DOJ – Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program (2017)

By NLADA on December 22, 2016

Applications Due: February 23, 2017, 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), codified at 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 tribal nonprofits; 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.

The Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program (Tribal SAS Program) provides funding directly to tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit tribal organizations to create, maintain, and expand sustainable sexual assault services projects in Indian tribal lands and/or Alaska Native villages.

Tribal agencies, organizations, and nonprofits provide critical and culturally relevant services that are specifically responsive to the needs of sexual assault victims within tribal communities.

Purpose Areas
In FY 2017, funds under TSASP may be used for the following purposes:
• To support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of programs and projects
within Indian country and Alaska Native villages to assist those victimized by sexual
assault

Sexual assault victim assistance may include, but is not necessarily limited to:
1. 24-hour hotline services providing crisis intervention services and referral;
2. Accompaniment and advocacy through medical, criminal justice, and social support
systems, including medical facilities, police, and court proceedings;
3. Crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, and
comprehensive service coordination and supervision to assist sexual assault victims
and family or household members;
4. Information and referral to assist the sexual assault victim and family or household
members;
5. Community-based, culturally specific services and support mechanisms, including
outreach activities for underserved communities; and
6. Development and distribution of materials on issues related to the services.

Funding Title: OVW FY 2017 Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program

Agency Name: Office on Violence Against Women

Funding Opportunity Number: OVW-2017-11802

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: Adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, non-offending family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault

Expected Number of Awards: 10

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,000,000

Award Ceiling: $325,000

Award Floor: $0

Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration to

OVW.Tribal.SASP@usdoj.gov by February 2, 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.

Current Closing Date for Applications: by February 23, 2017, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Eligible Applicants: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

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.

Pre-Application Conference Calls: OVW will conduct two (2) Pre-Application Conference Calls. The pre-application calls are for new potential applicants and continuation grantees interested in applying for Tribal SAS Program funding. During these calls, OVW staff will review the Tribal SAS 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 for the following dates:

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 4 p.m. E.T.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 4 p.m. E.T.

Anyone interested in submitting an application to TSASP may register to participate in a preapplication conference call information session. 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 may join the session. OVW reserves the right to deny multiple registrations from a single

agency/jurisdiction. To register, please contact OVW.Tribal.SASP@usdoj.gov or call 202-616-0039. Registration must be received at least two hours prior to the start of the session.