The Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) has released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for violence prevention and intervention services for Fiscal Years 2022-2024 in three strategic areas of investment: Gun/Group/Gang Violence Response, Gender-based Violence Response, and Community Healing and Restoration. The City anticipates awarding $20 million annually to establish the ‘DVP Network,’ a system of coordinated services delivered by community providers, DVP staff, and public partners.
The DVP administers violence intervention and prevention services in Oakland using funding from the Public Safety and Services Act of 2014 (Safety and Services Act), as well as the City’s Re-imagining Public Safety initiative, which doubled the City’s investment in Violence Prevention. The increased funding provides for three times the current investment to address intimate partner violence and commercial sexual exploitation and more than doubles the number of violence interrupters working throughout the City to reduce gun violence.
The DVP believes by focusing on the specific places in Oakland with underlying conditions that generate the highest rates of violence, and supporting the specific people determined to be at the center of violence, at-risk for violence, and exposed/adjacent to violence with direct interventions to the individual, peer, family, and community levels, provided at the times and days of the week when violence occurs most, reductions in violence will result.
The services sought in the RFQ include violence interrupters, youth and adult life coaching and employment, 24-hour hotlines, and bedside advocacy for gender-based violence, healing activities and Town Nights events.
For more information and to view the RFQ go to City of Oakland | Violence Prevention (oaklandca.gov)
In addition, the City of Oakland has released an RFQ for evaluation services pertaining to the Oakland Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Act of 2014, also known as Measure Z, for the contract period of April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2025. The City seeks a qualified agency, institution, or individual to conduct an external evaluation of one or both of the following:
1) Department of Violence Prevention (DVP) Evaluation: All strategies and activities outlined in the DVP’s FY22-24 Strategic Spending Plan.
2) Oakland Police Department (OPD) Evaluation: OPD Geographic and Community Policing Services.
The RFQ and more information about the application process can be found here.