Grantee Updates & Guidance
We need your input!
The next funding opportunity for Crime Victim Services (CVS) funding will be launched in January 2025. As we plan application trainings to be held in January and February 2025, we need your input. Please complete this brief (1-3 minute) training preferences survey so we can provide the training that will be most helpful for you. Thank you for your time and input!
Important Updates
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Reminder about CY25 Awards: CY25 awards are new awards, not extensions of the CY23-24 awards. This means all expenses for CVS23-24 must be charged in Quarter 8. No CY2024 expenses can be charged to the new CY2025 award.
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FY26 State VALE Funding Update: As a reminder, The CVS Advisory Board voted to extend the FY25 State VALE Grant Awards (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025) through FY26 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026). Please note, there will not be a funding announcement for FY26 as a result of this decision. Future State VALE funding opportunities will be shared as they are announced and released.
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CY25 Grant Agreements are Being Sent via Docusign: CY25 CVS Grant Agreements are being sent, via Docusign, to grantees for signatures over the next several weeks. Please ensure the necessary signatures are obtained as soon as possible.
Resources by Funding Source:
Report Specific Resources:
Victim Services Funding Update
Proposition KK
Colorado voters have officially approved Proposition KK, which will provide essential funding for mental health services for veterans, at-risk youth, and crime victims through a modest excise tax on firearm and ammunition sales. The measure, which was passed with strong support, is expected to raise approximately $39 million annually to address critical gaps in mental health and victim support services across the state.
The funds from Proposition KK can be used for:
- Victim services, including emergency shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy;
- Veterans’ mental health services;
- Youth behavioral health crisis response;
- School safety and gun violence prevention.
Announcements
DCJ is looking to highlight the incredible work you are doing!
The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) is looking to highlight the incredible work you are doing! The information you share may be used on DCJ's LinkedIn, website, or other communication platforms to increase awareness of the invaluable work our grantees are doing.
If you would like to be featured, submit a success story, accomplishment, or an overview of your grant funded project. For questions, reach out to cvsgrants@state.co.us.
Free Gloves and Masks!
The Office for Victims Programs has nitrile disposable gloves and N95 masks available for pick-up at our office in Lakewood (700 Kipling St. Lakewood, CO 80215). To request these supplies and coordinate a pick-up time, fill out this brief supply request form. For questions, email cdps.ovpconnect@state.co.us.
Join the CVS Advisory Board
The Crime Victim Services (CVS) Advisory Board is a 28-member board appointed by the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety. The Board acts in an advisory capacity to the Department and the Division of Criminal Justice in making grant funding recommendations regarding State VALE, SASP, VAWA, and VOCA crime victim assistance projects.
The CVS Advisory Board is seeking applications for the following representatives:
- Tribal Representative from the Ute Mountain Ute
- Tribal Representative from the Southern Ute
- Local VALE Board member
- Sheriff or Sheriff's Representative
Learn more about the board and submit an application on our Crime Victim Services Advisory Board webpage.
Welcome Christa!
OVP is excited to welcome Christa Taylor. Christa will be starting on November 12th as the new Grant Monitor.
A little bit about Christa:
Hello! My name is Christa Taylor and I am excited to join the OVP team as the new Grant Monitor. I’m a 4th generation Denver native. Therefore, I enjoy spending time with friends and family cheering on our Colorado sports teams, and going to see live music as often as I can. In my downtime, I can usually be found relaxing with my cats Larry and Howie, watching true crime documentaries and reality competition shows.
I began my career working in crime victim services in 2007 as Victim Advocate with the
Glendale Police Department. During that time, I received a Master’s degree in Criminal
Justice, with a concentration in Intimate Partner Violence from the University of
Colorado Denver. This led me to the Colorado Organization for Victim Services (COVA)
where I served as the Director of the Victim Services Internship Program, mentoring
and preparing college students for a career in victim advocacy. I have thoroughly
enjoyed getting to work alongside so many dedicated professionals from around the
state, and I look forward to continuing this in my newest role with DCJ.
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Grantee Resources
Learning Opportunities
- The Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault is offering free access to their Restorative & Transformative Practices Primer for Advocates course. This introductory training is designed for advocates who want to learn what restorative and transformative practices and options can bring to survivors of gender-based and sexual violence and their communities.
- The Child Health and Development Institute has launched ScreenTIME which includes a core course as well as specialized courses designed to provide the knowledge necessary to screen children for trauma and connect the family with appropriate resources.
- Applications for the National Victim Assistance Academy's (NVAA) training Building Resiliency in Victim Service Organizations opened on November 4th. This training will address resiliency in victim service providers and organizations.
Additional Funding Opportunities
- The National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (NAVAA), in cooperation with the Office for Victims of Crime, is accepting applications for their 2025 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Community Awareness Projects Funding Opportunity until November 8th. They are seeking public awareness projects that utilize innovative and collaborative approaches to promote awareness of the rights and available services for victims of all types of crimes. The projects would take place during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 6-12, 2025.
Free Tools
DOJ Guidelines for the Prosecution of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault - Principle 1 of 5
Recently the US Department of Justice released their new DOJ Framework for Prosecutors to Strengthen Our National Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Involving Adult Victims. The framework sets out five guiding principles for prosecutors to use that combine decades of prosecutorial experience with a strong focus on trauma-informed, healing-centered practices.
We will be featuring each of the five principles in our newsletter over the next few months. We encourage you to look at the framework in its entirety and learn how your programs and those you serve can support and benefit from these new guidelines.
Principle #1
Principle One: Rely on the Evidentiary Value of the Victim's Account and Use It to Frame the Investigation
In DV/SA cases, the victim's testimony will probably be the most important piece of evidence. It is unlikely the crime had witnesses or much physical evidence. Therefore, it is vitally important to establish the victim's credibility and corroborate their account as much as possible.
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Expect counterintuitive behavior by victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Trauma effects how details are remembered. In fact, a non-linear account may be evidence of trauma, rather than a cause for skepticism. Disclosure may happen over time, as trust increases.
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Corroborate the victim's account and rebut motives to lie. The victim's account is evidence. Look for small details or facts (like cell phone data and work attendance) that can corroborate the testimony. The defense will likely claim the victim is lying, so look for ways to counter that argument by showing a lack of benefit or motivation to fabricate testimony.
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Although the victim's account is the center of the case, focus on the perpetrator's conduct. Try to find evidence the perpetrator targeted the victim because of specific circumstances: power disparities, mental health, substance use issues, disabilities, financial dependency, etc. Focus on efforts to silence, isolate, or discredit the victim. "He said / she said" does not mean a well instructed jury cannot find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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