U.S. Department of Justice: Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grants Program
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice. Created in 1995, OVW implements the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The goal of the Disability Grant Program is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that results in increased capacity to respond to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. Disability Grant Program funds will be used to establish and strengthen multidisciplinary collaborative relationships; increase organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse; and identify needs within the grantee’s organization and/or service area, and develop a plan to address those identified needs that builds a strong foundation for future work.
In FY 2015, funds under the Disability Grant Program may be used for the following purposes:
- To provide personnel, training, technical assistance, advocacy, intervention, risk reduction (including using evidence-based indicators to assess the risk of domestic violence homicide) and prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking against individuals with disabilities
- To conduct outreach activities to ensure that individuals with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking receive appropriate assistance
- To conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, courts, law enforcement,and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities about risk reduction, intervention, prevention and the nature of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking for individuals with disabilities
- To provide technical assistance to assist with modifications to existing policies, protocols, and procedures to ensure equal access to the services, programs, and activities of victim service providers for individuals with disabilities
- To provide training and technical assistance on the requirements of shelters and victim service providers under Federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and section 794 of title 29 (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
- To modify facilities, purchase equipment, and provide personnel so that shelters and victim service organizations can accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities
- To provide advocacy and intervention services for individuals with disabilitie who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking
- To develop model programs providing advocacy and intervention services within organizations serving individuals with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking
Amount: Up to 12 grants for a total of $3,850,000. Maximum grant amounts are as follows:
- New, local-focused projects: $450,000
- Continuation, local-focused projects: $350,000
- Continuation, state-focused projects $400,000
Eligibility: States, units of local governments; Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations; and victim services providers, such as state or tribal domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities.
Notes: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration to OVW.Disabilities@usdoj.gov by January 28, 2015. This will ensure that applicants are well-positioned to successfully submit an application by the deadline.
OVW will conduct Pre-Application Conference Calls for anyone interested in submitting an application for the Culturally Specific Services Program. Participation in these calls is optional.
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