The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has provided RSAT grant planning, technical assistance, and grants management services to criminal justice system organizations to improve public safety since 1996.

Grant Overview: DCJS supports and funds RSAT services to reduce substance use disorders and improve public safety in the Commonwealth. Currently RSAT services are intended to habilitate offenders, with histories of substance use disorders, in jails.

1) " New RSAT Jail Program Grant” requests may be up to $140,000 (RSAT + local match). Due to funding constraints, DCJS limits the number of new program grants for FY 2008 (07.01.2007 to 06.30.2008) to two (2). The local match requirement is a 25% cash match. DCJS will grant funds for one year at time for up to four years, dependent on available federal funds and program monitoring and evaluation outcomes. These new grants must be submitted and in the DCJS Grants Administration Office by no later than May 9, 2007 (4:00 p.m.).

“2) RSAT Jail Enhancement Grant” requests may be up to $24,000 (RSAT + local match). These grants are for existing jail treatment programs that already meet RSAT requirements. These enhancement grants are for one year only and are funded on a first come, first served basis. There is a 25% local cash match requirement.

RSAT Jail Program Requirements (applies to both #1 and #2 above): RSAT subgrant(s) must be used to maintain treatment services for local responsible prisoners. The program must include the provision of individual and group treatment services for inmates in the program design. This intensive RSAT Jail Program must include and meet the following state and federal requirements:

1. Set apart requirement – The jail manager must be able to provide residential treatment facilities set apart from the general correctional population area. “Set apart” means a completely separate facility or a dedicated housing unit, within a facility, exclusively for use by RSAT treatment program participants. The interested jail must be able to provide a facility area that is separate and apart from the general correctional population area or they will not be considered for this type of grant. Group meeting areas and individual counseling areas should be discussed in the program proposal.
2. Time-in-treatment requirement – (Last at least 3 months [90 days], but not more than 12 months) Inmates treated and housed in the RSAT program will need to be incarcerated for six months or more to meet this requirement. Nine months would allow for screening, assessment, evaluation, treatment, and aftercare plan development. Treatment and aftercare planning should occur at least 30 days prior to release. The RSAT program must be designed to provide services for at least 90 days for each participant. It can be longer, but not less, than 90 days.
3. SA treatment requirement - The program design must focus on the substance abuse problems of the inmate and have both a screening and assessment process in place before admitting RSAT participants into the program. The treatment plan should include an attachment listing the details of the program admission criteria and procedures.
4. Skill building requirement - The program design should develop the inmate's cognitive, behavioral, (pro) social, vocational, and other skills to solve the substance abuse related problems.
5. Science-based and effective requirement. The established program must be based on a program model, such as the TC model, that has been proven to be successful elsewhere. Please refer to the National Criminal Justice Reference service for research details and program evaluation information.
6. Program evaluation requirement. This method should measure the number of offenders who are admitted to the program, discharged from the program, and successfully complete the program on a quarterly and annual basis. See federal RSAT performance measures that will be considered when evaluating the RSAT program.

These RSAT grant programs will be monitored by DCJS staff during the grant year to assure that all of these requirements are met by subgrantees. Site visits and/or monitoring activities will occur on an as-needed basis each fiscal year for both new and continuing programs. In order to better understand the federal guidelines you may go to the Bureau of Justice Assistance website below:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/06RSATsol.pdf

Reentry (aftercare): Partnerships are encouraged between RSAT funded programs, local probation, state probation, and Community Service Board agencies to facilitate Reentry. DCJS also offers technical assistance to develop these RSAT programs in the most cost effective manner and to assure that they meet all the RSAT guidelines.

DCJS will give preference to applicants who plan for Reentry services for RSAT program participants. Reentry services should involve coordination between the RSAT project staff and other human service and rehabilitation programs. These Reentry programs may offer such services as: education, job training, parole supervision, halfway housing, self-help groups, and peer support groups (AA, NA, etc.) that may aid in habilitation. Referral information to these services must be documented in each client’s folder. Close coordination with the local Community Services Board programs is critical. For more detailed information you will need to go to the DMHMRSAS website that follows:

http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov/

If you wish to submit an application for funding for the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008, please follow the instructions below.

Applicants requesting funding must submit an original and three (3) copies of the following:

1. The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Grant Application face sheet, completed and signed by the city, county or town manager or state agency head;
2. An itemized project budget for the new grant period with the proper amount of local cash matching funds included (see below), and a budget narrative which explains and justifies the need for all funds requested and states the basis for the amounts requested;
3. A brief (no more than 3 pages) narrative which describes the accomplishments of the project during the current grant period and sets out specific, measurable objectives for the project for the new grant period. Failure to provide specific, measurable objectives will result in your proposal not being recommended for funding. The narrative should also describe any changes in the types of problems the project will address, its implementation or the means by which it will be evaluated from those approved for the current year. The narrative should also discuss any problems encountered by the project during the current grant period.
4. Assurances and Certifications, signed by the city, county or town manager, or in the case of a state agency, by the agency director.

RSAT federal funds may be used for no more than 75% of the cost of the project. The remaining funds must be provided in cash, from non-federal sources. Project budgets must reflect this matching funds requirement accordingly as indicated in the accompanying instructions.

Applications for funding must be received by the Department of Criminal Justice Services, 1100 Bank Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 9, 2007. Applications received after that deadline will not be considered. Faxed copies will not be accepted.

Applications will be reviewed by DCJS staff and a subcommittee of the Criminal Justice Services Board which will consider the proposed program design or enhancement, the stated objectives for the project, and the budget and budget narrative justification. The subcommittee’s recommendations will be presented to the full Board for final approval. If you have any questions, please contact Rudi Schuster at 804.225.3076.

The total amount requested in your application, including required matching funds, may not exceed $140,000 for new programs and $24,000 for enhancements to existing programs.

Forms

RSAT related grant forms with instructions are listed below. Programs may submit application for FY 2008 using these DCJS/RSAT forms and guidelines.

1. Grant Application Face Sheet (.pdf or .rtf, 1 page) - Should be submitted with the original letter of intent. - Instructions (.pdf or .doc, 1 page)
   
   
2. General Grant Conditions & Assurances [Attachment A] (.pdf or .doc, 5 pages) – These include DCJS required conditions.
   
   
3. Certifications Regarding [Attachment B] Lobbying; Debarment; Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (.pdf, 2 pages)
   
   
4. Goals and Objectives will be reviewed prior to proposal submission.  They may be forwarded by email to the RSAT Program Coordinator.
   
   
5. Program Work Plan (.pdf or .doc, 1 page) activities will be reviewed prior to proposal submission. They may be forwarded by email to the Program Coordinator.
   
   
6. Itemized Budget (.pdf, .xls, or .rtf, 2 pages) – These will be done with the initial RSAT grant proposal. - Instructions (.pdf or .doc, 3 pages)
   
   
7. Budget Amendment Request (.pdf or .rtf, 1 page) – These are done during the middle of each fiscal year, but no later than April 30. - Instructions (.htm) This is now to be done on the DCJS GMIS online system.
   
   
8. Quarterly Financial Report (.pdf, .xls, or .rtf, 1 page) - Instructions (.htm) This is now to be done on the DCJS GMIS online system.
   
   
9. Quarterly RSAT Project Level Performance Report (.pdf or .doc, 2 pages) - Instructions (.pdf or .doc, 1 page) – This should be uploaded to GMIS with a email copy sent to the Program Coordinator. – Due Quarterly -
   
   
10. Evaluation Plan Report (.pdf or .doc, 1 page). This is to be done late in the fiscal year for any funded program (not enhancement grants), but no later than June 31, of any fiscal year. Instructions - This should be uploaded to GMIS with a email copy sent to the Program Coordinator. At end of year.
    
    

Contact Information

Rudi Schuster
RSAT Program Coordinator
Correctional Services Section
DCJS, 202 North Ninth St, 10th Floor,
Richmond, VA 23219

Office Phone: 804.225.3076 – Fax 804.786.9656
Email