Email April 3, 2023

The Kansas Governor’s Grants Program has received inquiries on where to find non-English speaking statistics for specific service areas. Attached is a document containing data from the 2021 census by county which gives both a numerical estimate and percentage estimate of the non-English speaking populations, including a breakdown of those languages.  The information will assist in developing a meaningful access policy based on the data from the community. Census LEP Data by County (2021)

We hope this information is helpful.  If you have any questions, please email Connie Tilton, [email protected].

Juliene Maska
KGGP Administrator

Email, August 22, 2022

Good evening Everyone,

The National Domestic Hotline is excited to share training and information on collaborative efforts, through the Survivor Health Connection Project, to connect survivors to a local health care provider regardless of their ability to pay.   The Survivor Health Connection Project (SHCP) is supported through a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services partners, including the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Family and Youth Services Bureau; Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC); and HRSA Office of Women’s Health. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline), funded through FYSB’s Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services (FVPSA Program), serves as the technical lead. HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving health care to people who are geographically isolated, economically and/or medically vulnerable. FVPSA is the primary federal funding stream ensuring domestic violence shelter and supportive services are available for survivors and their children, including provision of training and technical assistance to the advocates and programs who serve them.

The Hotline is a vital service whose mission is to answer the call to support and shift power back to those affected by relationship abuse — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Through SHCP, The Hotline collaborated with the FVPSA Program and BPHC to train HRSA-funded Community Health Center (CHC) staff on how to safely assess and refer patients to needed services, including The Hotline and local providers. The Hotline trained its entire advocate staff on the unique services provided by CHCs and on the Find a Health Center tool. By equipping Hotline advocates with training and information on the CHC’s scope and services, they can support survivor connections to a local health care provider, regardless of their ability to pay. These bi-directional referrals are particularly important for those who contact The Hotline and local providers presenting an increased need for medical assistance related to the abuse (e.g., strangulation, traumatic brain injury) or reporting other critical health needs such as being pregnant or postpartum.

We hope you find this training useful for integrating referrals to health centers and utilizing the Find a Health Center tool.

Recording: https://youtu.be/nSyv-c3E-cs

Sala Fuchs, Chief Operations Officer
National Domestic Violence Hotline

Email message, June 23, 2022

Good morning,

I want to provide you an update on the 2023 FVPSA grant awards.  As of today, we still have not received the final federal FVPSA  grant award for Kansas.  Until we receive the federal grant award amount and determine the agency’s award amount, you are unable to complete the 2023 FVPSA budget for your agency.  Please know the FVPSA application due date continues to be extended indefinitely.  As soon as we know the Kansas allocation, we will notify you on the agency’s grant allocation amount and due date for the application.

Juliene Maska
KGGP Administrator

Email message, June 2, 2022

Good afternoon,

We have received inquiries about the status of the VOCA match for the upcoming 2023 awards.   As of today, the national COVID public health emergency remains in effect.  As a result, the language from the July 22, 2021, federal legislation referred to as the VOCA Fix will apply until “one year after the date of the end of such national emergency.”  Therefore, in planning for the 2023 VOCA grant cycle (October 1, 2022-September 30, 2023), agencies should anticipate the match waiver will be offered for all 2023 VOCA subgrant awards issued.  Should any new guidance come from the Office for Victims of Crime, the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program will provide updated information to you.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.  

Juliene Maska
KGGP Administrator

Email message, April 11, 2022

Good afternoon,

Governor Laura Kelly has proclaimed the week of April 24 - 30, 2022, as Kansas Crime Victims’ Rights Week.  We are pleased to provide you a copy of the proclamation.   Below, are materials from the Federal Office for Victims of Crime to help organizations recognize this important week.  On behalf of the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program staff, we thank you and your staff for all you do on behalf of crime victims and survivors.  

Juliene Maska
KGGP Administrator

Email message, December 21, 2021

Good afternoon,

Your help is needed in getting the word out about the Kansas Emergency Rental Assistance (KERA) program. Since the CDC eviction moratorium was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, evictions for nonpayment of rent have returned in full force. You and your staff can help tenants remain in their homes, and help landlords get compensated, by letting people know about the KERA program.

Here is what KERA can cover:

• Up to 15 months of current and past due household rent.
• Up to three months of prospective household rent at a time, even if the household does not have rental arrears.
• Past due residential utility or home energy expenses for tenants (electric, as, water, sewer, and trash services), even if the household does not have rental arrears.
• Past due or prospective internet expenses for tenants, paid in one lump sum of $750, provided the tenant household is also eligible to receive assistance for past-due rental or utility bills.
• Additional fees associated with past-due rent or utility bills may be covered, including: reasonable late fees, rental security deposits, application or screening fees, pet fees, utility fees, parking fees, garage fees, and/or legal fees.

With this latest round of funding, the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) can now accept signed, self-attestations from tenants. However, Tenants will need to provide documentation that they are a renter and proof of their identity.

Attached are the KHRC's KERA program guidelines, program FAQs, the income limits by county, tenant flyer, and landlord flyer. Please pass these out to your contacts, clients, community partners, at your workplaces, and at courthouses (with permission). You can also find these documents, and others, on the KHRC website at https://kshousingcorp.org/emergency-rental-assistance/.

Thank you for your assistance. 

Juliene Maska
KGGP Administrator

Email message, September 16, 2021

Good morning VOCA Subgrantees,

On August 23, 2021, you received an email regarding the new federal legislation regarding the VOCA “Fix.”   As a reminder, the new legislation waives the VOCA match requirement during the pandemic,

“Beginning on the date [March 2020] a national emergency is declared under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to a pandemic and ending on the date that is one year after the date of the end of such national emergency, each chief executive shall issue waivers for any matching requirement, in its entirety, for all eligible crime victim assistance programs contracted to provide services at that time.’’

Match information should not be reported or included on the August and September Financial Status Report (FSR).  Those of you that reported a match on the August FSR, due September 10^th, will need to revise the report and resubmit it showing no match to report.  You will  also report no match for the September 2021 FSR due by October 10^th.

Currently, we are processing the 2022 VOCA applications.  If the agency is awarded 2022 VOCA funds, there will not be a match requirement during the grant award year, October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022. 

There have been numerous questions regarding the Kansas Academy for Victim Assistance (KAVA).  The 2022 grant assurances will include language to clarify both submitting a KAVA application and attending KAVA when selected for a class are required for VOCA staff. 

Do not hesitate to reach out to the agency’s Analyst if you have further questions.  Thank you for your continued services to crime victims and survivors. 

Best regards,
Juliene

Email message, August 26, 2021

Good afternoon,

This email message is to follow up the Governor’s recent announcement that many state employees will transition to remote work due to the continued spread of the Delta variant.

The Kansas Governor’s Grants Program (KGGP) staff will start full-time remote work Monday, August 30, 2021.  There should not be any interruption to services provided by the KGGP staff. The KGGP staff is committed to providing timely responses when assisting subgrantees and ensuring the flow of grant funds is not disrupted. 

We encourage you and your staff to follow the state and federal health recommendations in addressing COVID-19 and the Delta variant.  The KGGP staff appreciates all the services you and your staff continue to provide during this pandemic. 

Please stay safe and healthy.

Juliene Maska 
KGGP Administrator

Email message, August 23, 2021

VOCA Subgrantees,

On July 21, 2021, you received an email from me regarding the federal VOCA “Fix” legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President.  Since the passage of this important law, KGGP staff have been reviewing it and meeting with the Federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to determine the interpretation of the new legislation and how states are to proceed with the changes.  At this time, OVC has not provided final written guidance on these changes. 

The legislation changes the match requirement during a national emergency and for a year after the emergency ends. The federal legislation states:

“Beginning on the date a national emergency is declared under the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to a pandemic and ending on the date that is one year after the date of the end of such national emergency, each chief executive shall issue waivers for any matching requirement, in its entirety, for all eligible crime victim assistance programs contracted to provide services at that time.’’

What does this mean for the 2021 VOCA grant awards regarding match reporting requirements?  Match information does not need to be reported or included on the August and September FSRs.  The subgrantee will not be penalized for not meeting the match percentage stated in the grant assurances. 

Please know as further information is provided from OVC, subgrantees will be sent updated guidance.  Do not hesitate to reach out to the agency’s Analyst if you have further questions. 

Thank you, and the KGGP staff appreciates the services provided for victims and survivors during this pandemic. 

Juliene Maska 
KGGP Administrator


Email message, July 21, 2021

Good morning,

Today is a good day to celebrate the passing of the VOCA Fix Act.  Below is a message from the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) regarding the passing of the bill in the Senate yesterday.  Thank you all who contacted the Kansas Congressional delegation and telling your stories on how important VOCA funding is in providing services to crime victims and survivors.  I encourage you to thank your representatives and senators.  Juliene

Email message from NCJA:

“After two years of work, coalition building, and running through the gauntlet of legislative procedure, I am thrilled to report that the VOCA Fix Act passed the Senate a few minutes ago by a whopping 100-0. This was after defeating an amendment by Senator Toomey by a vote of 60-40 that would have tied the hands of appropriators and caused the bill to go back to the House, wasting valuable time. The bill passed the House in March by a similarly bipartisan vote of 384-38 so can now go to President Biden for signature.

This bill gives us a chance to stabilize the balance in the Crime Victims Fund by directing the proceeds from federal non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements into the Fund. It will also increase the percentage that state victim compensation programs may be reimbursed from 60 percent to 75 percent; make permanent a no-cost extension for all VOCA grantees; give states the ability to waive the local match for VOCA assistance grants for the duration of the pandemic; provide additional flexibility for programs to provide support for victims even if they do not interact with law enforcement prior to providing assistance; and provide that restitution recoveries by state compensation programs no longer will need to be deducted from their state payouts for purposes of calculating VOCA grants.

For anyone able, it would be great if you could email or tweet your thanks to your senators. Congress is all about “what have you done for me lately.”  They rarely are thanked for the good bills they pass. The advocacy groups will be thanking their senators. Would be lovely for SAAs and VOCA administrators to do so too.”

Elizabeth Pyke

Director of Government Affairs
National Criminal Justice Association

Email message, June 8, 2021

Good morning,

On behalf of the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program (KGGP) staff, we hope you and your staff are doing well and able to enjoy the summertime weather.  As I mentioned in a previous email, KGGP Analysts will be reaching out to Subgrantees on a bi-monthly basis to ask how things are progressing with the agency’s grant award. The bi-monthly outreach efforts provides an opportunity to discuss any relevant issues, concerns, or questions regarding the grant award. You will receive an email starting July 1, 2021, asking if you have anything you would like to discuss and if a meeting is needed, either by phone, email, or virtually.   However, if there isn’t anything you need, you do not need to respond. 

Please know we are here to continue to help the agency do well with the grant funding.  Anything we can provide to help in this process, please contact us at any time. 

Juliene Maska 
KGGP Administrator

 Email message, April 9, 2021

Hello FVPSA State Administrators,

Please see and share the message below with local DV service providers, your networks and partners, to support survivors and their children being able to stay in their homes.

Best,

Kenya

The HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) homelessness team would like to share the following message with you from our partners in HHS’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs on resources for eviction prevention for renters:

We are writing to you to share information about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction protection declaration.  CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed a declaration determining that the evictions of tenants could be detrimental to public health control measures to slow the spread of SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  The temporary halt in residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 order can be found here.

Please view the below link to a new video produced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that outlines steps for eviction prevention for renters.  We are hopeful that you will share this excellent consumer resource with residents in your state and your human service networks.  We urge you to encourage colleagues in your human service network to post the link on their respective websites.  We would also be grateful if you considered posting the link on your agency’s website:   

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/mortgage-and-housing-assistance/renter-protections/cdc-eviction-protections/.

You may be interested in viewing the CFPB report, “Housing Insecurity and the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which can be found here.

Kenya M. Fairley, M.S.Ed.
Supervisory Program Specialist
Division of Family Violence Prevention and Services
Family and Youth Services Bureau
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Email: [email protected]
Voice: 202-690-6898