This grant program supports the critical work of state and territory domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions and is a set-aside program under the OVW STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program statute. These organizations play an important role in advancing the goal of ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
This program also includes a statutory set aside from the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) statute, specifically for state and territory sexual assault coalitions (34 U.S.C. § 12511(d)).
Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10441(c), funds under this program must be used for one or more of the following purposes:
Examples of activities that may be supported include:
a. Providing training and technical assistance (T&TA) to member organizations.
b. Expanding the technological capacity of coalitions and/or member organizations.
c. Developing or enhancing appropriate standards of services for member programs, including culturally appropriate services for underserved populations.
d. Conducting statewide, regional and/or community-based meetings or workshops for victim advocates, survivors, legal service providers, and criminal justice representatives.
e. Bringing local programs together to identify gaps in services and to coordinate activities.
f. Increasing the representation of underserved populations in coordination activities, including providing financial assistance to organizations that serve underserved communities to participate in planning meetings, task forces, committees, etc.
g. Engaging in activities that promote coalition-building at the local and/or state level.
h. Coordinating at the federal, state and territory level with judicial or local law enforcement agencies to develop or enhance strategies to address identified problems.
Eligible sexual assault coalitions or dual domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions will receive additional funding from SASP’s state and territory sexual assault coalitions set-aside to support the maintenance and expansion of state and territory sexual assault coalitions.
Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12511(d)(2), grant funds must be used for the following statutory purposes:
a. Working with local sexual assault programs and other providers of direct services to encourage appropriate responses to sexual assault within the state or territory.
b. Working with judicial and law enforcement agencies to encourage appropriate responses to sexual assault cases.
c. Working with courts, child protective services agencies, and children’s advocates to develop appropriate responses to child custody and visitation issues when sexual assault has been determined to be a factor.
d. Designing and conducting public education campaigns.
e. Planning and monitoring the distribution of grants and grant funds to their state or territory.
f. Collaborating with and informing federal, state, or local public officials and agencies to develop and implement policies to reduce or eliminate sexual assault.
For information about priority areas, see the following link: https://www.justice.gov/media/1288121/dl?inline=#page=7
Estimated Total Program Funding:
