DOJ – Justice for Families Program (2016)

By NLADA on November 25, 2015 • ( 0 )

Updated Deadline: Applications Due January 21, 2016, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description:

The Grants to Support Families in the Justice System program (referred to as the Justice for Families Program) was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 to improve the response of all aspects of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The program includes purpose areas previously authorized under the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program (Supervised Visitation) and the Court Training and Improvements Program (Courts).

In FY 2015, OVW will accept applications for the Justice for Families Program from new applicants. Current and former Safe Havens and Courts grantees are considered new applicants. Justice for Families grant recipients that received funding for 24 months in FY 2014 are not eligible to apply.

Purpose Areas:

VAWA 2013 includes eight distinct purpose areas for the Justice for Families Program. However, in FY 2016, OVW is limiting applicants to addressing only purpose areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8.

In FY 2016, funds under the Justice for Families Program may be used for the purposes listed below. OVW is interested in funding projects that take a coordinated approach to helping families victimized by domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking as they navigate the justice system. In order to help achieve this coordinated approach, applicants must propose activities under purpose area number 1 or 5. If an applicant is proposing to provide supervised visitation/safe exchange services (purpose area 1), the applicant must propose activities under at least one additional purpose area. The Courts purpose area (purpose area 5) can be addressed on its own, or in combination with another purpose area.

(Purpose Area 1) Supervised visitation and safe exchange: Provide supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children and youth by and between parents in situations involving domestic violence, dating violence, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. Applicants proposing activities under this purpose area must propose activities under at least one additional purpose area.
(Purpose Area 3) Training for court-based and court-related personnel: Educate court-based and court-related personnel and court-appointed personnel (including custody evaluators and guardians ad litem) and child protective services workers on the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including information on perpetrator behavior, evidence-based risk factors for domestic and dating violence homicide, and on issues relating to the needs of victims, including safety, security, privacy, and confidentiality, including cases in which the victim proceeds pro se. Applicants proposing activities under this purpose area must also propose activities under purpose area 1 and/or 5.
(Purpose Area 4) Juvenile court resources: Provide appropriate resources in juvenile court matters to respond to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault (including child sexual abuse), and stalking and ensure necessary services dealing with the health and mental health of victims are available. Applicants proposing activities under this purpose area must also propose activities under purpose area 1 and/or 5.
(Purpose Area 5) Court and court-based programs and services: Enable courts or court-based or court-related programs to develop or enhance a) court infrastructure (such as specialized courts, consolidated courts, dockets, intake centers, or interpreter services); b) community-based initiatives within the court system (such as court watch programs, victim assistants, pro se victim assistance programs, or community-based supplementary services); c) offender management, monitoring, and accountability programs; d) safe and confidential information-storage and information-sharing databases within and between court systems; e) education and outreach programs to improve community access, including enhanced access for underserved populations; and f) other projects likely to improve court responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
(Purpose Area 6) Civil legal assistance: Provide civil legal assistance and advocacy services, including legal information and resources in cases in which the victim proceeds pro se, to (a) victims of domestic violence; and (b) nonoffending parents in matters that involve allegations of child sexual abuse; that relate to family matters, including civil protection orders, custody, and divorce; and in which the other parent is represented by counsel. Applicants proposing activities under this purpose area must also propose activities under purpose area 1 and/or 5. In addition, a project in which the primary focus is on providing civil legal assistance is not appropriate for the Justice for Families Program. Applications in which more than 50% of the project budget is allocated for civil legal assistance would be better suited to the OVW Legal Assistance for Victims Program, for which applications are solicited annually. • (Purpose Area 8) Training within civil justice system: Improve training and education to assist judges, judicial personnel, attorneys, child welfare personnel, and legal advocates in the civil justice system. Applicants proposing activities under this purpose area must also propose activities under purpose area 1 and/or 5. In addition, a project in which the primary focus is on providing civil legal assistance is not appropriate for the Justice for Families Program. Applications in which more than 50% of the project budget is allocated for civil legal assistance would be better suited to the OVW Legal Assistance for Victims Program, for which applications are solicited annually.

Mandatory Program Requirements: Applicants for FY 2016 Justice for Families funding are required to demonstrate formal partnerships among victim services providers and courts within the proposed project. Applications that do not include both 1) a nonprofit domestic violence or sexual assault victim services provider and 2) a court, either as lead applicant or project partner, will not be eligible for Justice for Families Program funding.

Funding Title: OVW Justice for Families Program

Agency Name: Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women

Funding Instrument Type: Grants

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes, see Purpose Area 6 above. However, please note the following language regarding primary focus and budget allocation included under Purpose Area 6:

A project in which the primary focus is on providing civil legal assistance is not appropriate for the Justice for Families Program. Applications in which more than 50% of the project budget is allocated for civil legal assistance would be better suited to the OVW Legal Assistance for Victims Program, for which applications are solicited annually.

Target Population: Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, underserved populations

Expected Number of Awards: 25

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

How to Apply: Registration: To ensure all applicants have ample time to complete the registration process, applicants must obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) Number, register online with the System for Award Management (SAM) and with Grants.gov no later than January 4, 2016.
Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration toOVW.JFF@usdoj.gov by January 4, 2016. This will ensure that applicants are well-positioned to successfully submit an application by the deadline. This letter will not obligate potential applicants to submit an application. Interested applicants who do not submit a Letter of Registration are still eligible to apply.

Current Closing Date for Applications: January 21, 2016, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Award Ceiling: $600,000 (in limited cases, up to $700,000)

Award Floor: $450,000

Eligible Applicants:

State governments, units of local governments, courts (including juvenile courts), Indian Tribal Governments, nonprofit organizations having a 501(c)(3) status, legal services providers, victim service providers,

Priority Consideration: Applications proposing activities that meaningfully address any of the following priorities may be given special consideration during the review process:
1. Strengthening and revitalizing coordinated community response and multi-disciplinary teams, especially those that meaningfully involve organizations and programs that focus on marginalized communities.
2. Meaningfully increase access to OVW programming for specific underserved populations (which may be based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and age).
3. Increasing the use of promising or evidence-building practices, where available.

Link to Full Announcement: Here

Contact Information: For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact OVW Justice for Families unite at (202) 307-6026 or OVW.JFF@usdoj.gov. For technical assistance with Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726.

Pre-Application Conference Call: OVW will conduct one Pre-Application Conference Call. During this call, OVW staff will review the Justice for Families requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question and answer session. Participation in this call is optional. The conference call is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 12:00 pm EST. Anyone interested in submitting an application to the Justice for Families Program may register to participate in the pre-application call. The total number of participants for the call is limited to 75 participants. Please note: Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis, and space is not guaranteed. Interested participants from the same agency/jurisdiction are strongly encouraged to participate together so that as many communities as possible can join the call. OVW reserves the right to deny multiple registrations from a single agency/jurisdiction.

To register, please email or call the Justice for Families Program at OVW.JFF@usdoj.gov or 202-307-6026. Registration must be received at least one day prior to the start of the call.