Victim Services Data Integration Project

This Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks a qualified organization to complete a data systems inventory and integration project for the VSSN. Specifically, during the data systems inventory, the contractor will be support the assessment of the current landscape of data platforms, data collection practices, roles and responsibilities, and data-sharing agreements across VSSN partners. Following the inventory, the contractor will support implementation of enhanced data collection and standardized reporting practices to better track VSSN outcomes. This may include strengthening data-sharing infrastructure and identifying feasible, cost-conscious approaches to improving interoperability and inter-agency collaboration.

Effective data collection, referral tracking, and information sharing are essential to the success of the Victim Services Support Network (VSSN) and its ability to coordinate services across partner organizations. Currently, VSSN partners operate across multiple independent data platforms shaped by differing legal requirements, funding mandates, and organizational capacity. While these systems support individual agency reporting, they significantly limit shared visibility into referrals, services provided, and unmet needs across the network.

Established in 2023, the Victim Support Services Network (VSSN) is part of the City’s broader, multi-pronged strategy to address gun violence by strengthening community-based organizations’ rapid response systems. The network provides trauma-informed, wraparound support and structured referral pathways for victims, survivors, and witnesses of firearm-related injuries or deaths—particularly young adults ages 18 to 34. Formalized referral protocols ensure that clients receive comprehensive, coordinated assistance while avoiding fragmented or duplicative care.

VSSN was intentionally designed to center communication among partner organizations. Partners maintain regular contact through biweekly meetings and neighborhood canvasses, supplemented by ongoing communication via email, text, and phone calls, particularly in the aftermath of incidents. Biweekly meetings are facilitated by Clifford Beer’s Program Administrator. In addition to case conferences and coordination meetings, VSSN partners participate in strategic planning sessions to identify service gaps and areas of oversaturation, and to map and allocate resources effectively across the city.