$8.6 million in grants available for local groups to provide services to crime victims in Michigan

Local organizations can apply for $8.6 million in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants to provide services to crime victims, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Wednesday.

The MDHHS Crime Victim Services Commission is holding its second request for proposal for VOCA Targeted Victim Services funding this year and will award three- to five-year U.S. Department of
Justice grants of $50,000 or more. The department will accept applications on Wednesday, July 20 through 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016.

In an effort to meet the needs of victims across the state, the federal funding will be divided among the state’s ten prosperity regions and targeted toward organizations that serve four victim categories including domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and underserved victims. 

The funding will be distributed in accordance with Prosperity Regions. Kent County, part of the West Michigan Propsperity Region, will be eligible for funding in three victim catagories: in the Domestic Violence category there will be $518,777 available; in Adult Sexual Assault, $612,217; for Child Abuse victims, $252,595; and for Underserved, $481,834.

Other prosperity regions have different formulas in different categories, ranging from $0 to $1,928,559.  More information is available about the dollar amounts being distributed in different Prosperity Regions at https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/MIDHHS/2016/07/13/file_attachments/585201/VOCA%2BGrants%2BPress%2BRelease.pdf

The purpose of the funding is to expand and enhance services to victims of crime, such as responding to the immediate needs of crime victims, reducing psychological consequences of victimization and helping restore victims’ sense of dignity and self-esteem.

Applicant agencies must be public or non-profit organizations – including faith-based  and tribes – that provide direct services to crime victims. Eligible organizations could include, but are not limited to, sexual assault treatment centers, domestic violence programs, child abuse programs, children’s advocacy centers; other community organizations, including those that serve survivors of homicide victims, drunken driving or elder abuse; American Indian tribal victims or other underserved.

For more information or to apply, visit the MI E-Grants website and click the “About EGrAM” link on the left panel to access the Crime Victims Agreement training manual.

If you have questions, please email MDHHS-CVSC-VOCA-GRANTS@michigan.gov by July 29.

Visit www.michigan.gov/crimevictims for information about crime victim services.

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