Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program

Amy Loder, Office on Violence Against Women
Nancy Smith, Vera Institute of Justice

October 2008
San Jose, CA 
Session Goals
* Provide an overview of the grant program

* Outline expectations of grantees

* Explain technical assistance

Where We Have Been
History of Grant Program
Strengths and Needs Assessment
Restructuring Effort
History of Grant Program
* Authorized by VAWA 2000

* Awarded in 2002 and 2004

* Recognized need for improvement 

* Used 2005 to examine strengths and needs

* Enlisted Vera Institute of Justice 

Assessment Goals
* To understand the needs of survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors

* To understand the experiences and needs of grant recipients charged with improving services

* To solicit ideas for what improvements OVW could make to the grant program  
Assessment Findings
* Not resulting in sustainable change

* Lack of collaboration

* Lack of intentionality

* Insufficient support
Restructuring Effort
* Created a new approach and a new support system.

* Internal restructuring
* Program Requirements 
* Call for Concept Papers
* Review Process
* Cooperative Agreements



The goal is to create sustainable, systemic change that will result in effective services for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors. 
2008 Grant Program
Overview
Approach to Change
Types of Collaborations
Scope and Focus 
Important Considerations
Technical Assistance
Overview
Approach       Systems Change
* Build a collaboration of key organizations.

* Improve resource sharing and service delivery among the organizations.

* Improve the budgets, policies, practices, and knowledge-base of each individual agency.
Approach cont’d…
Approach cont’d…
* Systems change results in long-term, meaningful changes in the way services are delivered. 

* The changes and enhanced services are NOT dependent on “special” funding or individual champions of the cause.

* The changes are integrated into the fabric of systems and organizations. 
Discussion Questions
Types of Collaborations
1. Multi-Jurisdictional Collaborations
* Comprised of state-level organizations.

* Responsible for fostering change in:
* their own organizations
* select organizations within 2 -3 communities across the state. 

* Collaboration members develop their capacity to foster systems change.

* Members of the collaboration are technical assistance providers to local communities.

2. Local Collaborations
* Comprised of local organizations that provide direct services. 

* Responsible for changing organization and system responses in their community.

* Organizations in the collaboration that provide direct services are the site of change.

* Members of the collaboration are change agents.
3. Hybrid Collaborations


Focus of Your Work
Scope of Your Work
Discussion Questions
Important Considerations for
Changing Partner Organizations
Narrowing Your Focus
Narrowing Your Focus
Important Considerations
* Flexibility and Openness

* Organizational Commitment and Buy-In

* Work Process and Structure

* Timeline

* Budget

Technical Assistance
Purpose & Goals
Methods
Process

Purpose & Goals
* Ensure your work is consistent with the goals, approach, and requirements of the Disability grant program.

* Provide you with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to implement the grant.

* Prevent common problems from occurring in your work.

* Quickly solve any problems or challenges that do occur.

* Share lessons learned.  
Methods
* Site-specific assistance
* Phone/email consultation
* Product development and review
* In-person visits with your collaboration 

* Cross-site assistance
* Semi-annual all-site meetings
* Semi-annual project director meetings
* Conference calls
What to Expect
* Pro-active interactions

* Frequent communication

* Intensive guidance and support

* Iterative feedback process
Other Grantees Experiences with Technical Assistance
TA Next Steps
Moving Forward
Commit
Assess
Act
Commit to…
* Working closely with OVW and Vera
* Working in collaboration with one another
* Following and being open to the process
* Actively engaging in planning activities
* Fostering systems change
* Actively changing your agency
* Participating fully in all aspects of grant
Assess…
Act…