ORDINANCE approving and authorizing the submission of an application for and acceptance of Funds through THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OF THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR THE FY21 PREVENT AND RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING AGAINST CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM GRANT(“Grant”); declaring the City’s eligibility for such Grant; authorizing the Police Chief of the City of Houston Police Department to act as the City’s representative in the application process, to apply for, accept, and expend the Grant Funds if awarded and to apply for, accept, and expend all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the Grant and to extend the budget period

The Chief of Police for the Houston Police Department (HPD) recommends that City Council approve an ordinance authorizing the application for and acceptance of grant funds through the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) for the FY21 Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Against Children and Youth Program Grant. The grant period becomes effective October 1, 2021, and ends on September 30, 2024. OVW will provide $500,000.00 in grant funding. City matching funds or in-kind contribution is not required.

The purpose of the FY21 Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Against Children and Youth Program is to support comprehensive, community-based efforts to develop or expand prevention, intervention, treatment, and response strategies to address the needs of children and youth impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Through this new award for a community-based project, HPD will: 1) expand an existing coordinated community-response team to oversee and guide project activities; 2) complete a community needs assessment and develop a strategic plan that outlines the implementation phase of the project; 3) provide direct services that address the emotional, cognitive, and physical effects of trauma on youth and young adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking; 4) develop and deliver training to law enforcement and community partners on how to appropriately respond to and support youth and young adult victims; and 5) develop and deliver educational programs that address the prevention of and response to the crimes previously listed for the high-risk youth.

The Houston Police Department also requests City Council to authorize the Chief of Police or his designee to act as the City’s representative in the application process with the authority to apply for, accept and expend the grant funds as awarded, and apply for, accept and expend all subsequent awards, if any, to extend the budget period, and to authorize the Mayor to execute all related agreements with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant not to exceed five years.

Fiscal Note:

No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.

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Troy Finner

Chief of Police

$500,000.00

Federal Grant Fund

Fund 5000

Rhonda Smith, Deputy Director/CFO (713) 308-1708

Sonja D. Odat, HPD City Council Liaison (713) 308-1728