Loras College_MOU Deptartment of Justic of Violence Against WomenMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with Loras College
DATE: March 18, 2013
Dubuque
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Loras College is applying for a grant through the Department of Justice Office of
Violence Against Women and needs memorandums of understanding with local
partners, including the Dubuque Police Department. The three -year grant would fund
education, training, accountability, and prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence,
dating violence, and stalking on the Loras campus, and provide links to local criminal
justice agencies and pertinent service providers in the community.
The Dubuque Police Department's role, as outlined in the Memorandum of
Understanding, is simply to maintain the current level of service to Loras to include
response to, and investigation of these crimes, as well as provide educational and
statistical resources when requested.
Chief of Police Mark Dalsing recommends City Council approval of the Memorandum of
Understanding with Loras College.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
brit44 krt., italy,
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Mark M. Dalsing, Chief of Police
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Mark M. Dalsing, Chief of Police
DATE: March 15, 2013
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with Loras College
X
INTRODUCTION
This memo will advise of the Dubuque Police Department entering into a memorandum of understanding with Loras College
for their application for an Office of Violence Against Women grant.
BACKGROUND
Dr. Leonard Decker of the Loras College's Criminal Justice Department contacted me and advised the college would be
applying for a grant through the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Violence Against Women (OVVV) and needed
memorandums of understanding (MOU) with local partners including the Dubuque Police Department. The 3 -year grant
would fund education, training, accountability, and prevention of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and
Stalking on the Loras campus and provide links to local criminal justice agencies and pertinent service providers in the
community.
DISCUSSION
The Dubuque Police Department's role as outlined in the MOU is simply to maintain the current level of service to Loras to
include response to, and investigation of these crimes, as well as provide educational and statistical resources when
requested.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the department's limited role as a support agency in the grant and Loras approaching a filing deadline, I signed the
MOU on behalf of the Dubuque Police Department.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
This is an informational memo and no further action is required.
Prepared by:
Mark Dalsing
Memorandum of Understanding — External Community
WHEREAS, Loras College and its appropriate offices and agencies in the community have come
together to collaborate and to make application for the OVW Fiscal Year 2013 Grants to Reduce
Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program; and
WHEREAS, the agencies listed below have agreed to enter into a collaborative agreement in
which Loras College will be the lead agency and named applicant and its designated offices will
be partners in the application; and
WHEREAS, the agencies herein desire to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding setting
forth the services to be provided by the collaborative; and
WHEREAS, the application prepared and approved by the collaborative through its offices is to
be submitted to the Office of Violence Against Women on or before March 28, 2013:
1. Description of Partner Agencies
Riverview Center- Riverview Center is a nonprofit agency committed to providing
compassionate, client- centered care for individuals affected by sexual assault in Iowa, and for
individuals affected by sexual and domestic violence in Illinois. Riverview Center offers free
services including a 24 -hour crisis hotline, legal and medical advocacy, long and short-term
counseling, transition assistance for domestic violence survivors, and prevention education
programs.
Riverview Center is creating a community free of violence through violence prevention
initiatives, including educational programming that empowers individuals, fosters empathy, and
helps to develop social skills that emphasize respect, equality, and non - violent conflict
resolution. Riverview Center's educators are very present in the campus community. In addition
to educational settings at all levels, violence prevention programming is available to all
community groups and businesses.
Dubuque Y Domestic Violence Program- The mission of the Dubuque Community Y
Domestic Violence Program (DVP) is to advocate for and empower all victims of domestic
violence. The DVP seeks to create an educated community that supports and participates in
securing a person's right to a life free from violence. The YWCA began its history in Dubuque in
1902. Becoming known as champions for women, in 1978, the YWCA reached out to women
caught in abusive situations and their children and established a domestic violence program in
the city. That year the city of Dubuque provided the DVP with a building from which both
shelter and services could be provided. Over time, the shelter portion of this building was named
"New Beginnings Shelter." The DVP continues to operate out of the original building provided
by the City of Dubuque. The DVP is committed to developing within victims the tools each
needs to have "a new beginning" in life and to become a strong woman capable of significant
contributions to her community. The services provided include a 24 -hour hotline, 24 -hour 7-
days -a -week emergency safe shelter, child advocacy, medical and legal advocacy and education
and prevention programs.
Dubuque Police Department -The Dubuque Police Department (DPD) is the city based law
enforcement agency and has 108 sworn officers and 9 civilian employees. The DPD continually
strives to enforce the law courteously and appropriately, as well as protect and serve the citizens
of Dubuque. The DPD is organized into the following divisions: administration, patrol,
community oriented policing, criminal investigations and records. Within those divisions, there
are special initiatives such as a K -9 unit, school resource officers, tactical teams and crime
prevention. DPD works closely with the Dubuque County Attorney's office to provide effective
law enforcement for victims of abuse.
Multicultural Family Center- The Multicultural Family Center (MFC) empowers all families
and community members of Dubuque to reach their potential and build unity out of diversity. In
2004, a core planning group was created as the result of outreach in the community by
AmeriCorps VISTA. The planning group, with access to the expert ise of neighborhood leaders,
active community non - profits, and extension resources, developed a proposal for the
establishment of the MFC. The proposed MFC was to provide educational services, outreach,
community building, and personal and economic development assistance. It was opened in July
of 2005. Some of the many services provided are mentoring for K -8, LGBTQ support and
recreational group, cultural and holiday celebrat
2. History of Relationship
ons, and book clubs for families.
Loras College and, more specifically, the Loras College Social Work Program has had a strong
relationship with Riverview Center. The Social Work Program places many field instruction
students with the Center during the senior year of course work. More recently, Riverview began
programming with all first -year students in 2009. This was intended to be a comprehensive
program for students throughout the 4 years at Loras but was unable to be accomplished. Loras
College sponsors OVE +R and the organization works very closely with Riverview educators in a
variety of activities.
The Loras College Social Work Program also has a long history with the DVP, placing its field
instruction students at the agency and working with staff to provide needed services in the
Dubuque community, e.g., child care for parents who attend various support group meetings.
Social Work field instruction students also recently assisted DVP's New Beginnings Shelter with
program planning efforts.
Loras College and, in particular, the Criminal Justice Program, has a strong ongoing partnersh
with the Dubuque Police Department. Since the program's inception in 1997, DPD officers,
including the K -9 unit, have been guest speakers in a variety of CJ classes. Ride - alongs with
DPD officers are a common experiential learn ing opportunity for students and numerous CJ
majors fulfill their field instruction requirement with the DPD.
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The Multicultural Family Center provides a unique volunteer experience for many Loras College
students in many capacities. Students act as mentors to youth and facilitators for the LGBTQ
group every Thursday night. The center provides a learning experience for all on matters of
cultural competency and the value of a diverse community.
3. Development of Application
Loras College became aware of this grant through the presence of a STEPS non - violence grant
currently operating at the Dubuque Community School District (DCSD). Dr. Valerie Bell, who
is a collaborator on the DCSD STEPS grant and the faculty advisor for OVE +R, was contacted
via email by the Behavior Support Specialist with the DCSD. Since Loras College recognizes
the need for formal comprehens
ve non -v
olence programming throughout the college experience
it was decided that we should pursue an application for this grant. Loras College and
organizations in the Dubuque community responded to our request for their support by agreeing
to participate in the required collaborative partnerships. Loras College took responsibility for
writing the grant application, will serve as the grant recipient, and secured the necessary
signatures on appropriate memorandum of understanding documents contained in the grant
application.
4. Roles and Responsibilities
NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed by and between partners as follows:
1) Loras College will provide educational opportunities and outreach to students, faculty,
and staff impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking:
2) Riverview Center will provide time and expertise in the development of a "Train the
Trainer" tool kit for appropriate Loras employees, brochures, and other multi -media
materials. Additionally, Riverview Center will provide training in conjunction with the
Dubuque Y Domestic Violence Program for students, faculty, and staff in years 2 and 3.
This educational training will make use of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP)
curriculum.
3) Dubuque Y Domestic Violence Program will provide time and expertise in the
development of a "Train the Trainer" tool kit for Loras employees, brochures, and other
multi -media materials. Additionally, DVP will provide training in conjunction with the
Riverview Center for students, faculty, and staff in years 2 and 3, including training to
use the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) curriculum.
4) The Dubuque Police Department will provide consultation specifically oriented toward
law enforcement considerations in responding to and investigating domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
5) The Multicultural Family Center will continue to provide a safe meeting space and
support group for LGBTQ college students.
6) Loras College, Riverview Center, DVP, Multicultural Family Center, the Dubuque Police
Department and other partners to be identified by the task force composed of the above
agencies will collaborate to complete a needs assessment, strategic plan and full
implementation of the goals of this project as delineated in the OVW grant application.
The partners will ensure that during the course of the grant project, capacity is built and
resources are identified to sustain these initiatives past the grant period.
5. Timeline
The roles and responsibilities described above are contingent upon Loras College receiving
funds requested for the project as described in the OVW grant application. Responsibilities
under this Memorandum of Understanding would coincide with the grant period anticipated
to be 10/1/2013 through 9/30/2016.
6. Commitment to Partnership
1) The collaboration service area includes Loras College and the City of Dubuque, Iowa.
2) The partners agree to collaborate and provide education, outreach and intervention
services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking
pursuant to the program narrative of the grant application attached to this agreement.
3) Compensation for Riverview Center and Dubuque Y Domestic Violence Program
will be provided as outlined in the attached OVW budget detail worksheet.
4) We, the undersigned, have read and agree with this MOU. Further, we have reviewed
the proposed project including goals, timelines, and budget and approve it.
SIGNATURE PAGE
Josh Jasper, CEO of Riverview Center
Sr.Charla Bulko,Dubuque DomesticProgram
Gil Spence Multicultural Family Center Mark Dalsing, Dubuque Police Department