CFDA 16.529: Safety First: Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities 

Safety First Initiative: 
Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence 
Against Women with Disabilities 


MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

The Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) enters into a 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rose Brooks Center (Rose Brooks), and the 
University of Missouri Kansas City Institute for Human Development (UMKC-IHD). 

History of Relationships 

There has been a long collaborative history among the three project partners. The 
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) and Rose Brooks Center were 
both formed in the 1970Õs and have served as sister agencies addressing violence against women 
since that time. There has been cross training, collaboration related to hospital advocacy and 
services to for adult survivors of child sexual abuse, cooperation in housing sexual assault 
victims on an emergency basis, and joint work on a number of common issues and community 
task groups. 

MOCSA has also worked in partnership with the University of Missouri Kansas City 
Institute for Human Development (UMKC-IHD), a University Center for Excellence in 
Developmental Disabilities established in the 1970's. In the 1980Õs, UMKC-IHD joined with 
MOCSA and other community groups to address the special needs of persons with disabilities 
related to sexuality and sexual assault and abuse. Those efforts resulted in MOCSAÕs 
Developmental Disabilities Resource Center, which for over ten years provided a library, 
professional and community education programs, information, referral and technical assistance 
for persons with disabilities, their families and service providers. The two organizations jointly 
participated in a number of state and federally funded collaborative projects. 


CFDA 16.529: Safety First: Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities 

MOCSA, Rose Brooks and UMKC-IHD came together in 1998 to develop Safety First, a 
project designed to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in the lives of women with 
developmental disabilities. During the one-year grant period, a needs assessment was conducted, 
training was provided, and resource materials and a website were developed. Commitment to 
addressing violence against women with disabilities has continued, as have the collaborative 
relationships as the agencies share resources and call upon one another for support. In 2005, 
these three organizations jointly applied for and received a three-year grant that continued this 
work: Safety First: Kansas City Collaborative to End Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence 
Against Women with Disability. Over the past three years, these three organizations have 
collaborated with a mission to Òto change the mindset in the Kansas City metropolitan area 
resulting in a sustained collaborative response that provides culturally competent, respectful, 
accessible, empowerment based services to women with disabilities who are victims/survivors of 
violence.Ó 
Development of the Application 

The current solicitation for proposals provided an opportunity for the three partners to 
consider accomplishments and the development of the Safety First Initiative going forward. The 
collaborativeÕs management team met on several occasions where all contributed to the 
development of the proposal for continued funding. 

Roles and Responsibilities 
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) 


¥ 
MOCSA will continue to be the lead organization for the Safety First Initiative, and 
coordinating day-to-day grant activities. These activities include coordinating meetings, 

CFDA 16.529: Safety First: Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities 

managing communications, administering grant funds, and providing fiscal and program 
accountability. 

¥ 
MOCSA is a key in this collaborative through staff expertise of sexual violence, strategic 
planning, victim advocacy and treatment, as well as connections with a vast network of 
community entities. 
¥ 
Palle Rilinger will be the project Lead Principal Investigator and serve on the 
collaborativeÕs management team. She will be responsible for the overall administration 
of this project including management of grant funds, maintaining working relationships 
community agencies and strategic planning. 
¥ 
Sarah McCoy-Harms will continue to be the Project Director and serve on the 
collaborativeÕs management team. She will be responsible for overall coordination of 
grant initiatives, activities, and progress reporting. She will coordinate the relationship 
building activities of Objective 3 of this proposal. She will be assisted by Alison Jones-
Lockwood, Director of Advocacy and Outreach Services and Nicole Christy, Director of 
Community Education. Both Alison and Nicole have been involved with Safety First for 
the last two years. 
Rose Brooks Center 

¥ 
Rose Brooks Center is a key partner in this collaborative through staff expertise to 
support knowledge of domestic violence, safety planning, outreach and advocacy with 
other service providers, and training development. 
¥ 
The CEO, Susan Miller, will serve as Co-Principle Investigator and serve on the 
collaborativeÕs management team. 

CFDA 16.529: Safety First: Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities 

¥ 
Lisa Fleming, Chief Operating Officer at Rose Brooks Center, will serve on the 
collaborativeÕs management team and coordinate the safety planning activities under 
Objective 2 of this proposal. Her responsibilities will include arranging for and 
coordinating all training for staff of victim service and disability support agencies and for 
outreach efforts to other domestic violence service agencies. This includes the 
development of cross-discipline collaborations as a vehicle to provide training. 
University of Missouri Kansas City Institute for Human Development 

¥ 
The Institute for Human Development is a key partner in this collaborative through staff 
expertise to support strategic planning, product development, outreach and advocacy with 
disability providers, and knowledge of project evaluation. 
¥ 
The Director, Carl Calkins, will serve as Co-Principle Investigator. 
¥ 
Ronda Jenson, Director of Research at IHD, will serve on the collaborativeÕs 
management team and coordinate the accessibility and responsiveness activities of 
Objective 1 of this proposal. Dr. Jenson will be assisted by Sheli Reynolds, M.O.T. and 
Stacie Williams, M.S. Both Sheli and Stacie have been involved in last three years of 
the Safety First project. They bring their expertise in working with women with 
disabilities around issues of health, safety, and self-advocacy. 
Development and Implementation 

The individuals named under Roles and Responsibilities will be key in concept planning 
and development for the project. The agency directors/principal investigators will serve as the 
management team for the development and implementation of the project, meeting monthly with 


CFDA 16.529: Safety First: Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities 

key named project staff and others to be determined. There will be quarterly meetings with the 
expanded multi-disciplinary team/advisory council. 

Partner Contributions 

While cost sharing or agency match is not required under this grant program, our collaborative 
commitment is demonstrated through resources and services supported through funds leveraged 
outside of the current award and dissemination of information. Based on resources and services 
rendered in 2008, it is estimated that MOCSA and Rose Brooks Center will provide 
approximately $210,000 and $435,000 respectively through leveraged funds during the FY 2009 
24-month period for services and supports for women with disabilities. [Note: Due to current 
reporting practices, these estimates do not account for increase in services anticipated for 
survivors with disabilities as a result of Safety First Initiative outreach efforts. These estimates 
also do not include community education provided to women with disabilities.] As a leader in 
providing technical assistance, resources, training, and information regarding services and 
supports for people with disabilities, IHD will provide connections to existing partners; infuse 
information into peer support services, womenÕs health projects, Missouri Disability Resource 
Center; and facilitate expanded relationships with disability service providers to pilot tools. 


CFDA 16.529: Safety First: Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Kansas City Collaborative to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities 

Commitment and Approval 

We, the undersigned have read and agree with this MOU. We are fully committed to 
working in a collaborative partnership in order to achieve Safety First Initiative goals. 

By____________________________________________ _________________ 
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault Date 
By____________________________________________ _________________ 
Rose Brooks Center Date 
By___________________________________________ _________________ 
University of Missouri Kansas City Date 
Institute for Human Development