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Council green-lights $1 million BJA grant application to support Volunteers of America diversion work
Summary
Belfast authorized the city manager to sign and submit a $1,000,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance grant application on behalf of Volunteers of America to fund diversion, treatment and community liaison positions; the motion passed and staff submitted before the evening deadline.
The Belfast City Council voted July 8 to authorize submission of a $1,000,000 application to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) comprehensive opioid, stimulant and substance use site-based program and to authorize the city manager to sign the application on behalf of the city and a proposed subrecipient, Volunteers of America.
Economic Development Director Thomas said the city was approached by Volunteers of America to submit the application and explained the program’s purpose: “to develop, implement, or expand comprehensive programs in response to the overdose crisis and the impacts of illicit opioids, stimulants, or other substances,” including prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services. Thomas told council the city is eligible as a unit of local government and that the Volunteers of America would serve as the subrecipient.
Volunteers of America Diversion/Deflection Program Manager Tia Pullen described the organization’s model and the staffing the grant would support. “I currently oversee four community liaisons … Our CLOs meet with [clients], do some assessments, figure out their target areas…and then we target them with referrals to agencies in the community,” Pullen said, adding that the organization is licensed to provide substance use disorder treatment in locations that include Belfast and Rockland.
Thomas said there is no local match requirement for this BJA program and that nearly $130 million will be awarded in the cycle across about 24 awards; the local application deadline was 8:59 p.m. the same day. Councilor Mary moved to authorize the application and delegate signature authority to the city manager; the council indicated support and proceeded before the deadline.
The motion passed with no recorded opposition. If awarded, Volunteers of America would be a subrecipient and would use funds to add licensed substance use disorder counselors and to support diversion/deflection liaison services in the area. Council did not take public comment opposing or amending the request during this item; staff and the applicant said a grant writer engaged by Volunteers of America prepared the submission.
