Opportunity Information: Apply for OVW 2017 11923
The OVW FY 2017 Justice for Families Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), created under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013. Its core purpose is to strengthen how the civil and criminal justice systems respond to families affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to improve justice-system handling of cases that involve allegations of child sexual abuse. The program is built around the idea that families dealing with these forms of violence often interact with multiple parts of the court system at once (for example, family court, custody proceedings, protection orders, criminal cases, and juvenile court matters), and that safety and accountability outcomes depend on well-coordinated, informed, and victim-centered court practices.
Funding through this program is intended to increase the capacity of communities and courts to respond effectively and safely in cases involving these harms. Supported activities include court-based and court-related programs that make the justice process safer and more workable for victims and children, such as supervised visitation and safe exchange arrangements between parents. The program also emphasizes training and technical assistance for professionals who work with families in the court system, recognizing that judges, court staff, custody evaluators, guardians ad litem, attorneys, advocates, and other practitioners need consistent, specialized knowledge to identify risk, understand trauma and coercive control, and make decisions that prioritize safety. In addition, the program supports civil legal services, resources connected to juvenile court matters, and broader systems-change work like developing or promoting legislation, model codes, policies, and best practices that improve court responses across jurisdictions.
Eligible applicants are broad and include state governments, units of local government (counties and cities or townships), courts (including juvenile courts), federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The eligible pool also includes legal services providers and victim service providers, reflecting the program's focus on both institutional court improvement and direct support for survivors navigating complex legal systems. The funding activity aligns with law, justice, and legal services, and the applicable CFDA number is 16.021.
For FY 2017, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number OVW-2017-11923) anticipated making about 21 awards, with an award ceiling of $700,000 per award. The solicitation was created on December 1, 2016, and had an original application closing date of January 13, 2017. Overall, the grant is aimed at improving court and community practices so that families impacted by violence receive more consistent protection, better-informed judicial decision-making, and stronger access to services and legal remedies, while also promoting coordinated approaches that reduce risk and increase offender accountability.Apply for OVW 2017 11923
- The Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services, other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW FY 2017 Justice for Families Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.021.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-12-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-01-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 21 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.
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FAQs: OVW FY 2017 Justice for Families Program (OVW-2017-11923)
What is the OVW FY 2017 Justice for Families Program?
The Justice for Families Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It was created under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 to strengthen how civil and criminal justice systems respond to families affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to improve justice-system responses for families experiencing violence by promoting coordinated, informed, and victim-centered court practices. The program is designed to improve safety for victims and children and increase offender accountability, especially in situations where families are involved in multiple parts of the court system at the same time.
Which federal agency runs this funding opportunity?
This funding opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
What law created or authorizes this program?
The program was created under the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013.
What types of violence and cases does the program focus on?
The program focuses on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and it also targets improvements in how courts handle cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse.
Why does the program emphasize coordination across different courts?
Families affected by these forms of violence often interact with multiple parts of the court system at once, such as family court, custody proceedings, protection order matters, criminal cases, and juvenile court. The program emphasizes coordination because safety and accountability outcomes depend on consistent practices and information-sharing across these parallel processes.
What kinds of activities can funding support?
Funding is intended to increase the capacity of communities and courts to respond effectively and safely. Supported activities include court-based and court-related programs that make the justice process safer and more workable for victims and children, such as supervised visitation and safe exchange arrangements between parents.
Does the program support training and technical assistance?
Yes. The program emphasizes training and technical assistance for professionals working with families in the court system. This reflects the need for specialized, consistent knowledge to identify risk, understand trauma and coercive control, and support safety-focused decision-making.
Who are examples of professionals that may benefit from training supported by this program?
The solicitation highlights professionals such as judges, court staff, custody evaluators, guardians ad litem, attorneys, advocates, and other practitioners who work with families involved in the court system.
Does the program support civil legal services?
Yes. The program supports civil legal services as part of improving access to services and legal remedies for survivors navigating complex legal systems.
Does the program support work connected to juvenile court?
Yes. The program supports resources connected to juvenile court matters, recognizing that juvenile court can be part of the multi-system legal landscape affecting families impacted by violence.
Can funding be used for broader systems-change efforts?
Yes. The program supports systems-change work such as developing or promoting legislation, model codes, policies, and best practices that improve court responses across jurisdictions.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include state governments, units of local government (counties and cities or townships), courts (including juvenile courts), federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The eligible pool also includes legal services providers and victim service providers.
Are institutions of higher education eligible if they are a 501(c)(3)?
Based on the eligibility statement provided, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are eligible other than institutions of higher education. That means institutions of higher education are excluded from the 501(c)(3) nonprofit eligibility category as described.
Are courts allowed to apply directly?
Yes. Courts, including juvenile courts, are listed among eligible applicants.
Are federally recognized Indian tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Indian tribal governments are listed as eligible applicants.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The applicable CFDA number provided is 16.021.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OVW-2017-11923.
How many awards were anticipated for FY 2017?
For FY 2017, the opportunity anticipated making about 21 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was $700,000 per award.
When was the solicitation created and when did it close?
The solicitation was created on December 1, 2016. The original application closing date was January 13, 2017.
What type of grant is this (formula or discretionary)?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What outcomes is this program trying to achieve?
The grant aims to improve court and community practices so families impacted by violence receive more consistent protection, better-informed judicial decision-making, and stronger access to services and legal remedies, while also promoting coordinated approaches that reduce risk and increase offender accountability.
What problem in the justice system is this grant trying to address?
The program targets challenges that arise when families facing violence must navigate multiple legal processes at once. It seeks to strengthen court practices so that responses across civil and criminal systems are coordinated, informed by risk and trauma, and centered on victim and child safety.
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