DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Cure Violence Grant
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the acceptance of an invitation only grant award in the amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division for exploration, training, and a personnel compliment to support the Cure Violence Project beginning March 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2016.
In addition, this Ordinance authorizes the Chief of Police or the Director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (SAMHD) to initiate, negotiate and execute any and all necessary documents and grant contracts to effectuate the application and the acceptance of funds for the above referenced grant, and to execute any contract amendments pertaining to this grant in the following circumstances: a) line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; b) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contract so long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the grant's intention; c) changes in state or federal regulations mandated by the funding agency; and d) carry-over funds, when ascertained and approved by the funding agency through a revised notice of award.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) submitted an application to the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, for the Cure Violence Project (Program), in collaboration with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. An initial award amount of $977,372.00 was approved for initial exploration, training, and hiring personnel compliment. The submission of the application was authorized with a Special Category Grant Opportunity Authorization with final approval given on February 27, 2014.
Cure Violence, formerly known as CeaseFire, approaches violence as a disease that can be stopped using the same science-based strategies used to fight infectious diseases. By employing an evidence-based public health approach to violence prevention, Cure Violence trains carefully selected members of the community, trusted insiders, to anticipate where violence may occur and to intervene before it occurs. This model engages the entire community to change behavior and recognize that violence is unacceptable and that there are other solutions to resolving conflict.
SAMHD program staff will engage individuals at risk of involvement in a shooting or killing in order to prevent such violence from occurring. To do so, outreach workers must become familiar with their assigned neighborhoods and are trained to intervene with high risk individuals. Since those most at risk are less likely to seek assistance from Police, outreach workers meet and work with those they assist in non-traditional settings such as parks and street corners during non-traditional hours when local data indicate violence is most likely to occur.
The goal of this program is to engage the entire community to change behavior and recognize alternatives to violence and through conflict resolution.
The grant will be used to fund program staff for SAMHD to administer the grant. Proposed grant funded positions will include the following: one (1) Senior Management Analyst hired as the Project Coordinator; one (1) Administrative Assistant; one (1) Lead Outreach Worker; four (4) Outreach Workers; and ten (10) Violence Interrupters. Temporary Staffing Services will be used to hire the Admin Assistant, Outreach Workers, and Violence Interrupters. Other fund uses will include Contractual and Professional Services, Travel and Training, Equipment and Supplies for Direct Operating Expenses.
An estimated $12,000.00 of grant funds will also be used for SAPD off-duty Detectives located in non-target areas to provide support while preventing interference with Cure Violence operations. The Cure Violence model has clearly established that police presence can lead to distrust of workers and suspicions that they are acting as agents of the police.
ISSUE:
The proposed ordinance continues City Council's policy of seeking intergovernmental financial assistance for City crime prevention and enforcement programs addressing violent crime and gang activity. The program from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division (CJD) will enhance the City's efforts in combating and reducing violent crime in San Antonio.
Outreach workers will be challenged to build trust with high risk individuals in order to influence their behavior and to redirect them to positive pursuits including jobs, job training, and returning to school.
ALTERNATIVES:
Current fiscal restrictions limit the City in employing an evidenced-based public health approach program for violence prevention. City Council can choose not to accept the grant award not to exceed $2,000,000.00. However, Cure Violence trains carefully selected members of the community, trusted insiders, to anticipate where violence may occur and intervene before it does. This program will not be supported in the event authorization is not granted.
FISCAL IMPACT:
SAPD is requesting authorization to accept an invitation only initial grant award not to exceed $2,000,000.00 from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division to support the Cure Violence Project beginning March 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2016.
This grant does not require a cash match and there is no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of an ordinance authorization to accept an invitation only initial grant award in the amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 from the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division.