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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BOARD OF STATE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,174 FOR THE CALIFORNIA VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION (CALVIP) MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FRONT LINE WORKERS GRANT FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2023, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025, AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF GRANT AGREEMENT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to accept grant funding from the State of California Board of State Community Corrections California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant; and
2. Authorize all required appropriations and expenditures in compliance with and for the purposes stated in the project agreement over a two year period; and
3. The grant funds received hereunder shall not be used to supplant expenditures controlled by this body; and
4. The City Manager, or designee, is authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the City of Stockton all required contracts or agreements with the granting agency, provide additional information and furnish such documents as may be required, execute all documents and amendments or extensions pertaining to the grant project; and
5. The City Manager, or designee, is hereby authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the resolution.
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Summary
In April 2023, the City of Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) applied to the State of California’s Board of State Community Corrections (BSCC) CalVIP Grant Program (Attachment A). On October 9, 2023, the City of Stockton OVP was notified by the BSCC that the application was approved for $9,174 for two years.
The Ceasefire model is a well-known public health approach to reducing gun violence that has been effective in various cities across the United States (National Institute of Justice, 2014). In Stockton, the Ceasefire strategy has successfully reduced gang and gun violence. Stockton’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) supports this strategy by offering positive alternatives to individuals at the highest risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of gun and gang violence. The OVP strategies are carried out by community violence interrupters (CVls), or what the Stockton OVP calls Peacekeepers. The Peacekeepers are susceptible to vicarious trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues due to their exposure to gun violence and work with families impacted by violence.
The Office of Violence Prevention proposes to build on the success of the Ceasefire model by providing Mental Health Services to staff, which includes an 8-week mindful-based stress reduction training with mindful leaders and one one-on-one coaching. This project is aligned with the City of Stockton's Ceasefire model, a proven public health approach to reducing gun violence. By providing advanced mindfulness training to Peacekeepers, we aim to enhance effectiveness, promote wellness, and contribute to building a more peaceful and resilient Stockton. The grant period runs from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.
DISCUSSION
Background
The California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Program was established through the Budget Act of 2019 (Assembly Bill 74, Chapter 23, Statutes of 2019) and appropriated $136,000,000 in funding for competitive awards to cities and community-based organizations to support evidence-based violence reduction initiatives.
On October 11, 2019, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1603 (Chapter 735, Statutes of 2019) - also known as the Break the Cycle of Violence Act - which adds Section 14130 to the California Penal Code, codifying the establishment of the CalVIP Grant and the authority and duties of BSCC in administering the program, including selection criteria for grants and reporting requirements to the Legislature.
The Break the Cycle of Violence Act specifies that the purpose of CalVIP is to “improve public health and safety by supporting effective violence reduction initiatives in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence, particularly group-member-involved homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults.” CalVIP Grants shall be used to support, expand, and replicate evidence-based violence reduction initiatives, including but not limited to hospital-based violence intervention programs, evidence-based street outreach programs, and focused deterrence strategies.
These initiatives seek to interrupt cycles of violence and retaliation to reduce the incidence of homicides, shootings, and aggravated assaults. Further, these initiatives are primarily focused on providing violence intervention services to the small segment of the population that is identified as having the highest risk of perpetrating or being victimized by violence in the near future.
In consideration of the OVP’s current programs and activities, we propose to enhance these efforts to accomplish the goal of increased resilience scores and mindfulness awareness, improved ability to manage emotions, stay focused, and communicate skillfully in high-pressure situations. Additionally, we believe the skills and tools learned in the program can be shared with family members, creating a ripple effect of positive impact in the broader community.
Present Situation
On October 9, 2023, the City of Stockton OVP was notified by the BSCC that the application was approved in the amount of $9,174 for two years. This CalVIP grant period is legislatively designated for July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
This funding from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) CalVIP program, specifically to support frontline workers, is to provide mindful-based stress reduction training to OVP staff, improving the outcomes of clients and their family members with trauma-informed practices. The OVP chose the MBSR program offered by Mindful Leader because it is the most extensively tested evidence-based mindfulness program available. The Mindful-based Stress Reduction Training (MBSR) training will provide tools that can help staff manage trauma, stress, and anxiety, improve resilience, and reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD (Kearney et al., 2013). Additionally, developing self-awareness and emotional regulation can lead to healthier coping mechanisms and better interpersonal relationships.
The objective of this grant project is to provide an eight-week online MBSR led by certified instructors to the City’s OVP staff. The San Joaquin Community Data Co-op will be evaluating the effectiveness of the mindfulness training program by utilizing pre-and post-training assessments, including the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Resilience Scale Questionnaire. The program's impact on the work of violence interrupters will also be evaluated through qualitative data gathering, including interviews and focus groups with program participants.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The grant award is $9,174. There are no impacts to the general fund or any unrestricted funds.
To account for the grant funds, the following appropriation in FY 2023-24 is necessary:
• Revenue appropriation of $9,174 to the FY 2023-24 CalVIP Grant in the OVP’s Special Grants fund, Reimbursements, Office of Violence Prevention Division.
• Expenditure appropriation of $9,174 to the FY 2023-24 CalVIP Grant in the OVP’s Special Grants fund, Reimbursements, Office of Violence Prevention Division.
Attachment A - CalVIP July 2023 Application