Section 61.9.56. Eligibility requirements.

Funds must be used only to provide victim services, or justice support to victims of crime, and training or technical assistance to victim service providers and allied professionals. Program grants shall not be used to supplant other available or mandated funds. An applicant must meet the following requirements:

       9.56(1) The applicant shall be a public agency or private nonprofit organization, or combination thereof, that provides services to crime victims or training and technical assistance to victim service providers and allied professionals.

       9.56(2) The applicant shall provide services to victims of crime through crime victim centers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and other allied professionals. Services provided to victims by crime victim centers shall include but are not limited to crisis intervention, law enforcement and court advocacy, group and individual follow-up counseling, transportation, and information and referral.

       9.56(3) An applicant providing services to victims of domestic abuse must also provide or arrange safe shelter for victims and their children when needed at no cost to the victims. To ensure staff training and best practice standards, preference will be given to domestic abuse programs certified by the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

       9.56(4) An applicant providing services to victims of sexual abuse must also provide support to victims at the time of an evidentiary sexual abuse examination. To ensure staff training and best practice standards, preference will be given to sexual abuse programs certified by the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

       9.56(5) The applicant shall promote within the community a coordinated public and private effort to assist victims.

       9.56(6) The applicant shall be an equal-opportunity employer and provide services on an equal-opportunity basis.

       9.56(7) The applicant shall comply with applicable federal and state statutes and rules, all requirements specified in the grant between the department and any outside funding source, and all requirements in the RFP or any other contractual document.

       9.56(8) The applicant shall assist victims in seeking state compensation benefits.

       9.56(9) The applicant shall have a grievance procedure established for victims, employees and volunteers.

       9.56(10) The applicant shall ensure that all employees and volunteers of crime victim centers that provide direct services to victims are trained as victim counselors as defined in Iowa Code section 915.20A.

       9.56(11) The applicant shall provide services within the geographical service area without regard to a victim’s ability to pay.

       9.56(12) An existing program must document results of prior programming that demonstrate that the needs of victims have been met effectively and that the applicant has financial support from other sources.