Sexual Assault Response Teams Program Supplemental

The Sexual Assault Response Teams Program Supplemental is administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services through its Victim Services Branch. This funding opportunity is designed to support rape crisis centers that are already subrecipients of Cal OES funding, with the goal of strengthening coordinated, multidisciplinary responses to sexual assault. The program aligns with California statutory requirements that emphasize victim-centered care and mandates collaboration between law enforcement, hospitals, and victim advocacy organizations. Through this initiative, Cal OES seeks to enhance public safety, improve victim outcomes, and ensure that survivors receive consistent, trauma-informed services throughout the criminal justice process. The primary purpose of the program is to support and expand Sexual Assault Response Teams, which are formal coalitions of professionals including victim advocates, law enforcement officers, forensic medical examiners, prosecutors, and other community partners. These teams are responsible for developing and implementing coordinated protocols that prioritize survivor needs while holding offenders accountable. Funding is specifically intended to ensure the presence of trained sexual assault counselors during medical evidentiary examinations and to strengthen collaboration between agencies involved in responding to sexual assault cases. Allowable uses of funds include personnel costs, particularly the requirement to fund at least one full-time equivalent Sexual Assault Counselor who serves as the lead SART Advocate. This individual is responsible for coordinating team activities, improving service delivery, and guiding victims through the justice process. Additional allowable activities include training for SART members, development of formal interagency protocols, and direct service provision such as crisis intervention, follow-up care, accompaniment, and advocacy. The program emphasizes continuity of care, requiring advocates to maintain ongoing contact with survivors and support them across multiple systems. The funding structure includes support from both federal and state sources. The Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program requires a match equal to twenty percent of total project costs, although applicants may request a waiver. Supplemental state general funds do not require a match. Funding availability is contingent on appropriations, and successful applicants may be eligible for non-competitive continuation funding for up to four additional years, subject to performance and funding availability. Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already funded as rape crisis program subrecipients by Cal OES and that meet specific administrative and compliance requirements. These include maintaining good standing with federal and state regulatory bodies, possessing a Unique Entity Identifier through the federal System for Award Management, and meeting nonprofit registration requirements where applicable. Applicants must also provide proof of authority from their governing body authorizing participation in the grant. Applications must be submitted through the Grants Central System, and organizations must complete registration prior to submission. The proposal includes responses to programmatic narrative questions that are scored based on clarity, completeness, and alignment with program goals. Proposals are evaluated by a review panel, and only those achieving at least fifty percent of available points are considered for funding. Final decisions are made by the Cal OES Director, taking into account scoring, geographic distribution, and prior performance. The program includes detailed reporting and compliance requirements, including quarterly data collection and submission of multiple progress reports. Subrecipients must also complete federal reporting through the Office for Victims of Crime system. Training requirements include participation in Cal OES webinars and annual training related to victim compensation assistance. The performance period includes defined reporting milestones, with final reporting extending into early 2028. Notification of funding decisions is provided electronically, and selected applicants must complete additional steps to finalize grant agreements before incurring reimbursable expenses.

Cheng.Saechao@caloes.ca.gov