Applications Due: January 26, 2017, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description:

Recognizing the pressing need to focus on sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals due to the proliferation of such crimes, Congress authorized the Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program (Disability Grant Program). The Disability Grant Program was statutorily created in the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 and reauthorized by subsequent legislation. The goal of the Disability Grant Program is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that improves the response 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 are 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.

Purpose Areas

In FY 2017, funds under the Disability Grant Program may be used for the following purposes:

1. To provide personnel, training, technical assistance, advocacy, intervention, risk reduction (including using evidence-based indicators to assess the risk of domestic and dating violence homicide) and prevention of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking against individuals with disabilities;
2. 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;

3. 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;

4. 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;

5. 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);

6. To modify facilities, purchase equipment, and provide personnel so that shelters and victim service organizations can accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities;

7. To provide advocacy and intervention services for individuals with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; or

8. 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.

 Funding Title: OVW FY 2017 Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program

Agency Name: Office on Violence Against Women

Funding Opportunity Number:   OVW-2017-11901

 Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. Purpose area 7: “To provide advocacy and intervention services for individuals with disabilities who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking”.  Also, the definition of “victim services” and “services” as it applies to entities eligible to apply for the program, includes “legal advocacy”.

Target Population: Victims with disabilities of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking

Expected Number of Awards: 10

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,775,000

 Award Ceiling: $500,000

Award Floor: $375,000

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 February 17, 2016.

Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration to OVW.Disabilities@usdoj.gov by January 5, 2017. 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.

Pre-Application Information Sessions:

OVW will conduct two web-based Pre-Application Information Sessions. During these sessions,

OVW staff will review the Disability Grant Program requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question and answer session. Participation in these sessions is optional. The sessions are tentatively scheduled for:

1. Wednesday, January 4, 2017; 2-4 pm E.T.
2. Thursday, January 12, 2017; 2-4 pm E.T.

To register, please contact Jocelyn Harrison at OVW.Disabilities@usdoj.gov.

Current Closing Date for Applications: by January 26, 2017, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Eligible Applicants:
Eligible entities for this program are:

1. States;
2. Units of local government;
3. Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations; and
4. Victim services providers, such as state or tribal domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

 Link to Full Announcement: Here

Contact Information: For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, call OVW at (202) 307-6026 or email OVW.Disabilties@usdoj.gov.

It is anticipated that all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications by October 1, 2017.

Categories: Department of Justice, Disability, Domestic Violence, Express Language for Legal Aid, Government Organizations, Individuals with Disabilities, Native American Tribes or Tribal Organizations, Non-profit Organizations, Subgrant Possibilities, Victims of Crime