1. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
CTAS FY 2018
Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
Purpose Area #5: OVW—Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program – TGP), CFDA #16.587
    

2. Key Dates
OPENED – Wednesday, January 3, 2018 CLOSES – Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 9pm EST
Applications must be submitted by 9:00pm ET on March 20, Applications submitted after this time and date will not be considered for funding.

3. Key dates Continued
Date for applicants to request a paper application: February 15, 2018 Strongly recommended date for applicants to register in GMS: February 27,2018

4. Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
The mission of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, is to provide federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

5. OVW Funding for Indian Tribes
Consolidated Youth Program: Grants to Support Families in the Justice System
Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse Against Women in Later Life
Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities
Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program
Grants to Tribal Governments to Exercise Special Domestic Violence Criminal Jurisdiction Program (Tribal Jurisdiction Program)
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program

6. OVW Funding for Indian Tribes
Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Assistance Program
Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program
Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program (TSASP)
Please Note: OVW issues solicitations on a rolling basis throughout the Fiscal Year. For more information about these programs and to review current, open solicitations, please visit:

7. New in 2018 for Purpose Area #5
OVW removed the restriction that no more than 50% of the budget for purpose area #5 can go to services for youth and services for children exposed to violence.
Continuation applicants are allowed to apply for new and or additional project areas (or both) outside of their original award.

8. Purpose Area #5
Eligibility: A federally recognized Tribe or an organization that is acting as the authorized designee of a federally-recognized Indian Tribe may apply.
New Applicants: applicants who have never before received funding from OVW, or whose last award from OVW closed more than 12 months ago,.
Current Grantees: Applicants who currently have an open, active grant award from the Tribal Governments Program.

9. Current OVW Grantees
FY 2015 or Earlier: An applicant who has a current OVW Tribal Governments Program award that was made in FY 15 or earlier may request funding to continue their current activities in FY18.
FY : In addition, applicants that received three year awards under the OVW Tribal Governments Program funding in FY 2016 or two or three year awards in FY 2017 are not eligible to apply for continuation funding with regard to the FY or FY 2017 awards or for new funding.
In addition, applicants that received three year awards under the OVW Tribal Governments Program funding in FY 2016 or  two or three year awards in FY 2017 are not eligible to apply for continuation funding with regard to the FY 2016 or FY 2017 awards or for new funding. Applicants with OVW Tribal Governments Program awards from FY 2015 or earlier generally are eligible to apply for purpose area #5 funding in FY 2018; however, eligibility may be limited as follows based on the amount of funding remaining in the applicant’s FY 2015 or earlier award:
If the applicant has 70% or more of funds remaining in the award as of March 20, 2018, it is not eligible for FY 2018 funding in this program.
If the applicant has 50–69% of funds remaining in the award as of March 20, 2018, it is eligible, but the amount of funding may be reduced from the requested amount.
If the applicant has 49% or less of funds remaining in the award as of March 20, 2018, it is eligible for a new award up to the full amount.
Applicants with open awards from multiple years (including FY 2016 and 2017) may apply for continuation of awards only from 2015 or earlier.
This eligibility requirement also extends to organizations or associations that are granted the authority to apply on behalf of the tribe(s). In addition, if a tribe has an award from 2016 or 2017, it generally may not apply through a designee in 2018.

10. Authorized Designees
Must submit a tribal resolution, or equivalent legal enactment, from the Tribe as part of the application.
Please note that tribal governments with an award
from 2016 or 2017 generally cannot apply through a
designee in Likewise, an authorized designee
funded in 2016 or 2017 is not eligible to apply under the
authority of a different tribe.
A tribal government that has an award from 2016 or 2017 is not eligible to authorize a designee to apply on its behalf in 2018.

11. Authorized Designees Resolution Should:
1) authorize the applicant to submit an application on behalf of the federally-recognized Indian Tribe; and
2) state the Tribe’s support for the project and its commitment to participate in the project if it is selected for funding.
Other Resolution Requirements:
Signed by authorizing official(s)
Current
Must be sufficient to demonstrate authority for the application

12. How can the Funding be Used?
To develop and enhance effective plans for the Tribal government to reduce violent crimes against Indian women and increase their safety.
To increase the ability of the Tribal government to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking and stalking (5 crimes) committed against Indian women.
To strengthen the Tribal criminal justice system’s ability to get involved with stopping violence against Indian women.
The plans to reduce the violence and keep women safe can be based on Tribal law and customs. This may include drafting or revising Tribal codes related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as well as negotiating cross-jurisdictional agreements related to the investigation and prosecution of such crimes, the supervision of domestic violence offenders who have been sentenced to a period of probation, or registered sex offenders.
This may include dedicated victim advocates, law enforcement investigators, or prosecutors who will work exclusively on issues related to the sexual assault of American Indian women and adolescent girls. It may also include providing training to Indian country professionals who are responsible for investigating and prosecuting sexual assault crimes, including training on conducting Sexual Assault Forensic Exams for healthcare professionals.
This may include hiring dedicated law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judge and other court staff, as well as probation officers who will work exclusively on investigating prosecuting acts of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It may also include providing training to Tribal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and other court staff, probation officers, and the staff at Tribal jails to enhance their ability to respond to crimes of violence against women in Indian country.
This may include crisis hotlines, supportive services, referrals to other social service providers, support groups or talking circles, sweat lodges, hiring qualified staff to provide direct services to victims, such as court accompaniment, advocacy, counseling, transitional housing assistance, etc.
This may include outreach at community events, public awareness campaigns (e.g., PSAs and billboards), as well as literature that educates the community about violence against women (e.g., flyers, brochures, advertisements in local newspapers, newsletters, or other publications).

13. How can the Funding be Used?
To improve services that are available to help victims of the 5 crimes.
To work with the community to create education and prevention campaigns that are designed to inform members of the community about the 5 crimes and that also increase the community’s awareness about the needs of children who have witnessed domestic violence.

14. How can the Funding be Used?
To provide supervised visitation and safe exchange programs (e.g., visitation center) that allow children to visit with their non-custodial parent in cases where one parent has committed an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking against the other.
To provide transitional housing assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking or stalking.
To provide legal advice and representation to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking or stalking who need assistance with legal issues that are caused by the abuse that they have suffered.
(6) In cases where the court has ordered that the non-custodial parent have supervised visitation with the child, the program should create a place where that parent can have a supervised visit with the child. If the court has not ordered supervised visitation, then the program should offer a safe, neutral place for the non-custodial parent of the child to pick the child up and return the child for unsupervised visitation. A supervised visitation and safe exchange program must have appropriate security measures, policies, and procedures so that victims and their children are safe.
(7) The assistance provided to victims may include money for rent, utilities, a security deposit, or other minor costs related to moving into transitional housing. A transitional housing assistance program may also offer victims support and services necessary to help the victim relocate and secure permanent housing.
(8) This may include providing legal representation or advice in family law cases (e.g., divorce, custody, child support, visitation, or spousal support), as well as landlord-tenant matters, public benefits (e.g., pursuit or denial of SSI or TANF benefits), immigration matters, and other civil cases directly related to the abuse that the victim has suffered. The legal assistance should be provided at minimal or no cost to the victim.

15. How can the Funding be Used?
To provide services to address the needs of youth who are victims of the 5 crimes and the needs of children and youth exposed to the 5 crimes, including support for the non- abusing parent or caretaker of the youth or child.
To develop and promote legislation and policies that enhance best practices for responding to violent crimes against Indian women, including the 5 crimes.
Important Tip: Please contact OVW if you have any questions about whether or not a specific activity is allowable before you submit your application for funding.
(6) In cases where the court has ordered that the non-custodial parent have supervised visitation with the child, the program should create a place where that parent can have a supervised visit with the child. If the court has not ordered supervised visitation, then the program should offer a safe, neutral place for the non-custodial parent of the child to pick the child up and return the child for unsupervised visitation. A supervised visitation and safe exchange program must have appropriate security measures, policies, and procedures so that victims and their children are safe.
(7) The assistance provided to victims may include money for rent, utilities, a security deposit, or other minor costs related to moving into transitional housing. A transitional housing assistance program may also offer victims support and services necessary to help the victim relocate and secure permanent housing.
(8) This may include providing legal representation or advice in family law cases (e.g., divorce, custody, child support, visitation, or spousal support), as well as landlord-tenant matters, public benefits (e.g., pursuit or denial of SSI or TANF benefits), immigration matters, and other civil cases directly related to the abuse that the victim has suffered. The legal assistance should be provided at minimal or no cost to the victim.

16. Other Requirements Confidentiality Collaborative Partnership
Victim Safety and Offender Accountability
Travel Budget Requirement
Legal assistance certification requirement
Letter of non-supplanting
(1) In accordance with 42 U.S.C (b)(2), applicants receiving OVW funding, and their subgrantees, must protect the confidentiality and privacy of persons receiving OVW-funded services to support victims’ safety.
(2) Applications for this Purpose Area should demonstrate that the proposal was developed in consultation with one of the following groups or organizations: (a) a nonprofit, nongovernmental Indian victim services provider organization such as a domestic violence shelter program or rape crisis center; (b) a nonprofit, nongovernmental Tribal domestic violence or sexual assault coalition; or (c) an advisory committee which includes women from the community to be served by the proposed project. Prior to receipt of an award and the release of grant funds, the applicant will be required to provide OVW with a letter of support from a qualified partner.
(3) Applications for this Purpose Area will be reviewed and evaluated on the extent to which the applicant proposes sound strategies to enhance victim safety and offender accountability. Examples of activities which are discouraged (and for which points will be deducted) are ordering victims and offenders to attend mandatory couples counseling or mediation, operating anger management classes instead of batterer intervention programs, and limiting the number of times a victim can access services.
(4) Applicants from the lower 48 states must budget $20,000 in travel over the course of the project for OVW technical assistance, which includes the two required DOJ-sponsored trainings identified in the “Budget Detail Worksheet and Narrative” section of this solicitation. Applicants from Alaska must budget $25,000.

17. Additional Resources
Guide to Understanding 2017 CTAS PA # CTAS FAQs Purpose Area#5 Narrative Sample Template Sample CTAS Templates
Guidebook Link Provided; FAQs Link Provided; and Link Provided to Sample Narrative for PA#5. For this link, advise that GMS password is required to access this fillable document.

18. OVW Program Contact Information
Phone: (202)