CalVCB TRC Grant 2023 – 24 NOFA Q&A

Posted on 12/15/2022

Q1: I am wondering if an agency such as a fire department with a mental health outreach unit that provides transport and direct assistance to community members might qualify for the grant referenced above?

A1: Please see Government Code sections 13963.1 and 13963.2 for the Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) program requirements. If your organization can meet the TRC requirements, then it may be eligible for a TRC grant award.

Q2: Is there a cap/maximum for annual funding for each awardee?

A2: No. Applicants are to submit a budget worksheet, and budget narrative, detailing the requested amount for the full two-year grant period. The number of grants awarded by CalVCB will be determined by a variety of factors, including the number of qualified applicants, the amount of funds requested, and the amount of funds available.

Q3: What is the total appropriation of funds available across all grantees?

A3: CalVCB TRC grant awards varies each year and are funded by an annual appropriation of $2,000,000 from the CalVCB Restitution Fund with additional funding from the Safe Neighborhood and Schools Act Fund (SNSF). The SNSF amount will be forecasted in the Governor’s Budget posted in January with possible revisions in May, 2023. The Budget Act of 2022 provided additional funding from the General Fund for this cycle’s grants in the amount of $2,223,825.67.

Q4: The NOFA requires a maximum of three (3) letters from agencies our program is currently working with. It then says “including a Law Enforcement agency and a Community Based Organization” Is it required that one letter come from a law enforcement agency?

A4: The letters of recommendation are optional and should be from current agencies the applicant is working with, including law enforcement agencies and Community Based Organizations (CBOs). It may also include health care providers the applicant works with. Since these are local organizations the TRC will collaborate with and provide required trainings to, applicants may submit one letter from each, if possible. Law enforcement agencies may also include federal, state, or local police, state highway patrol, district attorney’s offices, and special jurisdiction police who have full-service departments offering the same services as police at locations such as parks, schools, transportation assets (e.g., airports, subways), hospitals, housing authorities, and government buildings.

Q5: Given that the Sheriff just changed in LA county, it may impact our ability to procure a letter of support before the 1/17 deadline. Will this impact our application?

A5: The letters of recommendation are optional and account for a total possible score ranging from zero to three points out of a total of 100 points for the entire application.

Q6: This past spring, there was legislation passed stating that the minimum budget for a TRC should be over 1 million dollars per year. Should we use that as guidance for the expected budget for this application? If so, is there a precise number that is the expected minimum?

A6: The Budget Act of 2022 provided funding to bring grant awards up to a minimum of $1.1 million per year for TRCs in existence as of July 1, 2022; however, there is no expressed minimum award moving forward. TRC Applications must include a budget worksheet, and budget narrative, detailing the requested amount for the full two-year grant period.

Q7: Are letters of recommendation required or optional?

A7: Letters of recommendation are optional.

Q8: The NOFA (pg five) states we must provide a maximum of three letters of recommendation from agencies our program is currently working with including law enforcement and a community-based organization. Can you please confirm that this means one letter must come from Law Enforcement, one letter must come from a CBO, and the third letter can come from a partner of our choosing?

A8: Yes, if you choose to submit letters of recommendation, one should be from a law enforcement agency, one should be from a CBO, and you may choose who the third letter is from.

Q9: If we provide letters of recommendation, are we required to have at least one from a law enforcement agency and one from a community-based organization?

A9: Yes, if you choose to submit letters of recommendation, one should be from a law enforcement agency, one should be from a CBO, and you may choose who the third letter is from.

Q10: Instructions for submission say that the application must be submitted in the form of a single PDF, please confirm that this includes converting the Excel budget document into a PDF for purposes of submission?

A10: Yes, please create a PDF of the Microsoft Excel Budget file and add to the single PDF Application File. CalVCB may request an additional copy of the Microsoft Excel file after your initial application is received but it must also be included in the single PDF file to have the application counted as complete.

Q11: How many Trauma Recovery Centers are currently funded by VCB?

A11: CalVCB currently funds 18 TRCs.

Q12: What is the maximum number of Trauma Recovery Center grants that VCB will award this cycle?

A12: The number of grants awarded by CalVCB will be determined by a variety of factors, including the number of qualified applicants, the amount of funds requested, and the amount of funds available.

Q13: How many Trauma Recovery Center grants did VCB award in the last two-year cycle?

A13: CalVCB awarded seven two-year grants during the 2022-23 TRC Notice of Funding Available (NOFA) application cycle.

Q14: What was the average Trauma Recovery Center grant amount awarded in the last 2-year cycle?

A14: The average grant award for the 2022 -23 NOFA Cycle is currently $2,587,974.57 and included additional monies from the state General Fund awarded with Budget Act of 2022.

Q15: In the application scoring rubric (page six C), does the 7-10 point scale “ability to begin providing services within 30 days of receiving the award” require having all staff, including the multidisciplinary team, hired and in place within 30 days of receiving the award?

A15: In order to score 7-10 points on questions 1 – 6, the applicant must provide direct experience and comprehensive examples of qualification and ability to begin providing services within 30 days of receiving award. This includes being fully staffed, including multidisciplinary team, and able to provide all services offered at the TRC.

Q16: What is a time task plan?

A16: A time task plan breaks down your project into manageable steps. This allows the reviewers of the project to see an outline of exactly what you plan to do and when.

Q17: What should be included in a client flow chart? Can you provide a sample client flow chart?

A17: The Client Flow Chart provides a graphical description of TRC service flow. You can see an example in the SFO model using the link below for your reference. http://traumarecoverycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/TRC-Manual.pdf   

Q18: Does the budget narrative have a page limit?

A18: No.