Community Violence Solutions

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, THROUGH ITS OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (THE LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICANT) AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS (THE VICTIM SERVICES APPLICANT), IS APPLYING FOR CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE OVC ENHANCED COLLABORATIVE MODEL TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.  THE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (DA) AND THE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS PROPOSE TO PARTNER TO UTILIZE OVC FUNDING, UNDER PURPOSE AREA 2, TO 1) CONDUCT A GAP ASSESSMENT AND REFINE EXISTING TASK FORCE PROTOCOLS TO REFLECT GROWTH AND EXPANSION; 2) STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AMONG FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, PROSECUTION, NONGOVERNMENTAL, LABOR, AND REGULATORY AGENCIES AND SYSTEM- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS; 3) RETAIN A FULL-TIME COORDINATOR TO MANAGE THE HTTF; 4) IDENTIFY AND CONDUCT A RANGE OF PROACTIVE APPROACHES FOR VICTIM IDENTIFICATION AND PROSECUTIONS; 5) PROVIDE AND ARRAY OF VICTIM SERVICES TO SURVIVORS OF SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS FOR SAFETY, SECURITY AND HEALING; 6) DELIVER TARGETED TRAINING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS MATERIALS ABOUT SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING; AND, AS REQUESTED BY OVC 7) PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT TO NEWER TASK FORCES. NAME OF TASK FORCE:  CONTRA COSTA HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE GEOGRAPHIC AREA:  CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICANT: OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA, CA FUNDING REQUEST FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICANT:  $750,000 VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER APPLICANT:  COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS FUNDING REQUEST FOR VICTIM SERVICES APPLICANT: $750,000 HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY DA CONDUCTED HT INVESTIGATIONS THE PAST THREE YEARS AS FOLLOWS—20 IN 2019, 50 IN 2020, AND 38 IN 2021.  THE DA CONDUCTED HT PROSECUTIONS THE PAST THREE YEARS AS FOLLOWS—15 IN 2019, 14 IN 2020 AND 13 IN 2021. TRAFFICKING VICTIMS SERVED: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, THROUGH ITS PARTNER VICTIM SERVICES PROVIDERS, SERVED HT VICTIMS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AS FOLLOWS:  70 IN 2019 (VICTIM SERVICES WERE APPROVED SEVERAL MONTHS INTO THE YEAR); 177 IN 2020, 115 IN 2021. PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: THIS APPLICATION MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF PRIORITY 1(A).

COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER FOR CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA PROPOSES AN EXPANSION OF THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMS. TOGETHER WITH ITS PARTNER, CONTRA COSTA HEALTH SERVICES, CVS WILL WORK TO: 1) INCREASE THE NUMBER AND AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WHO ARE SANE-CERTIFIED FROM THE CURRENT TWO PROFESSIONALS TO SEVEN; 2) PROVIDE TIMELY, HIGH QUALITY, VICTIM-CENTERED, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED MEDICAL FORENSIC EXAMS AND FULL MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS ON SITE IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, AS CONTRASTED WITH THE CURRENT NEED TO REFER MANY CASES OUT OF COUNTY; 3) EXPAND ACCESS TO TRAINING AND CLINICAL EDUCATION FOR SANES BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR AND LINKING FIVE CANDIDATES TO THE REQUIRED TRAINING FOR CERTIFICATIONS, WHILE ALSO BUILDING IN-HOUSE CAPACITY TO PROVIDE THESE TRAININGS IN THE FUTURE; 4) IMPROVE ACCESS TO POST-ASSAULT CARE, BY INCORPORATING CVS VICTIM ADVOCATES FROM THE MOMENT OF INTAKE TO ENSURE VICTIMS ARE CARED FOR NOT JUST DURING THE EXAMINATION, BUT THAT THEY ARE PROVIDED CASE MANAGEMENT AND LINKED TO OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; AND 5) SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE BY REVIEWING AND REVISING EXISTING SART AND MDT PROTOCOLS AND REINVIGORATING COOPERATION AMONG ALL THE SART AND MDT PARTNERS.

THE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (DA) AND THE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS  EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR GIRLS WHO ARE AT RISK OF, OR ARE VICTIMS OF, SEX TRAFFICKING. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO: 1) SCALE UP EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTION PROGRAMMING FOR GIRLS ACROSS CCC AND THE BAY AREA; AND 2) INCREASE EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO GIRLS WHO ARE AT RISK OR, OR ARE VICTIMS OF, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OR SEX TRAFFICKING. CVS WILL UNDERTAKE THE FOLLOWING SEVEN ACTIVITIES TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT GAPS IN PREVENTING GIRLS’ TRAFFICKING AND IDENTIFYING AND SERVING GIRLS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING OR AS RISK OF BEING TRAFFICKED. ACTIVITIES WILL BE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR/GEARED TO GIRLS BY THEIR AGE GROUPS (10-14, 15-18 AND 19-24), AND WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT MAY BE PRESENTED FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL GIRLS, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES, LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS, THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, MOTHERS, AND IMMIGRANTS. CVS WILL DIRECTLY PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING: IDENTIFICATION, CSE-IT ASSESSMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, THERAPY, PREVENTION WORKSHOPS, AND MENTORSHIP/ LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING. CVS WILL TAP INTO ITS NETWORK OF DOZENS OF CCC PARTNERS THAT SPECIALIZE IN VARIOUS VICTIM SERVICES (LEGAL, EMPLOYMENT/EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTHCARE ETC.) ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS THROUGH REFERRAL FROM CASE MANAGERS OR CRISIS INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS TO ENSURE THE IDENTIFIED GIRLS HAVE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES.