SA ARP

Sexual Assault (SA) American Rescue Plan (ARP)

The purpose of the ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault is to 1) assist with the transition to virtual/remote services for rape crisis centers, sexual assault programs, tribal programs, and culturally specific programs that provide crisis services, support services, and assistance to survivors of sexual assault, and 2) support the increased emergency needs of sexual assault survivors as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

All ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault provide flexibility in how recipients use the funding to support a range of in-scope activities including counseling, mobile advocacy, telehealth, teletherapy, peer support, temporary housing, rental assistance and nominal relocation expenses, supplies, equipment, and software to assist in carrying out virtual services. All activities listed must align with each recipient’s program narrative and budget. If necessary to meet the emergency needs of survivors and increased demand for services resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency, the ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault may be used to purchase supplies needed to continue to safely andadequately staff and operate rape crisis centers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. In addition, the ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault may be used to increase the workforce or sustain the current workforce needed to safely staff and operate rape crisis centers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This list is not exhaustive, as there may be other allowable uses of funds consistent with the operation of virtual services and meeting the emergency needs of sexual assault survivors in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

 

States, territories, and tribes may allocate subawards to sexual violence coalitions, tribal coalitions, LGBTQ+ technical assistance providers, sexual violence technical assistance resource centers, and culturally specific technical assistance providers in order to provide training and technical assistance to rape crisis centers, sexual assault programs, tribal programs, and culturally specific organizations subaward recipients.

Rape Crisis Centers Definition – The FVPSA Program authorizes for the ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault to be allocated in accordance with the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The term "rape crisis center" means a non-profit, nongovernmental, or tribal organization, or governmental entity in a state other than a territory that provides intervention and related assistance to victims of sexual assault without regard to their age. In the case of a governmental entity, the entity may not be part of the criminal justice system (such as a law enforcement agency) and must be able to offer a comparable level of confidentiality as a non-profit entity that provides similar victim services. See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(25). Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12511(b)(2)(C), intervention and related assistance may include:

1.     24-hour hotline services providing crisis intervention services and referral.

2.     Accompaniment and advocacy through medical, criminal justice, and social support systems, including medical facilities, police, and court proceedings.

3.     Crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, and comprehensive service coordination and supervision to assist sexual assault victims and family or household members.

4.     Information and referral to assist the sexual assault victim and family or household members.

5.     Community-based, culturally specific services and support mechanisms, including outreach activities for underserved communities.

6.     Development and distribution of materials on issues related to the services described in numbers 1 through 5 above.

Underserved Communities - For purposes of this supplemental funding, “underserved population,” “underserved communities,” or “people who have been historically underserved” should be read to be consistent with FVPSA statutory and regulatory definitions (at 42 U.S. Code § 10402 (14) and 45 CFR part 1370.2). For reference, the definition at 45 CFR part 1370.2 is given here: “Underserved populations means populations who face barriers in accessing and using victim services, and includes populations underserved because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, underserved racial and ethnic populations, and populations underserved because of special needs including language barriers, disabilities, immigration status, and age. Individuals with criminal histories due to victimization and individuals with substance use disorders and mental health issues are also included in this definition. The reference to racial and ethnic populations is primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300(u–6)(g)), which means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian American; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics. The term ‘‘Hispanic’’ or ‘‘Latino’’ means individuals whose origin is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or any other Spanish speaking country. This underserved populations definition also includes other population categories determined by the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] or the Secretary’s designee to be underserved."

Data Security - The ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault may be used for all costs associated with protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of survivor services information, including safeguarding data from accidental and intentional disclosure. The ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault grant recipients may use funds to support the safety of survivor data, including servers, firewall protection software, and training for personnel and survivors on topics such as proper use of devices and service portals, security of passwords, and available data safety features.

Confidentiality - In order to ensure the safety of adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence, and their families, confidentiality of records pertaining to any individual provided with services.

ARP-funded programs cannot disclose any personal identifiable information (PII) collected in connection with services; reveal PII without informed, written, reasonably time-limited consent; or require a victim to provide consent as a condition of eligibility for services (45 CFR 1370.4(a)(1 – 3)). Additionally, consent to release PII shall be given by an unemancipated minor and the minor’s parent or guardian, or in the case of an individual with a guardian, it shall be given by the individual’s guardian (45 CFR 1370.4 (b)).

In the annual Performance Progress Report (PPR) for ARP-funded states and tribes,

states must collect unduplicated data from each subrecipient, if applicable, and each subrecipient may only share non-PII data, in aggregate, regarding services to their clients in order to comply with federal, state, or tribal reporting, evaluation, or data collection requirements (42 U.S.C. § 10406(c)(5)(D)(i)).

Client-level data shall not be shared with a third party, regardless of encryption, hashing, or other data security measures, without a written, time-limited release as described in 42 U.S.C. § 10406(c)(5). This includes the prohibition of subrecipients sharing client-level data with the state for data collection or monitoring purposes.

Consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, (44 U.S.C. § 3501-3521), under this supplemental funding grant program, the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), FVPSA Program will not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information covered by such Act, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The described PPR information collection is approved under OMB control #0970-0280, expiration date May 31, 2024.

Virtual Services - The use of electronic devices, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, to provide services for survivors through a secure platform. These services will enable domestic violence and sexual violence programs to support survivors and their children via an internet connection, web portal, and two- way live video platforms, https://telehealthresourcecenter.org/.

Transitioning to Virtual Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault

The ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault are intended to support rape crisis centers and sexual assault programs to transition to virtual services or continue virtual services. This supplemental funding may be used to develop, implement, and assess innovative virtual services that:

  • Increase access to rape crisis and sexual assault services for survivors in your service area, as well as for underserved communities; and
  • Can be adapted and scaled across your state, territory, tribe, or local community.

This supplemental funding will support all costs associated with rape crisis centers and sexual assault programs systematically designing, implementing, and assessing ways to optimize the use of virtual services for survivors of sexual assault that that have been impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Prevent – Activities that assist sexual assault survivors by providing virtual services, supportive services, temporary housing assistance, mobile advocacy services, and supplies that will ensure survivors of sexual assault receive the care, support and services they need while reducing the exposure to and risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.

  • Perform outreach and provide education to local rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs, culturally specific programs, and tribes on strategies that reduce COVID-19 transmission, using existing materials where available. Please note that grantees are expected to use materials from federal agencies and/or local public health departments.
  •  Disseminate educational materials and resources to local rape crisis centers/sexual assault, culturally specific programs, and tribes on precautions to prevent, contain, or mitigate COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Please note that grantees are expected to use materials from federal agencies and/or local/state public health departments.
  • Provide virtual services, temporary housing options, and supportive services to survivors of sexual assault including paying for the operating, staffing, and administrative expenses of the facilities for rape crisis/sexual assault programs, culturally specific programs, and tribes;
  • ARP funding can be used to provide temporary refuge in conjunction with supportive services and in compliance with applicable state or tribal law or regulations, which includes:
    • Housing provision including assistance locating and securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services;
    • Rental subsidies and rental assistance;
    • Temporary refuge or lodging in individual units such as apartments (which is not required to be owned, operated, or leased by the program);
    • Safe homes; and
    • Hotel or motel vouchers.
  • Provide prevention services, including outreach to underserved populations to increase virtual access to sexual assault services and reduce the exposure to and risk of contracting the COVID- 19 virus; and
  • Strengthen partnerships with local and state public health authorities, local health departments, emergency services managers, health care providers, culturally specific community-based organizations, tribes, LGBTQ+ organizations, and rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs to improve emergency operations throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Prepare – Activities and technical assistance that include assessing needs of sexual assault survivors during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Activities that provide training, information, and assistance necessary to ensure the continuity of rape crisis centers and sexual assault services. Assessing the capacity of local rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs’ and tribes’ emergency operation plans and plans to address the needs of survivors and reduce the exposure to and risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. Please note that the provision of remote services, virtual services, and mobile advocacy are allowable activities for this supplemental funding.

  •  Assess the capacity of agencies, local rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs, culturally specific programs, and tribes to provide continuity of sexual assault services, including emergency operations plans and plans to address increasing service demands, remote services operational capacity, potential provider closures, and staff absenteeism;
  • Provide training to assist agencies, local rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs, culturally specific programs, and tribes in reviewing, updating, and/or implementing emergency operations plans and plans to address increasing service demands, remote services operational capacity, potential provider closures, and staff absenteeism; and
  • Provide training, information, and assistance for ensuring the continuity of local rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs, culturally specific programs, and tribal sexual assault programs to:
  • Support victims and survivors of sexual assault to make decisions related to their ongoing safety and well-being during the COVID-19 public health emergencyHelp them maintain the capacity to provide individual and group counseling, peer support groups, and referral to community-based services to assist survivors of sexual assault, in recovering from the effects of the violence during the COVID-19 public health emergency;
  • Help them maintain the capacity to provide services for sexual assault survivors, including age-appropriate counseling, supportive services, and culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Please note that the provision of remote services, virtual services, and mobile advocacy are allowable activities; and
  • Help them maintain the capacity to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services during COVID-19 public health emergency.

Respond – Activities and technical assistance for ensuring the continuity of sexual assault programs and rape crisis center services, culturally specific programs, and tribal programs during the COVID-19 public health emergency, which includes responding to issues such as adapting to fluctuating needs and changing circumstances. Please note that staffing enhancements, workforce supports, and workforce capacity building are allowable activities.

  • Provide services, training, technical assistance, and outreach to increase access to sexual assault supports and increase the accessibility of rape crisis and sexual assault services;
  • Provide advocacy, case management services, and information and referral services concerning issues related to sexual assault services, including—

(i)   Assistance in accessing related federal and state financial assistance programs;

(ii)   Legal advocacy to assist victims and their dependents;

(iii)  Medical advocacy, including provision of referrals for appropriate health care services (including mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment), but which shall not include reimbursement for any health care services;

(iv) Assistance locating and securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services;

(v) Provision of transportation, childcare, respite care, job training and employment services, financial literacy services and education, financial planning, and related economic empowerment services; and

(vi) Parenting and other educational services for victims and their dependents.

  • Provide direct crisis intervention services, including counseling, mobile advocacy, telehealth, peer support, and in-person assistance. Mobile advocacy allows for advocates to work out in the community in order to support sexual assault survivors wherever it is safe and convenient for the survivor.
  • Fund staffing increases, workforce supports for employees/advocates, and workforce capacity building and any related costs to retain, reward, or recruit staff to ensure the continuity of sexual assault and rape crisis center services for sexual assault survivors and their dependents.

Workforce Expansions, Capacity Building, and Supports

The ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault can be used for workforce-related expansions and supports, or to reimburse subrecipients or contractors for such costs and for costs that include but are not limited to:

  • Planning for implementation of sexual assault services, COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; language access planning, or virtual/remote services implementation;
  • Training providers and staff on COVID-19 mitigation activities; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation;
  • Hiring providers and staff to carry out sexual assault services; COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation;
  • Reporting data to HHS on sexual assault services; COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation; and
  • Expenses to secure and maintain adequate personnel to carry out sexual assault services; COVID- 19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation may be considered allowable costs under applicable HHS regulations if the activity generating the expense and/or the expenses are necessary to secure and maintain adequate personnel Please review HHS regulations 45 CFR § part 75 “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for HHS Awards,” Subpart E—Cost Principles, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart- E?toc=1. These requirements apply to the ARP recipient and any subrecipients. The FVPSA recipient should thoroughly review these regulations before developing your proposed budget. Such expenses may include:
    • Hiring bonuses and retention payments, per the agency policies (must be submitted if included in your budgets) and prorated accordingly across all fund sources
    • Transportation subsidies, and
    • Other fringe or personal benefits authorized by HHS regulations (45 CFR part 75)

The purpose of these allowable workforce capacity building expenses are to ensure the continuity of sexual assault services in local communities and for tribes by allowing supplement funding to be used to sustain an advocacy workforce to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the needs of sexual assault survivors impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. A sustainable workforce is needed to operate remote/virtual services for survivors; to implement mobile advocacy services for survivors sheltered throughout local communities; and to coordinate the COVID-19 mitigate strategies for each local program to keep families healthy and safe during this difficult time.

Partnerships

States, territories, and tribes will benefit from partnering with a consortium of sexual violence coalitions, tribal coalitions, technical assistance providers, VAWA administrators, health care providers, LGBTQ+ organizations, and culturally specific organizations to support rape crisis centers, sexual assault programs, tribes, and culturally specific programs with implementing services for sexual assault survivors impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Working in partnership with local health departments and health care providers represents important opportunities for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 through integrated health and community-based supports for sexual assault survivors who may also be facing homelessness, as well as other negative impacts due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

ARP Grants are to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault to support partnerships that will strengthen the implementation of virtual services, emergency services, mobile advocacy, language access, and COVID-19 mitigation services for survivors of sexual assault. The ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault may be used to issue subawards or contracts for training; technical assistance; operating procedures development; culturally specific/linguistically appropriate services; policy development; technical consultation with sexual assault resource centers; or to support community-based partnership coordination. The ARP Grants to Support Survivors of Sexual Assault may be used for costs related to strengthening the organizational capacity, service delivery, and community engagement for sexual assault survivors impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The following are FVPSA specific unallowable costs: FVPSA Federal Legislative Authority

  1. Direct monetary funds given to the client (cash, gift cards or checks written to the client). (However, providing Specific Assistance to individuals that may include making payments on behalf of shelter residents for needed emergency items while they are in shelter, is allowable.)
  2. If a client moves from the shelter into an apartment or house, but later requests direct assistance with rent, utilities or other expenses, FVPSA funds may not be used for this purpose. (However, providing Specific Assistance to individuals who are in the process of moving out of the shelter facility, including the payment of rent, utilities or other expenses on behalf of the shelter resident, is allowable.
  3. FVPSA funds may not be used for fundraising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions​
  4. FVPSA funds may not be used to pay for food and beverages with the exception of food and beverages used within the shelter and for shelter residents.
  5.  Construction costs
  6. Renovation costs

 

See Chapter XIV – Allowable Costs

See Chapter XV- Unallowable Cost

All subrecipients are responsible for periodic reporting on their projects to OCJP. 

Reporting requirements include:

  • Quarterly Progress Report

This report form is completed by the subrecipient, and it is due, by email submission, to the OCJP Program Manager within 30 calendar days of the close of the reporting period.  This report provides a narrative description of the project progress for the reporting period and is program and subrecipient specific. The Quarterly Report includes annual reporting section to be completed in the 4th quarter of the fiscal year (April – June reporting period). 

  • The annual report section requires a description of the following: 

Describe how equipment purchased with ARP funds for your agency.Summarize project goals identified in the “Project Goals” section of your grant application narrative and briefly state, as of the date of this report, your progress in meeting each goal.

  • F & A Invoice For Reimbursement

(PLEASE CONTACT YOUR OCJP PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE PROPER INVOICE FOR REIMBURSEMENT FORM.)Invoice forms must be submitted, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis and should reflect actual expenditures for the period.E-MAIL invoice to the Office of Business and Finance: obf.grants@tn.gov for Questions and Inquiries and OBF.Grants@tn.gov for Invoicing.

  • Program Income Report (local governments)

This report form is completed by the subrecipient, and it is due, by email submission, to the OCJP Program Manager within 15 calendar days of the  close of the state fiscal year.  This report is program and subrecipient specific and it will be provided to the subrecipient(s) by OCJP.
 

  • Project Equipment Summary Report

This report form is completed by the subrecipient, and it is due, by email submission, to the OCJP Program Manager within 15 calendar days of the close of the state fiscal year.  This report is program and subrecipient specific, and it will be provided to the subrecipient(s) by OCJP.These reports are used to monitor projects, provide information for state strategies and implementation plans, and to assist OCJP in determining project success and funding allocations.  Examples of forms are provided via the referenced links above, or via the links in the ICAC Reporting Table of this manual.Forms may be reproduced locally, but must maintain the original format and content and must be submitted electronically.

  • Policy 03 Quarterly Expense and Revenue Report (Non-profits)

The Project Director is responsible for timely submission of completed reports. 

REQUIREMENT: A copy of each report submitted must be saved in the corresponding grant file.  

All materials and publications (written, visual, or sound) resulting from FVPSA grant activities shall contain the following statements where applicable:

“This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.”

“This project was supported by Award No. _________ awarded by the State of Tennessee, Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs for the FVPSA Formula Grant Program. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Children and Families.”

All reports, studies, notices, informational pamphlets, press releases, signs, billboards, DVDs, public awareness kits, training curricula, webinars, websites and similar public notices (written, visual or sound) prepared and released by the subrecipient shall include the statement:

“The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Health and Human Services or the State of Tennessee, Office of Children and Families.”

"This publication (or project) was made possible by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State or the Department of Health and Human Services."

The above information is specific to FVPSA funds used to create and produce publications. For additional required information regarding Publications, see Chapter XI – Printing, Publications and Media.