Culturally Specific
Culturally Specific Services are community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities. **Refer to page 7 of the RFP
A separate RFP will be released June 1 tailored specifically for nonprofit agencies whose primary purpose is to provide culturally specific services directed for racial and ethnic minority groups. Please refer to page 7 in the RFP for definitions.
The term ‘culturally specific’ means primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u–6(g)). ‘‘(7) CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES.—The term ‘culturally specific services’ means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities.’’
Non-profit agencies whose primary purpose is to provide culturally specific services for racial and ethnic communities (Asian Americans, African American and/or African/Black, and/or Hispanics) are encouraged to apply.

26. STOP VAWA Match
STOP VAWA projects are required to provide 25% cash or in-kind match of the total project cost.
Non-profit victim service providers who are funded out of the victim service allocation are not required to provide match.
OCJS determines the allocation categories and will notify projects regarding their match requirements.

27. Problem Statement
The Problem Statement defines the fundamental problem that the applicant is addressing, and provides a compelling logical reason why the applicant’s proposal should be supported.
The problem statement is essentially a statement of need. It provides a compelling logical reason why the proposal should be supported. It specifies the conditions you wish to change.
It should relate to the purposes and the goals of the organization. It should make clear the relationship between your organizations and the problem to be solved. It should also provide a connection between the project and the guidelines or the goals established within the solicitation.
The problem should be stated in terms of the clients needs not the organization’s.
It should be of reasonable dimensions—The focus of the project is something that can be reasonable address within the project and the projected timeline.
Supported by relevant statistical evidence—This is an extremely important piece and often a large gap within grantseeker applications. It provide the rationale/justification for the problem. OCJS emphasizes the need to submit this information within the RFP.
Defines the target population: It describes who they are and how they will benefit. OCJS also requests that applicants describe who the underserved population--how underserved populations will be identified and how the needs of those populations will be served.
Underserved populations include geographic location (rural isolation), underserved racial and ethnic populations, special needs populations (language barriers, disabilities, alienage, or age); or any other population determined to be underserved by the U.S. Attorney General or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate.
“Why is this a problem?” Don’t assume that the grantmaker knows about the problem you have identified. Not everyone will see the problem in your community as clearly as you.

28. Underserved Population
STOP VAWA
Underserved Population
Specific to VAWA applications
Applicants must describe a target population to be served; and to identify at least one underserved population that will be targeted for outreach and services.
Refer to page 11 of the RFP.

29. STOP VAWA Underserved Population
VAWA underserved populations include geographic location (rural isolation), underserved racial and ethnic populations, special needs populations (language barriers, disabilities, alienage, or age); or any other population determined to be underserved by the U.S. Attorney General or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate.
All projects must identify at least one underserved population.
The purpose is to ensure the identification of needs and to improve access to services for underserved populations.

30. STOP VAWA Underserved Population
What is the underserved population your project will serve?
Avoid identifying “all” victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as underserved.
Why is this population currently underserved?
What are the barriers to services for the populations?
Are the underserved populations attempting to access services? If not, then why not?
How will the project meet the needs of the underserved population?
What efforts will or are occurring to promote eliminating barriers to accessing services; and help increase the utilization of services for underserved populations?
Refer to page 11 of the RFP

31. STOP VAWA Underserved Population
Describe whether the population(s) identified are:
Unserved: populations that have no services available to them.
Underserved: Populations that have minimal access and are in need of more outreach and support.
Inadequately served: Historically marginalized populations that may be overrepresented, but remain inadequately served with specific reference to the quality of service and a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

32. Project Description Describes the model Describes the evidence
Describes the activities
Describes the impact
Restatement of the problem and the objectives
Describe the process and activities that will be implemented to achieve the objectives.
Reasonable scope of activities within the allotted time.
Discusses the evidence that justifies the approach (model)
Is logical and relates to the needs of the identified target population
Clearly describes the activities and the reason for the selection of the activities
Demonstrates fidelity to the chosen model
Links to evidence based models when appropriate
Discusses the impact of the activities for the target population, the community and the staff that will carryout activities
The Project Description is a restatement of the problem and objectives and should therefore flow naturally from the problem to the objectives. ( the objectives-which we will discuss).
The activities presented should be of reasonable scope and are activities that can be accomplished within the time allotted for the program and within the resources of the applicant.
There should be clear discussion as to why a model was chosen and why this approach is appropriate for the project and the target population.

33. Performance Indicator
Objectives
Objective
Performance Indicator
Baseline
Data Collection

34. Objectives SMART Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time bound
WHAT, WHY, WHO, WHEN & HOW?
WHAT—are we going to do?
WHY—is it important for us to accomplish this activity?
WHO—is going to be responsible for the activities?
WHEN—do we want this to be completed?
HOW—are we going to do these activities?
So,--Who will make what change by how much, where and by when?

35. Objectives
internal
agency
Process
external
target population
Outcome

36. Timeline/Activities Activities Persons Responsible Daily Monthly
Quarterly
Annually
Identifies activities from the beginning to the end of the project.
Program activities
Grants administration and program reporting activities
Data collection activities
Collaboration activities
Components of a timeline include:
Identifies project activities and when those activities begin and end.
OCJS requires the timeline of activities to include grants management administration and collaboration board activities
Identifies who is responsible for implementing each activity
Identifies how the activity relates to a stated objective and related data collection activities.
Activities may be ongoing, daily, monthly and quarterly

37. Organizational Capacity
Mission
History
Staffing
Volunteers
Cultural Competency
Physical Resources
Grants Administration
Demonstrate whether your organization has the ability to successfully implement the project design outlined in your grant proposal
Describes:
Organization—Mission/History
Staff—levels, expertise, qualifications/credentials, trainings, cultural competency
Physical Resources—space, technology, relevant equipment
Previous grants administration experience

38. Collaboration Boards
Collaboration Boards are a required OCJS grant component
Collaboration allows groups with a shared purpose to address an identified problem and need within their community
Collaboration Boards allow for the sharing of resources to maximize capacity and the success of project goals and objectives.
Relevancy/Appropriateness
Letters must be uploaded upon submission of the application.
Letters must be on the Collaboration Board member’s letterhead.
Letters must be dated current and refer to the correct program.

39. Additional Questions? Linda Mielcarek Lamielcarek@dps.ohio.gov
Jacquetta Al-Mubaslat