OVW Fiscal Year 2022 Justice for Families Program Solicitation (O-OVW-2022-171024) was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013). The program attempts to improve the response and outcomes of the civil and criminal justice system (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). The program will focus on families with preceding history of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). The activities the program promotes for improving the capacity of courts and communities to respond to families affected by the targeted crimes (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022).
It includes supervised visitation and safe exchange by and between parents and court-based and court-related programs (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). The program aims to provide resources in juvenile court matters, training for court system workers that deal with families of targeted crimes, and civil legal services (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). Program performance is measured under the Measuring Effectiveness Initiative: VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative web page.
The Grant Application Deadline is set to March 10th, 2022, at 11:59 PM. The expected number of awards estimates 24, with total funding worth $13,000,000, with $650,000 as the award ceiling and $550,000 as the award floor. The awards are subjected to the availability of appropriated funds. Any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law and the funds may not be available in the future (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). There is a chance that Office on Violence Against Women may elect to make awards in the near future. This possible future award would include the applications submitted under this solicitation but not selected for FY 2022 funding (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). However, it depends on the merits of the applications and the availability of funding. The period of performance is thirty-six months; the awards period is anticipated to start on October 1st, 2022, and end on October 1st, 2025.
The statute, federal regulations, and Office on Violence Against Women policies determine the activities supported by this program. Having granted an award to an applicant, the funded project is bound by this solicitation (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). With updates to the financial guide after an award, the DOJ Financial Guide is made. The Solicitation Companion Guide and the award’s conditions are also applicable (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). The purpose areas addressed by OVW are focused on helping victimized families. The areas include supervised visitation, courts, civil legal services.
In the fiscal year 2022, Office on Violence Against Women prioritizes the improvement of civil and criminal justice responses, outreach, services, prevention, and support. This area is in support of survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, abuse, stalking, and dating violence from underserved communities, LGBTQ and immigrant communities in particular (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). The underserved population is expected to be addressed by all applicants. The Proposal Narrative should include specific questions regarding project activities addressing the targeted communities (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022).
All the detailed information in response to those questions must be provided by applicants. The examples of activities that can be proposed are: implementing specific policies or procedures to support the underserved population and expanding referrals for services to community-based (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). Office on Violence Against Women will not fund activities that threaten victim safety and prevent physical or emotional healing for victims (Office on Violence Against Women, 2022). Under this program, offenders are not supported to escape responsibility for their actions. For proposing such activities, applicants may be eliminated from consideration.
The program scope is multilateral and aspiring; however, the out-of-scope activities could be used for future plans, promoting sustainability for the victimized families. For that purpose, the future scope activities can include supporting research. The research can be conducted to discover possible solutions for resolving the issues of domestic violence, sexual assaults, and child sexual abuse. The outcomes of this type of research would enable further ways to help the victimized families, as well as prevent these crimes.
Another way to further promote the sustainability of the targeted families and victims of abuse is to provide parent education programs. Such programs have the capacity to improve the relationship between parents and children, preventing the occurrences of violence. Additionally, such a program can educate parents to take care of their children properly. By providing support and advice to the parents struggling with the upbringing of their children now, the further investment into supporting victimized families can be reduced.
Additional path future programs might take is supporting the law reform initiatives. Reforming specific laws and legislation to protect families from domestic violence and abuse better has a chance to prevent committing these crimes. Making the possible victims sure they are protected by law can guarantee their feelings of safety, reducing the risks of developing trauma and anxiety. Supporting law reform initiatives today can reduce the crime rates and the number of domestic violence cases in the future.
Reference
Office on Violence Against Women. (2022). OVW Fiscal Year 2022 Justice for Families Program Solicitation. U.S. Department of Justice.