NLADA will provide training and technical assistance to public defenders seeking to leverage federal resources to improve indigent defense services.
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In the reporting period, NLADA began a search for a new staff member to serve as a Federal Resources Specialist. This individual will identify federal funding opportunities and establish in-house expertise on securing and complying with federal funding that is shared with the national defender community. Some of the federal resources specialist’s responsibilities will be to: prepare a resource guide that helps defenders identify and track federal grant opportunities, as well as non-federal sources of support; offer one-on-one technical assistance to individuals who are applying for or have been awarded federal grants; develop general web-based training on using the resource guide and seeking grant funding; and liaise with federal agencies to promote and support inclusion of the public defense community into federal funding opportunities and on other related matters.
During this reporting period, the role of Federal Resource Specialist was filled. In addition to familiarizing herself with the project scope, individual site histories, and strategic goals, the specialist has begun laying the framework for a more robust set of tools and trainings to support public defenders in accessing resources.
Internally, the specialist began work on creating project structures to assist NLADA in better tracking deliverables, budgets, and strategic collaboration between their divisions. The specialist also presented a plenary session at the 2017 COD Network conference on federal resources (5/9/2017), created a collaborative, 5-part webinar series to be launched during the next reporting period (August through November 2017), reformatted the federal resources webpage for greater user friendliness, and has begun preparing a survey to gather information from public defenders to determine what resources, tools, and trainings are being used by the field and in which cases public defenders feel as though specific resources have helped them to access public or private funding.
Finally, the specialist has prepared a concept paper (slated for submission on 8/4/2017) requesting the formation of a new CNCS AmeriCorps program designed specifically to support data and partnerships needs in public defense offices nationwide. Portions of this paper will be used to assist public defenders in developing their own language around need, capacity, and holistic defense solutions.
Internally, the specialist continued working to create project structures to assist NLADA in better tracking deliverables, budgets, and strategic collaboration between their divisions. The specialist also implemented a collaborative, 5-part webinar series that reached over 700 registrants in total.
In September, 2017, the Federal Resources Specialist provided intensive on-site TTA to the Clark County Public Defender’s office in Las Vegas, NV. As a result of that in-person consultation a 16-point list of customized funding recommendations was issued to the office.
The AmeriCorps VISTA concept paper, developed during the previous reporting paper, requesting the formation of a new CNCS AmeriCorps program designed specifically to support data and partnerships needs in public defense offices nationwide was approved and the Federal Resources Specialist was invited to submit a full program application. This program application was approved and the newly formed Defending Communities in Service VISTA program was launched during the NLADA annual conference at the Defender Caucus meeting. This program represents securing $300k+ in resources for public defenders administered as AmeriCorps VISTA members through NLADA. Portions of the concept paper and full program application will be used to assist public defenders in developing their own language around need, capacity, and holistic defense solutions.
Internally, the specialist continued working to create project structures to assist NLADA in better tracking deliverables, budgets, and strategic collaboration between their divisions. During this reporting period the specialist helped NLADA to identify a more cost advantageous partner for a different grant program out of BJA allowing the organization to leverage an additional $200k in funding towards direct programmatic efforts.
During this reporting period the specialist worked to finalize VISTA program sites and members to build capacity in public defender offices nationally. This program, initially approved at $300k+, was increased to over $700k in resources (primarily in the form of AmeriCorps VISTA members) that will be distributed to 14 defender offices in 13 states and territories. Two VISTA members began their year of service at NLADA’s offices under the direct supervision of the specialist and have begun creating tools and templates focused on the development of community partnerships and data systems to be operationalized in sites nationally this fall.
The specialist provided extensive internal and external support to defender serving organizations and programs during this reporting period. She developed federal grant proposals in the areas of reentry program evaluation and risk assessment totaling $1.65MM and supported various defender offices and jurisdictions with customized funding-related TTA including Nashville, Contra Costa, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Guam.
During this reporting period the specialist brought together all 13 VISTA pilot sites for a 2-day training in Houston, TX connected to NLADA’s annual conference. Participation at this event included strategic and sustainability planning and provided an opportunity for participating VISTA members to inform other conference attendees about defender-specific capacity building opportunities offered through the Corporation for National and Community Service 9CNCS). The specialist also finalized the second program year funding in support of public defender capacity needs in the areas of community partnerships and data systems. This second year will also include funding for three additional strategic expansion roles in the areas of court fines and fees, the opioid epidemic and response, and tribal justice systems. The second year of the VISTA program, 33 VISTA members, has been approved at ~$1MM in direct capacity support to defender offices. It is anticipated that this will allow NLADA to place VISTA members in 25 defender offices in 2019. The funding for October 2018-September 2019 also includes funding from CNCS to cover a portion of NLADA’s program expansion costs resulting in a more sustainable and replicable program model.
During this reporting period the Federal Resources Specialist continued to manage the National AmeriCorps program developed with initial funding from this grant. To date, the program has grown to support 23 jurisdictions and 33 VISTA members and is expected to continue to grow after the end of this grant. The Federal Resource Specialist also assisted the Montgomery County Public Defender to submit a critical grant application seeking funding for their reentry coalition programming.
During this reporting period the Federal Resources Specialist continued to manage the National AmeriCorps program developed with initial funding from this grant. To date, the program has grown to support 23 jurisdictions and 33 VISTA members and is expected to continue to grow after the end of this grant.
Please respond to the Performance Metrics below. The Performance Metrics questions are based on the TTA Type indicated in the General Information section of the TTA.
Please submit a signed letter of support from your agency’s executive or other senior staff member. The letter can be emailed to or uploaded with this request. The letter should be submitted on official letterhead and include the following information:
- General information regarding the request for TTA services, i.e., the who, what, where, when, and why.
- The organizational and/or community needs specific to the request for TTA services.
- The benefits or anticipated outcomes from the receipt of TTA services.
By submitting this application to BJA NTTAC, I understand that upon approval of this application for TTA, the requestor agrees to keep BJA NTTAC informed of any circumstances that may impact the delivery of the TTA, including changes in the date of the event, event cancellation, or difficulties communicating with the assigned TTA provider.
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