Sponsor: Public Health
Title
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Amendment to the Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Sexual Assault Services
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Recommendation
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1. Approve an amendment to the grant agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, Crime Victim Services for sexual assault services for the period upon execution through September 30, 2025, in the amount of $347,314.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the amendment.
3. Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to the grant agreement in the form approved by the County Attorney’s Office.
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Background and Rationale
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Public Health’s Sexual Offense Services (SOS) program receives annual state and federal grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs to provide 24/7 crisis advocacy, ongoing individual advocacy, counseling and support, community awareness, information, and education. In addition, the SOS program provides follow-up services to victims and secondary victims (those who are impacted by sexual violence such as family and friends of victims). Follow-up services are provided only when a client provides SOS permission. Follow-up may include information about medical and legal needs as well as a general check-in within the first week of the client contacting SOS. This grant supports clients served by Public Health’s SOS program for these services.
SOS services have been provided in Ramsey County since 1976. SOS answers approximately 8,000 service calls for approximately 1,100 victims of sexual violence, annually. The services provided are in accordance with and by defined terms of the Minnesota Department of Safety Office of Justice Programs. These services include crisis intervention, emotional support, financial resources and support for emergency services, transportation and compensation claims, information and referrals regarding social/human resources services, medical advocacy, criminal and civil advocacy, and safety services.
SOS has engaged in multiple outreach activities with a diverse array of disciplines including multiple private and public schools, Public Health, Ramsey County Social Services, shelters for people experiencing homelessness, libraries, the National Guard, clinics, and other community-based programs. Since 2019, in partnership with the RCAO, local law enforcement and medical providers, SOS has been providing training to every new and/or current patrol officer in Ramsey County form all nine law enforcement agencies and to all new Emergency Communication Center staff. This continues to occur on a bimonthly basis. SOS is also a standing member of the Ramsey County Children’s Multidisciplinary Team and the Ramsey County Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Team with input in cases where there is a risk of sexual violence and exploitation. Additionally, SOS supported the Minnesota Department of Human Services in developing statewide training for nursing homes and elderly care facilities in identifying signs of sexual violence, mitigating risks, and supporting survivors.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☐ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Public Health recognizes that sexual violence is supported by all forms of oppression. To address this, the goals, objectives, and outcomes of SOS’s practices, structure, and funding requests are centered on serving residents who are more likely to be marginalized in society: people of color, women, LGBTQ+, low-income individuals, prisoners, the disabled, senior citizens. The funding of this grant supports 3.5 Full-Time Equivalent positions that provide direct crisis services to victims/survivors of sexual violence. When race and ethnicity is known, the majority of primary victim survivors served by SOS (53%) are non-White. Racially and ethnically diverse communities experience sexual violence at higher rates than White populations as reflected in the National Crime Victimization Survey and data collected by SOS. The disproportionate rate of sexual violence in racially and ethnically diverse communities is compounded by existing racial health disparities such as higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease. These health disparities are highest in immigrant and refugee populations in Minnesota, many of whom live in Ramsey County.
The SOS program recognizes the value of a culturally responsive approach and wants to assist victims/survivors with a foundation of support. One of the ways is to always offer victim/survivor referrals to community culturally specific partner programs, including but not limited to: Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio, ThinkSelf, MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Hmong American Partnership, Saint Paul Intervention Project, Tubman Family Alliance, and University of Minnesota Community University Health Care Center.
SOS is determined to make sexual violence advocacy services accessible to victims/survivors with limited English proficiency as well as deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Three of the eight staff speak and write fluently in another language (Hmong, Spanish, Arabic) and several more volunteer advocates speak additional languages including Somali, Swahili, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Portuguese, and more. All employees and volunteers are trained on and access the Language Line as a tool to provide 24/7 translation services in over 240 languages.
Community Participation Level and Impact
SOS informs clients about and offers referrals to community culturally specific partner programs listed above. SOS has led and supported various community outreach events and campaigns including Start by Believing, an annual SOS Walk to Honor Survivors, and Sexual Violence Action Program with Saint Paul Public Schools. Additional methods of outreach and community involvement include an online evaluation of services for clients, and an ASKSOS email for community members and partners to connect with SOS staff easily. When fiscally able, SOS provides focus groups to seek input from both victims and survivors but also community partners. SOS is currently partnered with the RCAO to provide focus groups with survivors of sexual violence who identify as BIPOC women who have/have not engaged in the legal process to conduct qualitative data analysis. The results of this analysis will assist the Ramsey County criminal justice system toward meaningful transformative change focused on our racially and ethnically diverse community. SOS has one staff member dedicated to outreach to provide awareness and education regarding sexual violence and SOS services. Outreach efforts include weekly, in-person at the Saint Paul Opportunity Center, Saint Paul College and Macalester College. Additionally, the Sexual Assault Protocol Team is a partnership with over 90 people participating from over 30 agencies.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☒ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Public Health has been receiving this grant funding in an amount of $347,374 per federal fiscal year since October 2016. The 2024-year grant was $347,314. The amendment amount is $347,314. The total budget for the 2024-2025 grant year is $694,628.
Last Previous Action
On November 14, 2023, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved a grant award from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for Sexual Assault Services (Resolution B2023-197).
Attachments
1. Amendment to the Grant Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety