The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY) Advocacy programs. CSEY Advocacy programs provide individualized 24/7 crisis response, ongoing trust-based relational support, and case management for children and transition-age youth who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. For this solicitation, children are considered individuals 0–17 years of age and transition-age youth are individuals 18–24 years of age.

This solicitation is specific to CSEY Advocacy programs. Projects seeking to provide other specialized programs for children and transition-age youth who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation should apply under the Residential and Community-Based Services for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation Request for Applications.

Projects seeking to provide services to adults who have been victimized by human trafficking should apply under the General Victims Services Request for Application.

Federal funding is authorized for these projects under the following sources:

1. Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) as amended and codified in 34 U.S.C. §20103. VOCA funds are made available through a Congressional appropriation to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. All awards are subject to the availability of appropriated federal funds and any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law.
2. Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Pub. L. No. 117-2, which amends Title VI of the Social Security Act by adding sections 602 to establish the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.

Applications may be submitted by non-profit corporations (including hospitals and faith-based organizations), counties applying to provide direct services to victims only, Native American tribes, and units of local government, which are defined as a non-statewide governmental body with the authority to establish a budget and impose taxes (includes hospital districts). Other local governmental agencies should apply through an associated unit of local government.

Applicants must access the Public Safety Office (PSO) eGrants grant management website at https://eGrants.gov.texas.gov to register and apply for funding. 

Projects selected for funding must begin on or after 10/1/2023 and expire on or before 9/30/2024. Projects may not exceed a 12-month project period.

Minimum: $25,000

Maximum: None

Match Requirement: None

Note: Applicants are encouraged to apply for the funding necessary to meet and maintain the minimum standards of a CSEY Advocate program, to serve all counties identified in an applicant’s request for funding, and to uphold best practices in service delivery and staffing. Conversely, applicants are strongly cautioned to apply only for funding they can responsibly expend in the grant period. PSO will be tracking expenditure rates throughout the life of the grants and may take action to avoid large de-obligations at the end of grant periods.

Grantees must comply with standards applicable to this fund source cited in the Texas Grant Management Standards (TxGMS), Federal Uniform Grant Guidance, and all statutes, requirements, and guidelines applicable to this funding.

For the purpose of this solicitation, children are considered individuals 0–17 years of age and transition-age youth are individuals 18–24 years of age. Applicants may choose to apply for funding to serve children, transition-age youth, or both populations. Applicants seeking to serve both populations should select “CSEY Advocacy for Children” AND “CSEY Advocacy for Transition-Age Youth” within the Activities Tab of eGrants.

1. CSEY Advocacy for Children

Development, expansion, or enhancement of a program that employs, trains, and supervises advocates to provide individualized 24/7 crisis response, ongoing trust-based relational support, and long-term case management for minor victims of commercial sexual exploitation (through the age of 17). Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop transition planning to connect survivors with resources as they exit the program and enter available adult services. Programs must respond immediately to crisis recoveries by law enforcement or the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and respond to non-urgent identifications from referral partners within a designated timeframe. Programs must continue to support survivors by offering a long-term, trust-based relationship throughout treatment and into long-term wellness. Services must include case management to help meet the survivor’s need for residential placement and medical or behavioral health services; accompaniment within hospital, law enforcement, and judicial/court systems; emotional support; and, as appropriate, services to maintain the survivor in their home or other protective setting. Programs must meet minimum standards for abuse risk management and service quality and effectiveness that have been developed specifically for CSEY Advocate programs. Programs must demonstrate plans to keep caseloads balanced to provide meaningful interaction and services to each survivor. Programs will work collaboratively to support victim-centered goals brought forth by the survivor, law enforcement, and other partners. This includes contributing to the investigative and service planning activities of local multidisciplinary and care coordination teams.

2. CSEY Advocacy for Transition-Age Youth

Development, expansion, or enhancement of a program that employs, trains, and supervises advocates to provide individualized 24/7 crisis response, ongoing trust-based relational support, and case management for transition-age youth who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation (age 18 through the age of 24). Programs must respond immediately to crisis recoveries by law enforcement or the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and respond to non-urgent identifications from referral partners within a designated timeframe. Programs must continue to support survivors by offering a long-term, trust-based relationship throughout treatment and into long-term wellness. Services must include case management to help meet the survivor’s need for residential placement and medical or behavioral health needs; accompaniment within hospital, law enforcement, and judicial/court systems; emotional support; and, as appropriate, services to support a survivor in maintaining safe or stable housing. Programs must meet minimum standards for abuse risk management and service quality and effectiveness that have been developed specifically for CSEY Advocate programs. Programs must demonstrate plans to keep caseloads balanced to provide meaningful interaction and services to each survivor. Programs will work collaboratively in support of the victim-centered goals of the survivor, law enforcement and other partners, including contributing to multidisciplinary service planning as appropriate.

All projects under this funding announcement must meet the following requirements:

1. Experience Providing Crisis Services

Eligible applicants must have experience providing identical or similar crisis support services for children and transition-age youth who have been victims of trafficking, sexual assault, or exploitation.

Applicants must also have experience providing 24/7 crisis victim services in the community or at organizations other than their own (e.g., law enforcement, hospitals, emergency youth shelters) upon direct notification by law enforcement or emergency medical personnel.

2. Community Endorsement 

Applicant organizations must have endorsement by the care coordination team (CCT) or CCT Advisory Council if either is active, for the role of CSEY Advocacy. In the absence of a CCT, endorsement may be provided by the local trafficking coalition or law enforcement task force. Coalition or task force must include representation from law enforcement organizations leading trafficking investigations in each county in which services are proposed. If your application involves serving children in DFPS conservatorship, you will also need to submit a letter of support or letter of commitment from the Department of Family and Protective Services, https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/D.... Letters of endorsement must be uploaded to the Upload.Files Tab of eGrants and signed by the appropriate leadership from each supporting agency.

3. CSEY Advocacy Minimum Standards

Recipients of funding under this announcement must adhere to CSEY Advocacy Abuse Risk Management and Service Quality and Effectiveness Standards and may be expected to provide evidence of adherence. Funding may be used to access resources that help maintain ongoing compliance with these standards. Applicants may upload supporting documents that demonstrate compliance with the CSEY Abuse Risk Management and Service Quality and Effectiveness Standards to the Upload.Files tab in eGrants.

4. Cultural Competency

Applicants must be culturally competent when providing services to victims. Victim service providers must have the ability to blend cultural knowledge and sensitivity with victim restoration skills for a more effective and culturally appropriate recovery process. Cultural competency occurs when: (1) cultural knowledge, awareness and sensitivity are integrated into action and policy; (2) the service is relevant to the needs of the community and provided by trained staff, board members, and management; and (3) an advocate or organization recognizes each client is different with different needs, feelings, ideas, and barriers.

5. Victim Services Assessment Survey

All recipients of funding under this announcement may be required to participate in a victim services assessment during their grant period, as directed by PSO.

Measures

The performance measures listed in the Measures tab of eGrants are tied to an activity as selected by the applicant on the Activities tab. Please carefully review the instructions below before entering data in the Measures tab of eGrants.

Measures should reflect an applicant's best estimate of the level of activity they expect to perform during the grant period. For measures that do not require data estimates, applicants will be directed to enter a value of “1.” Note: During the project period, grantees will be required to track and report for all Performance Measures.

Guidance on submitting OOG-Defined Performance Measures for each activity:

1. CSEY Advocacy for Children
Output Measures: Applicants are required to report estimated target values for

• Total number of children (ages 0-17) served Actual average time as reported by advocates between referral for crisis recoveries/re-recoveries and first contact with survivors (in minutes)
• Actual average time as reported by advocates between referral for crisis recoveries/re-recoveries and first contact with survivors (in minutes)
• Number of paid advocates serving survivors ≤ 17 years old
  

Applicants should enter the number “1” for all other Output Measures.

Outcome Measures: Applicants are required to report estimated values for

• Total number of survivors that exited services (unduplicated)
  

Applicants should enter the number “1” for all other Outcome Measures.

2. CSEY Advocacy for Transition-Age Youth
Output Measures: Applicants are required to report estimated values for

• Total number of transition-age youth (ages 18-24) served
• Total number of additional individuals (ages 25 and above) served
• Actual average time as reported by advocates between referral for crisis recoveries/re-recoveries and first contact with survivors (in minutes)
• Number of paid advocates serving survivors ≤ 24 years old
  

Applicants should enter the number “1” for all other Output Measures.

Outcome Measures: Applicants are required to report estimated values for

• Total number of survivors that exited services (unduplicated)

Applicants should enter the number “1” for all other Outcome Measures.

Progress Reports
Grantees may be required to report fund-specific progress report data and must follow the progress reporting instructions provided by the Public Safety Office.
Grantees will be required to provide quarterly summaries that articulate program achievements and include de-identified client progress or success stories. Grantees are also expected to report staff turnover and address problems experienced during the quarter. During the project period, quarterly summaries will be submitted in the Progress.Reports.General tab of eGrants.

1. Entities receiving grant funds must demonstrate a record of effective services to victims of crime and substantial support from sources other than the Crime Victims Fund.

• A program has demonstrated a record of effective direct services and support when, for example, it demonstrates the support and approval of its direct services by the community, its history of providing direct services in a cost-effective manner, and the breadth or depth of its financial support from sources other than the Crime Victims Fund.
• A program has substantial financial support from sources other than the Crime Victims Fund when at least twenty-five percent of the program’s funding in the year of, or the year preceding the award comes from such sources. 

2. Local units of governments must comply with the Cybersecurity Training requirements described in Section 772.012 and Section 2054.5191 of the Texas Government Code. Local governments determined to not be in compliance with the cybersecurity requirements required by Section 2054.5191 of the Texas Government Code are ineligible for OOG grant funds until the second anniversary of the date the local government is determined ineligible. Government entities must annually certify their compliance with the training requirements using the Cybersecurity Training Certification for State and Local Governments. A copy of the Training Certification must be uploaded to your eGrants application. For more information or to access available training programs, visit the Texas Department of Information Resources Statewide Cybersecurity Awareness Training page.

3. Entities receiving funds from PSO must be located in a county that has an average of 90% or above on both adult and juvenile dispositions entered into the computerized criminal history database maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) as directed in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 66. The disposition completeness percentage is defined as the percentage of arrest charges a county reports to DPS for which a disposition has been subsequently reported and entered into the computerized criminal history system.

Counties applying for grant awards from the Office of the Governor must commit that the county will report at least 90 percent of convictions within five business days to the Criminal Justice Information System at the Department of Public Safety.

4. Eligible applicants operating a law enforcement agency must be current on reporting complete UCR data and the Texas specific reporting mandated by 411.042 TGC, to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for inclusion in the annual Crime in Texas (CIT) publication. To be considered eligible for funding, applicants must have submitted a full twelve months of accurate data to DPS for the most recent calendar year by the deadline(s) established by DPS. Due to the importance of timely reporting, applicants are required to submit complete and accurate UCR data, as well as the Texas-mandated reporting, on a no less than monthly basis and respond promptly to requests from DPS related to the data submitted.

5. Local units of government, including cities, counties and other general purpose political subdivisions, as appropriate, and institutions of higher education that operate a law enforcement agency, must comply with all aspects of the programs and procedures utilized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to: (1) notify DHS of all information requested by DHS related to illegal aliens in Agency’s custody; and (2) detain such illegal aliens in accordance with requests by DHS. Additionally, counties and municipalities may NOT have in effect, purport to have in effect, or make themselves subject to or bound by, any law, rule, policy, or practice (written or unwritten) that would: (1) require or authorize the public disclosure of federal law enforcement information in order to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection fugitives from justice or aliens illegally in the United States; or (2) impede federal officers from exercising authority under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), § 1226(c), § 1231(a), § 1357(a), § 1366(1), or § 1366(3). Lastly, eligible applicants must comply with all provisions, policies, and penalties found in Chapter 752, Subchapter C of the Texas Government Code.

Each local unit of government, and institution of higher education that operates a law enforcement agency, must download, complete and then upload into eGrants the CEO/Law Enforcement Certifications and Assurances Form certifying compliance with federal and state immigration enforcement requirements. This Form is required for each application submitted to OOG and is active until August 31, 2024 or the end of the grant period, whichever is later.

5. In accordance with Texas Government Code, Section 420.034, any facility or entity that collects evidence for sexual assault or other sex offenses or investigates or prosecutes a sexual assault or other sex offense for which evidence has been collected, must participate in the statewide electronic tracking system developed and implemented by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Visit DPS’s Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking Program website for more information or to set up an account to begin participating.

7. Eligible applicants must be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM) database and have an UEI (Unique Entity ID) number assigned to its agency (to get registered in the SAM database and request an UEI number, go to https://sam.gov/).

8. Eligible applicants will be required to provide regular reports reflecting the financial status of the grant, performance measures for services delivered, survivors assisted, service outcomes after discharge, and other selected metrics, and engagement with activities of care coordination where applicable. Applicants may be required to separate reports by program type, even if multiple awards are consolidated into one grant.

9. Eligible applicants will be required to adhere to relevant Guiding Principles for the Child Sex Trafficking Team and its partners. CSTT’s Guiding Principles are:

• We treat individuals who have experienced exploitation as victims and survivors, not perpetrators.
• We are collaborative.
• We are survivor informed.
• Our systems and programs prioritize the needs of children and transition-age youth who have experienced exploitation and strive to give equal access to services regardless of system involvement.
• We seek to prevent exploitation by educating the public, supporting protective factors for all children and transition-age youth, and by building resiliency among the most vulnerable.
• Our approaches, systems and services are trauma-informed, responsive, and include trust-based relationships.
• We develop and support community-based, sustainable resources and services.
• We are committed to long-term individualized services, including planning for, and re-engaging with, children and transition-age youth after relapse.
• We research the causes of and effective responses to exploitation and we evaluate and continuously improve our activities.
• We work to prevent and reduce demand for exploitation and to hold all exploiters, including facilitators and those who benefit from exploitation, accountable.

10. Eligible applicants will be required to utilize the CSE-IT (Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool) screening tool. The CSE-IT will be required to determine eligibility for services funded by this award. A CSE-IT screening must be submitted for each client entering CSEY Advocacy services. Projects funded under this award are required to serve clients who receive a score of “Clear Concern,” meaning a number of 9-23, on the CSE-IT. Any deviation from this requirement must first be approved by the Office of the Governor’s Child Sex Trafficking Team.

11. Eligible applicants may be required to collect and submit de-identified survey responses from survivors that have been developed by OOG.

Failure to comply with program or eligibility requirements may cause funds to be withheld and/or the suspension or termination of grant funds.

Grant funds may not be used to support the unallowable costs listed in the Guide to Grants or any of the following unallowable costs:

1. Lobbying or advocacy activities with respect to legislation or to administrative changes to regulations or administrative policy (cf. 18 U.S.C. 1913), whether conducted directly or indirectly;
2. The active investigation and prosecution of criminal activity, except for the provision of victim assistance services (e.g., emotional support, advocacy, and legal services) to crime victims, under 28 CFR § 94.119, during such investigation and prosecution;
3. Any activities related to fundraising;
4. Capital improvements; property losses and expenses; real estate purchases; mortgage payments; remodeling; and construction;
5. Reimbursement of crime victims for expenses incurred as a result of a crime;
6. Salaries, benefits, fees, furniture, equipment, and other expenses of executive directors, board members, and other administrators (Note: Time spent by executive directors to perform or support direct services is allowable); 
7. Counseling or treatment exclusively for substance use disorders;
8. Treatment for substance use disorders is permitted if the disorder is a result of victimization and is a component of the general counseling that an individual receives under this grant. Victim-offender meetings that serve to replace (or as a part of) criminal justice proceedings;
9. Medical training;
10. Medical care or expenses (except as specifically allowed);
11. Forensic medical evidence collection to include the salary or overtime cost of SANE Nurses;
12. Cash payments to victims, gift cards, or fuel vouchers;
13. Creation of a voucher program where victims are directly given vouchers for such services as housing or counseling;
14. Transportation, lodging, per diem or any related costs for third-party participants to attend a training, when grant funds are used to develop and conduct training;
15. Leasing of vehicles;
16. Transitional housing - Travel, rental assistance, security deposits, utilities, and other costs incidental to the relocation to such housing, as well as voluntary support services such as childcare and counseling;
17. Research and studies;
18. Activities that may compromise victim safety;
19. Entertainment, including amusement, diversion, social activities, field trips, excursions and any associated costs (i.e. tickets to shows or sports events, meals, lodging, rentals, transportation, and gratuities) unless there is a clear programmatic purpose and the costs are approved in advance by PSO;
20. Nonessential maintenance on buildings, lawn care, and landscaping; and
21. Any other prohibition imposed by federal, state or local law or regulation.

All projects will be reviewed by PSO staff or a review group selected by the executive director. PSO will make all final funding decisions based on eligibility, program requirements, quality of the grant application, evidence of the plan for risk management guideline adherence, state priorities, availability of funding, and cost-effectiveness.

Priority will be given to applications with a demonstrated history providing CSEY Advocacy services and applications seeking to expand or establish CSEY Advocacy in one or more of the following counties:

1. North: Cooke, Fannin, Grayson
2. South: Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Maverick, Nueces, Val Verde, Victoria
3. East: Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Trinity
4. West: Andrews, Ector, Howard, Martin, Midland, Reagan, Reeves, Runnels, Schleicher, Sutton, Tom Green, Ward
5. Central: Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Kimble, Lee

For more information, contact the eGrants help desk at eGrants@gov.texas.gov or (512) 463-1919.