Summary Data Sheet Agency Name and Type Criminal Justice Coordinating Council State Government Agency Nonprofit, Nongovernmental Victim Services Program Collaborative Georgia Commission on Family Violence Sunshine House Greene County Family Violence Program Women In Need of God's Shelter (W.I.N.G.S) Hart Council on Domestic Violence Application Status New Application Project Type Multi-jurisdictional State Type (Rural/Non-rural) Non-Rural Regional Areas of Implementation, Population and Square Mileage Greene County: Pop. 14,406; 388 sq. miles Morgan County: Pop. 15,457; 350 sq. miles Putnam County: Pop. 18,812; 345 sq. miles Baldwin County: Pop. 44,700; 258 sq. miles Hancock County: Pop. 10,076; 473 sq. miles Jasper County: Pop. 1,426; 370 sq. miles Dodge County: Pop. 19,171; 500 square miles Telfair County: Pop. 11,794; 441 sq. miles Bleckley County: Pop. 11,666; 217 sq. miles Wilcox County: Pop. 8,577; 380 sq. miles Wilkinson County: Pop. 10,220; 447 sq. miles Toombs County: Pop. 26,067; 367 sq. miles Montgomery County: Pop. 8,270; 245 sq. miles Wheeler County: Pop. 6,179; 298 sq. miles Treutlen County: Pop. 6,854; 201 sq. miles Appling County: Pop. 17,419; 509 sq. miles Tattnall County: Pop. 22,305; 484 sq. miles Statutory Rural Program Purpose Areas The Rural Program will support all Three Program Purpose Areas as listed in FY 2002 RDVCV Grant Solicitation.. Rural Program Priority Areas The Rural Program will support the following Priority Areas: 1. Establish or Enhance Safe Shelter and emergency services for Rural Victims 2. Establish or enhance Advocacy Services for Rural Victims 3. Create Public Awareness 4. Address the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Child Victimization 5. Assist Victims of Diverse Rural Communities 6. Develop a Coordinated Community Response 7. Improve the Institutional Response Page 1 Abstract The VAWA Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization (RDVCV) Planning Grant was awarded to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in 2000. With this grant, the Council conducted an assessment of rural areas necessitating resources for battered women and abused children. Four rural sites were provided funding to either establish or expand domestic violence and child victimization services. Mentoring agencies assisted these areas with such activities as program development, community development, and fundraising. Additionally, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Abuse Investigative Support Center (CAISC) was funded to provide expert assistance to state and local personnel actively involved in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. RDVCV funds have provided critical assistance to rural areas necessitating improved services for battered women and children. However, meeting the needs of these victims continues to be a challenge for the State of Georgia. The purpose of this application is to seek funds to enhance and continue support of three sites1 (Toombs, Dodge, and Greene Counties) initially identified in the RDVCV Planning Grant as well as and the Child Abuse Investigation Support Center. 1 Note: Due to its success, the Hart County Project (originally funded under the FY 2000 RDVCV Grant Program) will be funded with Violence Against Women Grant Funds. The project will continue to collaborate with the Council's RDVCV Initiative. Page 2 A. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CURRENT PROJECT The Georgia Rural Domestic Violence Child Victimization Enforcement (RDVCV) Project was established to meet the needs of battered women and children in isolated areas of the State. Since its establishment in 1999, the project has made a profound impact on service availability and has challenged conventional attitudes concerning the issues of domestic violence and child abuse. The first component of the project, Georgia Child Abuse Investigative Support Center (CAISC), has provided critical expert medical and scientific support to state and local agencies. The program's benchmarks have manifested in the form of trainings, case consultations, investigative strategy development, referrals, expert testimony, and investigative assistance and expertise from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Child Abuse Specialists and Crime Scene Specialists. The establishment of satellite offices in four rural counties for the purpose of providing services to battered women and children represents the second component of the Georgia RDVCV project. Though the sites still face developmental challenges, each operation has positively affected the community as well as the State. Evaluation efforts indicate that crisis calls have increased as well as the number of victims served. One site, for example, reported that crisis calls have nearly tripled and face-to-face services have more than doubled since the procurement of the RDVCV Grant. Page 3 B. STATUS OF THE CURRENT PROJECT The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council established clear goals for the RDVCV Grant. The following information reports the status of each: Goal #1: Develop and implement policies, protocols, and services designed to promote the early identification, intervention, and prevention of domestic violence and child victimization. CAISC Support personnel from CAISC have traveled throughout the State for the purpose of providing child abuse related training to law enforcement agencies, social service agencies, coroners and medical examiners' office staff, prosecutors, child advocacy centers, emergency medical service providers, and clinical professionals. Since implementation, CAISC has conducted a total of nineteen trainings throughout the entire State to over 500 attendees. These trainings promote the identification and assist in the implementation of policies and procedures, which address child abuse. Evaluation results for the trainings remain positive. Satellite Services The domestic violence/child victimization satellite offices have also conducted trainings. The projects have established advisory councils, domestic violence task forces, and protocols with law enforcement agencies and hospitals. Services through DFCS and other social service agencies have been cultivated. The Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV), with funding from the RDVCV Grant, provided a dedicated track for rural project participants at its Annual Domestic Violence Conference which addressed the steps of developing policies, protocols, and services regarding domestic violence and child abuse in rural areas. Goal #2: Increase victims' safety and access to services, such as shelter, counseling and advocacy. CAISC CAISC provided critical services in victim safety by conducting forensic consultations and criminal investigative analyses with law enforcement and the DFCS Child Protective Services caseworkers to assist them in ongoing investigations regarding accidental or intentional abuse. CAISC also tracked the number of child autopsies which the Forensic Pathologist completes and informed the GBI Child Abuse Specialists of any child homicides. Satellite Services The satellite offices have hired outreach advocates who are charged with the responsibility of providing services and referrals to battered women and children. Specific activities among individual offices included either the provision of safe, confidential, emergency shelter (staffed 24-hours a day, 365 days per year) and/or domestic violence hotlines, food, medical supplies, personal care items, clothing, Page 4 and shelter at local hotels for victims who could not leave their communities. Additionally, comprehensive case management and personal and legal advocacy services were offered. Assistance was given in obtaining protective orders, filing victims compensation, and court accompaniment. Goal #3: Enhance the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence and child abuse cases. CAISC The aforementioned training CAISC conducted was ultimately aimed at enhancing the investigation and prosecution of cases. Part of the program's purpose was to provide consultations, concerning whether injuries occurred accidentally or intentionally, to any requesting law enforcement agency and DFCS. CAISC maintained forensic pathologists/medical examiners, a supervisory special agent, and a program coordinator to assist with this effort. Satellite Services The satellite offices have conducted trainings for law enforcement officers and prosecutors regarding the issues of domestic violence and child abuse to increase awareness as well as the number of cases investigated and prosecuted. Goal #4: Develop and implement innovative, comprehensive strategies and create a community collaborative to prevent such violence. The previously mentioned advisory councils, domestic violence taskforces and strong collaboration with hospitals, social service agencies, and community leaders represent activities undertaken to accomplish the above stated goal. Additionally, fund raisers, resource fairs, and media coverage were other services the satellite offices engaged in to facilitate collaboration. Unanticipated Obstacles The satellite offices reported barriers in locating possible candidates with appropriate skills for job positions from within the communities. Additionally, the offices reported concerns regarding the quality of technical assistance received from the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV). Three out of four expressed a clear need for improved technical assistance. This has led the Council to partner with the Georgia Commission on Family Violence (GCFV) in FY2002 as opposed to continuing a joint relationship concerning the RDVCV grant with the GCADV. Page 5 C. NEED FOR THE PROJECT In rural areas of Georgia, there is a need for a formalized support function to aid physicians, law enforcement investigators, and social workers in handling child abuse cases. The majority of physicians who are experienced in child abuse evaluation are concentrated in large, urban hospitals and medical centers, leaving vast rural areas unserved by this expertise. When physicians in outlying areas attend to child abuse victims, there is generally no mechanism to refer any but the most critically injured to the larger urban children's hospitals. In addition, social, judicial, and law enforcement agencies tend to lack experienced staff needed to specialize in and develop functions specifically supporting the medical and scientific evaluation of child abuse cases. Compounding problems, it is projected that in Rural Georgia 71,407 women will experience physical assault from an intimate partner annually, and 357,035 women will experience physical assault from an intimate partner over the course of their life times. Through the VAWA RDVCV Planning Grant, the Council worked closely with the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence in targeting rural areas necessitating resources for battered women and abused children. The following needs were identified as a result of the planning grant: There are several rural areas of the State in which no services are available for victims of domestic violence and child victimization There are several rural areas of the State where services are scattered and providers are ill trained for dealing with victims of domestic violence and child victimization There are few resources to establish services, even if there is interest to do so The community and criminal justice system necessitate critical training regarding the issues of domestic violence and child victimization Page 6 D. WHAT WILL BE DONE Georgia Child Abuse Investigation Support Center (CAISC) Funds are being requested for the continued support of the CAISC. The purpose of CAISC is to provide expert medical and scientific support to state and local agencies and other personnel who are actively involved in the investigation of child abuse cases. CAISC's overall goal is to act as a single point of contact for investigative and prosecutorial personnel in need of specialized assistance. This goal will be realized through the following: Increased public awareness of CAISC services Improved identification and diagnosis of child abuse and neglect Extended accessibility of expert child injury interpretation and evaluation Continued training in rural areas of the state Since its inception, CAISC has trained law enforcement officers, caseworkers, and coroners regarding investigations of child abuse and child fatality. The CAISC has conducted forensic consultations and criminal investigative analyses with law enforcement and social service caseworkers in identifying abuse. CAISC also tracks autopsies on children and advises GBI Child Abuse Specialists of child homicides. Additional funding through the RDVCV Grant Program will assist with two areas. The first, Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program, will enhance the current project through the development of forensic pathology expertise in child fatality and childhood injury interpretation. Such expertise is vital to child abuse investigations and prosecutions. The fellowship program will be the only one of its kind in the United Page 7 States. The second area, which is active to date, will facilitate the continuation of the provision of direct support to child abuse investigative and prosecutorial personnel. CAISC will be staffed with one physician who is enrolled in the Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program, a program manager, and three sworn Special Agents. The Forensic Pathology fellow will train under the staff of the GBI Medical Examiner and will work child fatality and injury cases for the CAISC. The program manager will schedule cases for the Forensic Pathologists, coordinate the training courses to be provided to state and local investigators/prosecutors, collect information for case reviews/consultations, and act as liaison to the Department of Family and Children Services and the Governor's Office of Child Advocacy. The primary responsibilities of the Special Agents will be to provide continued support of the prevention, detection, and investigation of child abuse cases by local law enforcement, DFCS, prosecutors, and the Child Advocacy Office. CAISC will utilize and support the following agencies: Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS)-DFCS will identify, collect information and refer cases of child abuse to the CAISC. The CAISC will support DFCS by providing the liaison to child abuse investigators and the Forensic Pathologist. DFCS will utilize these functions whenever there is a question concerning possible child abuse. The center will provide training on the services available and will work closely with each DFCS office. County Sheriff's Office and Local Police Departments-Local child abuse investigators will identify, collect information and refer cases of child abuse to the CAISC. These investigations will utilize the CAISC as a resource for investigating and determining cases of child abuse. CAISC will support the case should it be referred for prosecution Office of the District Attorney and other local prosecutorial entities-Prosecutors will utilize the cases developed with the assistance of the CAISC. The CAISC Pathologist will provide expert testimony during the trial phase Page 8 Office of the Child Advocate-This office represents a new function within the Governor's Office Satellite Services to Address Domestic Violence and Child Victimization in Rural Georgia In addition to CAISC, funding is being requested for the continued support of domestic violence and child victimization services in the rural Georgia counties identified as a result of the RDVCV Planning Grant. The Council has partnered with the Georgia Commission on Family Violence (Commission) to continue the cultivation or support of services for victims of domestic violence and child victimization in Toombs, Dodge, and Greene Counties. The following objectives will guide the progress for this initiative: Task Forces-Child advocacy task forces will be initiated in Greene County. All domestic violence and child victimization task forces will meet at least twice per year. These task forces will review the handling of domestic violence cases and identify potential gaps in services. Underserved groups such as immigrant women, women with disabilities, and women of color will be represented. Task forces will include advocates from the aforementioned counties, law enforcement officers, child protection workers, prosecutors, etc. Continued Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence and Child Victimization-The Commission will provide continued comprehensive training for criminal justice professionals and advocates for child and adult victims. The proposed training will address and provide tools for maintaining victim safety, while managing offender behavior through the power of criminal justice systems and child protective services. A statewide domestic violence conference with the Commission was held in August 2001. All participants of task forces attended. In addition, the four satellite offices were asked to send a core group of individuals committed to supporting services for victims of domestic violence and child victimization in their communities. Mentoring agencies will work with the Commission and will continue to guide satellite offices in such activities and program and community development, technical assistance, and funding (Refer to Memorandum of Understanding) Continued Development of Referral Mechanisms- The Commission will continue to work closely with the domestic and child victimization agencies serving the targeted areas to strengthen referral mechanisms for emergency shelter and other services and to develop written procedures for such referrals. As victims begin to come forward, effective procedures for screening and referral into emergency shelter will Page 9 become even more important. Issues to be address will include shelter eligibility requirements, cultural needs, transportation, and security concerns. Recruitment of Volunteers-The Commission and mentoring agencies will assist the sites in recruiting and training at least three volunteers in each county to provide victim advocacy service such as injunction assistance, hospital outreach or support groups in the targeted counties. Community Rural Organizers-The Commission will hire two full time Community Rural Organizers to work with the four mentor agencies and to provide daily supervision and assistance to the focus counties. In addition to these positions, each county will be asked to appoint one local Rural Organizer. This person will act as a liaison between the agencies in that county and the Community Rural Organizer. The reasons for these positions, is that each rural area is unique and operates differently. For example, the agencies in rural areas of South Georgia tend to operate under long distances and a lower population, while agencies in rural areas of Northern Georgia must operate in mountainous areas with a higher population. Community Awareness-The Commission will assist the mentoring agencies and satellite offices in continuing public awareness concerning the issues of domestic violence and child victimization and ensuring that at least one article about the issues is printed in the local paper. The following time line will be used to accomplish the objectives during the grant period: Tasks Child Victimization Analysis Community Development Hire Organizers Orientation in Atlanta Meet with Community Leaders Initiate at least one meeting with DV/CV Council in each Target area Rural DV/CV Training Institute Establish offices and Work Sites Select Victim Service Projects Recruit and Train Volunteers Initiate Services Continue Services and Community Outreach, Assist in Applying for Additional Funds Month March March March April April April May June-July August Sept. Sept-Dec. through March 2004 Specific responsibilities of the mentoring agencies and child advocacy centers have been provided within the Memorandum of Understanding. These responsibilities may vary and are dependent upon each individual geographic area. Page 10 E. WHO WILL IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (Council) The Council, which is the State Administrative Agency for the Violence Against Women Act and Victims of Crime Act grant programs, will implement the project. The Council will coordinate with many other agencies and entities. They include: The Georgia Commission on Family Violence The Georgia Bureau of Investigation The Administrative Office of the Courts Four Mentoring Agencies Greene County Family Violence Program The Sunshine House The Circle of Hope The Hart Council on Domestic Violence Women in Need of God's Shelter Rural Planning Committee Local Task Forces, Medical Personnel, Educational Institutions, Faith Organizations, and Businesses CAISC CAISC will partner with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services, law enforcement agencies, judicial agencies, and the Governor's Office of the Child Advocate. Section "D" of this application provides further information regarding this issue. Georgia Commission on Family Violence (Commission) The Commission and the four mentor agencies (refer to Memorandum of Understanding) will work closely together to ensure that the satellite offices are able to accomplish all objectives. The Commission, in conjunction with each center, will continue to help with advertising and hiring organizers as needed. Other collaborative relationships will exist between the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Rural Page 11 Health Initiative, Family Connections, Local Judicial Domestic Violence Task Forces, Georgia Legal Services, United Way and other social service providers. F. THE PRODUCTS Products will include a detailed review of project accomplishments, comparison of before and after data, and Semi-Annual and Annual progress reports. The Georgia Commission on Family Violence will develop a step-by-step guide for establishing a rural project and will establish a dedicated track at its annual conference concerning domestic violence and child victimization. The Commission will also establish a listserve of child abuse and domestic violence shelters provides as resource to the sites. Newsletters will update those involved and keep the sites abreast of events and accomplishments. G. HOW SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED CAISC The CAISC will track statistics concerning the following: Number of forensic consultations provided Number of criminal investigative analyses furnished Number of cases of assistance rendered by CAISC to requesting agencies Number of cases referred to GBI Child Abuse Specialists and/or Crime Scene Specialists Number of child fatalities in relation to homicides and other suspected abuse situations. SATELLITE SERVICES Each of the rural organizers will prepare a report by the end of the grant period that will include an evaluation of their progress and recommendations for continued service development in the targeted areas. The Commission's Rural Caucus as well as Council staff will review these reports, and in conjunction with the committee, determine Page 12 if the organizers have accomplished the objectives. The committee will review the final evaluations and make recommendations regarding the future direction of the rural initiative. All counties will be required to collect data that will be determined at the time of the grant award but will include those data elements suggested by the Violence Against Women Grants Office as well as the number of 911 calls, arrests, dual arrests, prosecution, dismissal rates, conviction rates, and domestic homicides. All mentor agencies and target counties will be able to add data elements specific to their area and interest. In conjunction with another evaluation effort by the Council, crime statistics for the focus areas will be compared on a before and after basis utilizing county and region specific UCR data provided by the Georgia Crime Information Center. H. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN Satellite Services in Rural Georgia Once a satellite office becomes fully established, it will be possible for the organization to apply for funding through the Violence Against Women Act Grant Program. The site must also seek local support from county agencies and local businesses. Additional funding can be obtained through the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grants, and the State's collection of criminal fines for victim services. CAISC After documenting program success, CAISC may petition the Georgia General Assembly for state funding. Additionally, the organization could apply for funds through the federal Edward Memorial Drug Control and System Improvement Grant Program. Page 13 I. RELATED FEDERAL PROJECTS Funding outside of the VAWA Formula Grant Program and the VAWA Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Planning Grant is administered by other State agencies or is directly allocated to local agencies. The VAWA Civil Legal Assistance Grant Program was awarded to Atlanta Legal Aid in the amount of $266,024 in October of 2000 for an 18 month period. Specifically, the Atlanta Legal Aid Project will establish and expand legal services to victims of domestic violence in the MetroAtlanta area. The Council is continuing to work with Atlanta Legal Aid and the Georgia Commission on Family Violence to coordinate this and other related projects. The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Program from the Department of Justice is administered by our agency. The award amount for 2000 was $10,702,000. For the past four grant years the Council combined the VOCA/VAWA application and award process to ensure the most efficient use of federal dollars. The VOCA Program, for direct victim services only, is used to fund all victim of crime related projects (e.g. prosecution-based victim witness assistance programs and elder abuse services). Those that specifically address violence against women and have a component such as training or coalition building which ineligible under VOCA are funded under VAWA. The Council has found that this enables Georgia to fund the majority of those projects that apply. Two related programs are funded out of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The first is the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from Title XIX, Part A, Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant, Public Health and Human Services Act. The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Page 14 through their Women's Health Division administers this program. The purpose of this funding is to provide services to victims of sex offenses and for prevention of sex offenses. Education programs also are eligible for this funding. Currently, it provides funding to rape crisis centers in the State for direct services and or prevention. The total amount of funding allocated to rape crisis centers for the Year 2001 was $1,202,000. The second type of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding is entitled the Family Violence Prevention Grant Program. It, too, is administered by the Georgia Department of Human Resources. This program provides funding to domestic violence shelters throughout Georgia to support services to victims of domestic violence. DHR contracts with 43 certified nonprofit agencies. Services include 24-hour emergency shelter and crisis lines, legal advocacy, counseling, children's programs, referral, and prevention programs. New programs in underserved areas are given special emphasis. The amount of funding for FY 2001 was $2,186,574. For both programs within DHR, the Council holds periodic planning meetings in which the program directors attend. Page 15 BUDGET A. Personnel Name/Position CAISC Project Physician A Physician Who Has Completed a Pathology Residency for the Fellowship Program Computation Annual Salary=$35,000 50% Time X 24 Months Salary Cost $35,000 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Financial Analyst A Financial Analyst will process reimbursement to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Mentoring Agencies for expenses incurred as a result of project implementation Satellite Services Outreach Advocates These positions will be provided at each of the three satellite offices Total 5% Time X $39,030 (Annual Salary) X 24 Months 100% Time X $24,200 (Annual Salary) X 24 Months X 3 Satellite Offices $3,904 $145,200 $184,104 B. Fringe Benefits Name/Position CAISC Project Physician Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Financial Analyst Satellite Services Outreach Advocates Total Computation 36.15% Fringe Benefit Rate X (50% of $35,000 Annual Salary) X 24 Months 36.15% Fringe Benefit Rate X $1,952 (5% of $39,030 Annual Salary) X 24 Months 36.15% Fringe Benefit Rate X $24,200 (100% of $24,200 Annual Salary) X 24 Months X 3 Sites Cost $12,652.50 $1,411 $52,490 $66,553.50 C. Travel and Trainings Purpose of Travel Location CAISC Project Per Diem and Mileage for On Site Training Seminars and Conferences Conducted and/or Attended by CAISC Members State and National Trainings Satellite Services Project To enable the Rural Coordinator to attend the CJCC Annual Victims Conference and Nine Site Visits to Mentoring Agencies and Satellite Offices Note: Application requirements under the 2001 Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program (See Attached-Pg. 18) state that $20,000 must be allocated for local projects for the purpose of attending OJP designated technical assistance trainings. CJCC Annual Victims Conference Nine Site Visits Airfare, Hotel Costs, and Per Diem for RDVCV Project Members to attend OJP designated technical assistance trainings in Duluth, Minnesota Item Cost Meals $672 $28/Day X 24 Trips X 1 person Mileage .28 per mile X 75,000 miles $21,000 Hotel $85/Day X 1 Person X 42 Days Meals $28 X 1 Person X 3 Days $3,570 $84 Mileage .28 X 1750 $490 Airfare $252 X 6 Trips X 4 People $6,048 Hotel $120 X 4 People X 6 Trips X 3 Days $8,640 Per Diem $46 X 4 People X 3 $3,312 Days X 6 Trips Total $43,816 D. Equipment and Supplies Item CAISC Project Computer Equipment, Office Supplies, Telecommunications Charges Satellite Services Project Office Supplies Postage Total Computation $22,000 $192 per Month X 24 Months X 3 Satellite Offices $955 for 24 Months Cost $22,000 $13,824 $955 $36,779 E. Consultants/Contracts Name of Consultant Satellite Services Project Rural Consultant Service Provided Technical Assistance for Mentoring Agencies, Satellite Offices and Community Organizers Total Computation Annual Salary=$37,000 100% Time X 24 Month Salary Cost $74,000 $74,000 F. Other Costs ITEM Satellite Services Three Satellite Offices Total SERVICE Project Implementation Costs for domestic violence and child victimization services $30,283 X 3 Sites COST $90,849 $90,849 Budget Category A. Personnel B. Fringe Benefits C. Travel and Trainings D. Equipment and Supplies E. Consultants/Contracts F. Other Costs Total Direct Costs I. Indirect Costs Total Project Cost Federal Request $184,104 $66,553.50 $43,816 $36,779 $74,000 $90,849 $496,101.50 $0 $496,101.50 $496,101.50 Amount