In the second of a two-part series of meetings designed to assist STOP Administrators with their STOP implementation planning and other points along the grant cycle, ALSO’s STAAR Project convened “From Required to Inspired: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential through Grant Administration,” in Chicago on November 15-16, 2016. The meeting, which was attended by STOP Administrators from 13 states (Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia, was designed as a working meeting during which participants would have an opportunity to:

• Hear information about STOP Formula Grant requirements;
• Engage in small group critical thinking exercises about topics and issues related to STOP Grant planning and implementation; and
• Share ideas, strategies, and concerns, and receive feedback from peers.

The meeting began with an overview of STOP requirements and recommendations for implementation planning. As part of this session, STOP Administrators received information about the draft STOP regulations and their impact on planning processes, what it means to “consult and coordinate” with entities in the state, who should be invited to participate as part of the planning committee vs. the full consultation, and required/recommended contents of a state STOP implementation plan. This portion of the meeting included a discussion about finding and analyzing relevant and complete data that illustrate the needs and context of violence against women. This can be a major challenge: many states lack the infrastructure and requirements that allow institutions to collect the kinds of comprehensive data that can help to illuminate core issues and system gaps. Furthermore, data collected by law enforcement, courts, and victim services only reflects those who report to those entities, and are not necessarily representative of those who have not yet sought help through mainstream systems and programs. Other topics addressed during this session included finding ways to include those involved in the planning process in activities throughout the grant cycle - such as by recruiting them to review applications, participate in funding recommendation meetings, and provide feedback and updates about emerging issues and practices.

For the majority of the meeting, participants broke into small groups and engaged in facilitated discussions of case scenarios on topics that they had indicated were of interest to them. The scenarios and critical discussions covered topics including implementation planning, data and the request for proposals process, and grant monitoring. Each small group reported on their conclusions and any identified issues, and sought feedback from the full group.

Participants engaged in action planning at the end of day two, and reported on the areas that they would plan to do differently based on discussions during the meeting.

In their meeting evaluations, 83% of participants reported increased knowledge about grant requirements. When asked how likely they were to not only meet grant requirements, but go beyond the requirements to develop strategies to improve outcomes for survivors, 92% of participants reported that they are more likely to do so after the workshop, and 75% of participants reported that they now feel more prepared to lead efforts within their role. Many participants gained in-depth knowledge about the resources available to them to aid in the implementation of the STOP program, and enjoyed the networking, peer interaction, and discussion format of the meeting.

Before adjourning, participants expressed the desire to create a cohort. Many felt that the group of participants had shared so much during the intensive two-day experience that they wanted to continue to learn from one another. A Google group was created post-meeting for this purpose, which is facilitated by ALSO STAAR Project staff. The group allows for further discussion and conversation among the meeting participants, and serves as a testament to the commitment of its members to continually strengthen the skills and strategies they bring to their work. Perhaps even more important, it illustrates just how valuable connection and relationship-building opportunities like this meeting can be to individual, professional, and collective growth. ALSO strives to create relational, collaborative environments in all aspects of its work.

Written by Mary Malefyt Seighman, JD
Director of Policy and Justice Initiatives
[email protected]

The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program is a grant program administered by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice that focuses on improving criminal and civil legal system responses to violence against women, and strengthening victim services.