The goal of the FY 2014 Vision 21: Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth Technical Assistance Project is to provide TTA to improve state responses to child and youth victims, their families, and caregivers. This solicitation is for the Phase 1 planning process, which aims to accomplish the following objectives:
- Assist the demonstration sites in developing a comprehensive network of stakeholders who, through multidisciplinary partnerships, balanced approaches, and data-driven strategies, strengthen participating states’ ability to identify, intervene, and provide effective services to child and youth victims—in a coordinated manner, no matter the system they enter.
- Provide participating states with tools, resources, and innovative assistance to engage multidisciplinary partners to conduct a statewide needs assessment.
- Work with participating states to develop an implementation strategy based on the gap analysis/needs assessment. The strategy must include a systematic method to screen for victimization across systems/entities; establish protocols and procedures to ensure children and families receive appropriate services; outline plans to address service gaps and deliver staff training statewide; and contain plans to sustain these approaches beyond the grant period.
- Develop materials that can assist other states in replication of these efforts (e.g., lessons learned, checklists, sample protocols).
OVC anticipates the grantee will complete the following activities and tasks to meet the objectives:
- Provide diverse subject matter expertise and innovative assistance to state demonstration sites to ensure the project goals and objectives are achieved.
- Provide tools and practical techniques for working across disciplines and systems to facilitate information sharing, communication, and coordination of efforts.
- Work with the sites to engage partners and to develop and conduct a needs assessment/gap analysis.
- Work with the sites to develop an implementation strategy based on the outcomes of the gap analysis/needs assessment.
- Identify and provide training and technical assistance on culturally competent, balanced approaches and data-driven strategies throughout the project.
- Facilitate peer-to-peer consultation and networking among participating states, as well as within a given state, to promote problem solving and innovation through the exchange of information and ideas.
- Identify relevant information and lessons learned throughout the project. Work with OVC to determine how to develop materials to communicate these findings to the larger field.
Technical assistance will also involve ongoing phone and e-mail consultations, webinars, and other distance/online learning technologies. The TTA provider will work in partnership with OVC and the demonstration sites to accomplish the goals, objectives, and activities of the project.
Applicants must clearly demonstrate their knowledge and experience in victim services (including victim compensation), child and youth victimization, child welfare, juvenile justice, law enforcement, mental health, and other key components identified by the applicant. Applicants must:
- Identify a project lead, and other expert consultants to use when needed, to provide ongoing support for the development and implementation of strategic plans that utilize multidisciplinary partnerships, balanced approaches, and data-driven strategies to help the selected states plan, develop, and implement their strategies.
- Provide technical support, in consultation with OVC, to improve the state’s response to youth victimization, including identifying and meeting identified needs; develop and implement policies and practices across systems; and apply evidence-based approaches.
- Work collaboratively with OVC and the selected states to develop meeting agendas, identify faculty and/or consultants, and develop and provide meeting materials.
- Perform all logistics to support training and technical assistance activities and events.
- Develop and deliver issue-based training on topics of interest or concern across or within the participating states in collaboration with OVC.
- Maintain regular communication with OVC and project leads from the participating states on ongoing project issues, developments, and activities.
- Provide OVC with regular updates on progress of participating states’ efforts to plan, develop, and implement their strategies.
OVC will give special consideration to applicants that have experience either conducting or providing TTA to comprehensive, multi-system planning efforts to respond to child and youth issues using multidisciplinary partnerships, balanced approaches, and data-driven strategies, and that demonstrate a desire to expand their efforts to strengthen the response to child and youth victims across systems.