Read below for answers to frequently asked questions about the Blueprint for Safety…
What is distinctive about the Blueprint?
Show MoreDo we have to have a CCR in place? Who needs to be on board?
Show MoreWhat are the key steps?
Show MoreAdapting the Blueprint for Safety involves six major steps:
- Secure community will
- Establish a Blueprint adaptation team
- Assess current policy and practice
- Write Blueprint policies and protocols
- Launch and implement the Blueprint changes
- Monitor Blueprint changes and compliance
The work proceeds in two phases. Phase one involves establishing the community and political will to develop and sustain the Blueprint, assessing current practice, and adapting the Blueprint policy and protocol templates and training memos to local conditions and state or tribal laws. Phase two takes the Blueprint from a written document to a living practice when each agency implements, complies with, and maintains its shared philosophy and collective policies.
Who does the work? and do we need a coordinator?
Show MoreAdapting the Blueprint requires community-based advocates, agency administrators, practitioners who handle cases in their everyday jobs, a local Blueprint coordinator, and various community partners. Those involved come together in different ways, depending on the needs at different steps in the process. Champions get involved early on and at key points in launching, promoting, and sustaining the Blueprint. Champions might include agency administrators, such as the chief of police or prosecutor; elected officials such as the sheriff or mayor or tribal chair; and influential community members, such as members of the tribal council or the United Way or YWCA director. Except in small communities, Blueprint champions typically do not do the day-to-day work of adapting and implementing the Blueprint. Blueprint champions are key to securing the community and political will necessary to proceed and to securing the memorandum of understanding that defines each agency’s participation.
The Blueprint team provides ongoing guidance and participates in activities related to assessing practice, adapting policies, launching and implementing the Blueprint, and establishing and managing a monitoring process. The Blueprint team includes practitioners who are decision-makers or otherwise influential in their agencies. Once the policies and protocols have been adapted and launched, many of the same individuals who were involved in the first phase are likely to participate on the implementation team. Ad hoc work groups come together as needed to collect data about current practice, review and revise policies and protocols, and monitor Blueprint changes. The Blueprint coordinator manages the day-to-day tasks of adapting the Blueprint and links everyone involved to the overall process. The coordinator keeps the focus on managing the parts and advancing the Blueprint from design to implementation.
Do you need a coordinator? Yes.
How much does it cost?
Show MoreSalary and fringe benefits for the Blueprint coordinator and participation of one or more community-based advocates are the main costs in adapting the Blueprint. Other expenses include: office space and equipment; costs involved in recruiting and facilitating a survivor’s advisory group and community focus groups; training and launch events; printing and distributing Blueprint documents; developing and maintaining databases, web-site, revised forms, and other tools.
The Blueprint approach includes compensation for community-based advocates because of the critical role that advocacy plays in the essential partnerships and leadership. All of the steps in adapting the Blueprint require the involvement of community-based advocates. This role can be time intensive for organizations that must also carry the experiences and voices of survivors into all corners of the community, from the legal system to health care, child welfare, faith communities, schools, media, and so forth.
The Blueprint does not require salary and benefit compensation to government-based criminal justice system partners. Public agencies engagement in interagency work, such as adapting the Blueprint, is part of their accountability to the community and responsibility to assess and strengthen the response to domestic violence-related crimes. In addition, most agency practitioners are involved at specific steps in adapting the Blueprint, which generally requires less time than the role of community-based advocates. However, some smaller communities may need to compensate certain practitioners for their participation in adaptation activities, such as practice assessments and other information-gathering, particularly when people hold multiple jobs, part-time positions, or serve as independent contractors. Other communities may need to provide support for overtime hours in order to enable the full participation of criminal justice system agencies.
How do we sustain the Blueprint?
Show MoreHow do we know if the Blueprint is the best step for our community?
Show MoreIf you can answer “yes” to the following qualities, your community is in a good position to design and implement a Blueprint for Safety.
- Community-based advocates have a central role in commenting on and shaping the criminal legal system’s response to domestic violence.
- Community-based advocates and key leaders in the criminal legal system are accustomed to working together to identify and solve problems.
- We are curious and transparent about our response to domestic violence crimes.
- We seek out best practice rather than assuming that what we have been doing is the most effective approach.
- We are committed to a united approach with a shared purpose and goals.
- We can agree upon adhering to the Blueprint foundational principles to guide the response to domestic violence crimes.
- We can establish the necessary coordination.
- We can establish sufficient authority and resources to sustain the Blueprint.
What if we can’t take on the entire Blueprint?
Show MoreHow can we prepare to write a grant to develop the Blueprint for Safety in our community?
Show MoreHow do we learn more?
Show MoreIf you are interested in becoming a Blueprint for Safety community—or wondering if you’re ready for the Blueprint—contact Praxis International.
Go to www.praxisinternational.org for general information and announcements of upcoming Blueprint webinars and events.
Write to blueprint@praxisinternational.org to request a phone consultation.
Call or email Denise Eng, Program Manager: 651-699-8000, x17.