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Clinton County staff: VAWA pass-through agreement will be renewed annually as funding cycles change
Summary
Clinton County staff told commissioners at a Sept. 15 work session that the county will sign the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) pass-through agreement annually after federal and state funding shifted away from the previous three-year cycle.
Clinton County staff told commissioners at a Sept. 15 work session that the county will sign the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) pass-through agreement annually after federal and state funding shifted away from the previous three-year cycle.
The change matters because the pass-through funds pay part of a domestic violence/sexual assault detective's salary and support law-enforcement training on domestic violence and sexual assault, county staff said.
Derek, VAWA program representative, told commissioners the county previously operated under three-year VAWA grants but “given some changes in government and funding, it's not promised at the same level for 3 years anymore. So that's why every year we have to come back and re-sign the pass through agreement.” He said Pennsylvania has helped bridge gaps between VAWA and VOCA funding and that the county’s award for the next calendar year is “funded flat” compared with the current year.
The county’s pass-through arrangement differs from many grants in that this VAWA award runs on a calendar year, staff said. Derek said the pass-through agreement breaks out the uses of the funds and that, if funding increases or decreases in future years, staff will notify the commissioners and adjust grant goals and budget allocations accordingly: “If it went up or down, we would have let you guys know earlier … we would break it out that way.”
A commissioner asked for clarification on the acronym. Derek replied, “VAWA is the Violence Against Women's Act,” and added that program services are available to all survivors: “we serve everyone … not just women.”
No formal action was recorded at the meeting to approve or reject the agreement; staff presented the necessity of an annual signature and said they will return to the commission with adjustments if funding levels change.
The discussion occurred during the work session agenda; commissioners also received the pass-through agreement language and were told the current year's breakdown matches last year's allocations, with county staff covering staffing and training components as described.
Topics discussed related to budgeting and grant administration will be part of future updates if the state or federal funding levels change.
