The Riviera Beach Police Department has submitted an application for funding to the Office of the Attorney General, Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant to continue the Victim Advocate Program for 2021/2022. The purpose of this Grant is to continue the Department's Crisis Response Services focusing on areas such as homicide, domestic violence, child death incidents, and elderly victimization.
The long-range goal is intended to reduce the number of victims of violent crimes and to develop a network of referral services to assist such victims. The short-term goal is to provide on-site crisis response, crisis intervention, and supportive assistance along with responding officers and investigators.
For the past 15 years, the City of Riviera Beach has applied for, and been awarded funds from, the Office of the Florida Attorney General VOCA Grant for the Victim Advocate Program. The Victim Advocate Program has provided services to over 15,000 citizens.
The VOCA Grant Budget includes $180,575.00 for personnel including two full-time Victim Advocates and two part-time assistants, $60,740.00 for Operating Expenses, and $12,500.00 for Training for all of the approved positions in the Personnel Budget Category.
In previous years, the Grant required a 20% match from the Police Department. This year, in accordance with the VOCA Fix Act, the Florida Chief of Staff has signed a Blanket Match Waiver for all 2021/2022 VOCA subgrantees. With the Blanket Match Waiver in effect, subgrantees will not need to report match on any invoices submitted for the 2021/2022 grant year, and will not need to complete a separate Match Waiver Request.
This is a Reimbursement Grant, which includes funding for personnel (including salary, benefits, leave, etc.), Operating Expenses, and Training. Expenses are reimbursed monthly.
This Grant will augment current services now provided by our Victim Advocate Program.