Planning for Sustainability

Getting presenters and Advisory Group members who work on VOCA and VAWA grants to participate early in the process also plants the seed for talks with fund administrators concerning the future use of VOCA and VAWA dollars to help sustain costs. The goals of each section of the academy and the mixed nature of the audience might easily meet the training goals of many of these grants. Because the VS2000 Grant was administered by the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, which also administers the state's VOCA and VAWA grants, planning for sustainability began early. VOCA and VAWA training dollars, some state general funds, and some applicable Byrne funding were used to pay for the project. The development coordinator position was changed into a full-time training director position at the Center for Crime Victim Services. Additional responsibilities were added to this position for statewide training planning and coordination, and the cost of the position was not included in the budget that reflects VVAA operating costs. The training director asked project administrators, who were supportive of the work of the VVAA but hesitant to share their training dollars, to commit their trainers' time. Small participant fees can help to ensure that participants show up while still keeping it within the budgetary reach of very small programs.




Contents               


Building a State Victim Assistance Academy—Vermont's Experience
April 2008