DOJ – Sexual Assault Culturally Specific Program (2018)

By NLADA on January 12, 2018

Applications Due: February 15, 2018, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Description: This program is authorized by 42 U.S.C. §14043g(c). Survivors of sexual assault from culturally specific communities frequently confront unique 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 Program (hereinafter referred to as the SAS Culturally Specific Program) supports 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 communities.

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 and reporting data, see http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamei/saspculturalmain.htm.

In FY 2018, funds under the SAS Culturally Specific Program may be used to support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of culturally specific intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault.

Funding Title: OVW FY 2018 Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program Solicitation

Agency Name: Office on Violence Against Women

Funding Opportunity Number: OVW-2018-13830

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

Priority Area: In FY 2018, OVW is interested in meaningfully increasing access to OVW programming for specific marginalized and/or underserved populations (based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, etc.). The SAS Culturally Specific Program is implementing this priority by encouraging applications that propose to develop and/or enhance culturally specific services for victims from underserved Black/African American communities.

Expected Number of Awards: 12

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,500,000

Award Ceiling: $300,000

Award Floor: $0

How to Apply:

The complete application package is available on Grants.gov or at the OVW website at www.justice.gov/ovw. Applicants wishing to request a paper copy of the application materials should contact OVW.SASP.Cultural@usdoj.gov.

Letter of Registration: Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of registration to OVW.SASP.Cultural@usdoj.gov by January 24, 2018. 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 15, 2018, 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Eligible Applicants: Eligible entities for the SAS Culturally Specific 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. Additionally, the applicant organization must meet the following requirements:

Have an advisory board or steering committee and staffing which is reflective of the targeted culturally specific community. Note: To determine whether the organization has an advisory board or steering committee and staffing that is reflective of the targeted culturally specific community, OVW will consider whether the advisory board, steering committee, and staff include members with knowledge or experience relevant to the targeted community. If federal funds are used for filling any of these positions, organizations may consider an applicant’s knowledge or experience relevant to the targeted community, as well as language skills needed to work with a particular population, but organizations may not consider a person’s race and/or ethnicity as a basis for hiring decisions.
Have documented organizational experience in the area of sexual assault intervention or have entered into a partnership with an organization having such experience; and
Have expertise in the development of community-based, linguistically and culturally specific outreach and intervention services relevant for the specific communities to which assistance would be provided or have the capacity to link to existing services in the community tailored to the needs of culturally specific populations. As defined in the Violence Against Women Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(7), “culturally specific services” means “community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities.”

Link to Full Announcement: Here

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

Pre-Application Information Sessions: OVW will conduct 2 web-based pre-application information sessions for entities interested in submitting an application for the SAS Culturally Specific Program. Participation in these sessions is optional. Interested applicants who do not participate are still eligible to apply. During these sessions, OVW staff will review the SAS Culturally Specific Program requirements, review the solicitation, and allow for a brief question and answer period. The sessions are tentatively scheduled for:

Friday, January 12, 2018 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. E.T.
Friday, January 19, 2018 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 contact Jocelyn Harrison at Jocelyn.harrison@usdoj.gov. Registration must be received at least 2 hours prior to the start of the session. Translation services are available upon request.