U.S. Virgin Islands Domestic Violence Territory Coalition Community Participant Listening Sessions

OMB #: 0970-0531

Expiration Date: 9/30/2025

U.S. Virgin Islands Domestic Violence Territory Coalition Community Participant Listening Session Questions

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) STATEMENT OF PUBLIC BURDEN: The purpose of this information collection is to engage stakeholders in domestic violence services in the state of U.S. Virgin Islands to help HHS identify potential organizations that are appropriately positioned to serve as a state domestic violence coalition (SDVC) and to better understand any community priorities and/or service gaps that a new SDVC will be expected to help address. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average [45/120] minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. This is a voluntary collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB # is 0970-0531 and the expiration date is X09/30/2025. If you have any comments on this collection of information, please contact the Office of Family Violence and Prevention staff, Kelly Mitchell-Clark at email: [email protected] or Diana Lee, at email: [email protected].

The following questions will be utilized both for in person, and/or virtual discussion groups and/or an email survey. The listening sessions will be available in English (and Spanish as requested), and potentially any other languages at the request of respondents and stakeholders.

Introduction:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking to designate a new State Domestic Violence Coalition (SDVC) for the territory of the United States Virgin Islands. A SDVC is an independent organization whose purpose is to coordinate state- and territory-wide improvements within local communities, social service systems, and programming regarding the prevention and intervention of domestic violence. Every Coalition provides comprehensive training and technical assistance on a multitude of social, legal, and economic issues that affect the safety and well-being of abused victims and survivors. Coalitions partner with government, private industry, non-profits, faith-based communities, and other stakeholders to effectively coordinate and improve the safety-net of services available to survivors and their dependents.

The information you provide will help HHS identify potential organizations that are appropriately positioned to serve as a state domestic violence coalition (SDVC) in the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands and to better understand any community priorities and/or service gaps that a new SDVC will be expected to help address. Trends and themes from the feedback OFVPS receives may be provided to the SDVC and other training and technical assistance providers in order to better meet unmet needs. No information collected will be shared other than in the aggregate, with any personally identifying details removed.

Before we get started, we request permission to record for note taking purposes. In addition, if you do not feel comfortable responding to a question, please do not feel obligated to answer.

Question 1:

As part of the process to designate a SDVC for U.S. Virgin Islands, HHS is seeking individual feedback from domestic violence service providers, community stakeholders, Territory leaders, and representatives of underserved populations and culturally- and linguistically specific populations to identify existing organizations that may be an appropriate designee.

What is your connection to the issue of domestic violence in the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands? (Choose all that apply) (In virtual discussion groups, this will be done through online polling that protects the confidentiality of the respondent.)

Survivor of domestic violence or family member of a survivor in the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands

Domestic violence victim service provider in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Representative of underserved and/or culturally-/linguistically specific populations

Territorial government leader/policymaker

Indigenous government leader/policymaker

Other community stakeholder in the U.S. Virgin Islands (please explain)

Domestic violence service stakeholder, not from the U.S. Virgin Islands (please explain)

Human Services/Social Services professional

Healthcare professional

Legal assistance provider

Teaching professional

Criminal Justice professional including law enforcement officer

Notes:

Question 2:

One purpose of the SDVC is to provide training, support, and technical assistance to the primary-purpose domestic violence service providers and providers of direct services in the Territory in order to establish and maintain shelter and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence and their dependents. It is important that all survivors be able to access services that are trauma-informed, culturally relevant, effective, and high-quality.

Please explain what you think should be the priority areas of training, support, and technical assistance for domestic violence service providers in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Question 3:

Survivors of domestic violence from underserved communities, including culturally- and linguistically specific communities, have historically faced barriers to accessing shelter and services. The SDVC is expected to coordinate and collaborate with underserved communities to address these barriers.

Please provide your feedback on how the new SDVC could better engage and support underserved communities. In your experience, are there specific communities and populations you would like to recommend for particular focus?

Question 4:

The SDVC serves as an information clearinghouse, primary point of contact, and resource center on domestic violence for the Territory and supports the development of policies, protocols, and procedures to enhance domestic violence intervention and prevention in the Territory. The SDVC coordinates with other fields (for example, child welfare, human services, housing, and legal assistance) to ensure that survivors and their children can safely and effectively access a range of complementary services.

Please explain what you think are the priority areas for policy development or cross-sector collaboration for a new SDVC in the U.S. Virgin Islands. What other fields/sectors in the U.S. Virgin Islands do you think it is important for the new SDVC to work with to improve access and safety for survivors?

Question 5:

Is there any other feedback that you would like to provide on what should be the priorities for a new SDVC in the U.S. Virgin Islands, or related to domestic violence shelter and services in the U.S. Virgin Islands that you would like us to be aware of?

Question 6:

In order to be designated as the State Domestic Violence Coalition for the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, an organization must meet the following requirements:

• the organization must be a be a statewide/territory-wide, nongovernmental, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization;

• the organization’s membership includes a majority of the primary-purpose domestic violence service providers in the State/Territory;

• the board of directors of the organization is representative of these primary-purpose domestic violence service providers and which may include representatives of the communities in which the services are being provided in the State/Territory;

• the organization’s purpose is to provide education, support, and technical assistance to such service providers to enable the providers to establish and maintain supportive services and to provide shelter to survivors of domestic violence and their children;

• the organization is ready to serve as an information clearinghouse, primary point of contact, and resource center on domestic violence for the U.S. Virgin Islands and to support the development of policies, protocols and procedures to enhance domestic violence intervention and prevention in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

With these requirements in mind, are there any particular organizations you think HHS should be aware of as potential designees for the State Domestic Violence Coalition for the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands?

(Conclusion below is only to be added for the online email survey of these discussion questions)

The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services would like to thank you for your time and efforts in providing your responses. 
Please reach out via the OFVPS website for any additional inquiries: OFVPS Contacts for Grantees | The Administration for Children and Families.

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