DOJ – Sexual Assault Culturally Specific Program (2016)

By NLADA on December 14, 2015 • ( 0 )

Applications Due: February 2, 2016, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description:

The Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), 42 U.S.C. §14043g, and is the first federal funding stream dedicated solely to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. The SASP encompasses four different grant programs for the following entities: 1) states and territories; 2) tribes, tribal organizations and nonprofit tribal organizations; 3) culturally specific organizations; and 4) state, territorial, and tribal sexual assault coalitions. Overall, the purpose of SASP is to provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment (e.g., accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, police departments, etc.), support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, non-offending family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault.

Survivors of sexual assault from culturally specific communities frequently confront unique and additional challenges, such as linguistic and cultural barriers, when seeking assistance. In order to provide the most appropriate services to such victims, the Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Grant Program (hereinafter referred to as the SAS Culturally Specific Program) funds nonprofit organizations that focus primarily on culturally specific communities and have experience in the area of sexual assault or who partner with an organization having such expertise. The goal of the SAS Culturally Specific Program is to create, maintain, and expand sustainable sexual assault services provided by culturally specific organizations, which are uniquely situated to respond to the needs of sexual assault victims from culturally specific populations.

For additional information on the SAS Culturally Specific Program, including what past SAS Culturally Specific Program grantees have accomplished with their grant funds and to view the SAS Culturally Specific Program performance measures, see http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/saspculturalmain.htm.

In FY 2016, funds under the SAS Culturally Specific Program may be used for the following purpose:

To support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of culturally specific intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault.

Funding Title: OVW FY 2016 Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program

Agency Name: Office on Violence Against Women

Funding Opportunity Number: OVW-2016-9083

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. “Core Services” in Advocacy include: “Education about justice and safety options; Legal accompaniment and advocacy during reporting and through prosecution; Legal accompaniment and advocacy provided for securing orders of protection.”

“Comprehensive Services” under Advocacy include: “Legal accompaniment and advocacy provided for civil law cases; Advocacy provided for other impacts on survivor (e.g., with employers, schools, etc.); Ongoing evaluation of advocacy needs and delivery.”

Target Population: Sexual assault victims from culturally specific populations

Expected Number of Awards: 9

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,700,000

Award Ceiling: $300,000

Award Floor: $0

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 immediately, but no later than January 19, 2016.

Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration to by January 19, 2016. This will ensure that applicants are well-positioned to successfully submit their applications 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: by February 2, 2016, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Eligible Applicants: Eligible entities for this program are private nonprofit organizations for which the primary purpose of the organization as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to one or more of the following racial and ethnic communities:

American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian Americans; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics.

Link to Full Announcement: Here

Contact Information: For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact the OVW Tribal SAS Program Unit at (202) 307-6026 or OVW.Tribal.SASP@usdoj.gov.

For technical assistance with Grants.gov, contact the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726.

Pre-Application Conference Calls: OVW will conduct of two (2) Pre-Application Conference Calls. The pre-application calls are for new potential applicants and continuation grantees interested in applying for SAS Culturally Specific Program funding. During these calls, OVW staff will review the SAS Culturally Specific Program requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question and answer session. Participation in these calls is optional.

The conference calls are tentatively scheduled on the following dates:

Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. E.T.
Thursday, January 14, 2016 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. E.T.

Anyone interested in submitting an application to the SAS Culturally Specific Program may register to participate in a pre-application call. The total number of participants for each call is limited to 50 individuals. 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 e-mail or call Traci Rollins-Johnson at Traci.Rollins-Johnson@usdoj.gov or

(202) 353-0025. Registration must be received at least two hours prior to the start of the call.