OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program - Solicitation

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 20124. The Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (CSSP) (CFDA# 16.016) supports the maintenance and replication of existing successful community-based programs providing culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as the development of innovative culturally specific strategies to enhance access to services and resources for victims who face obstacles to accessing more traditional programs. (34 U.S.C. § 20124(b)(1)).

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(9), culturally specific services means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities. Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(8), culturally specific means primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6(g)). Section 300u-6(g) defines "racial and ethnic minority groups" as "American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian Americans; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics."

For additional information about this program and related performance measures, including how awards contribute to the achievement of program goals and objectives, see:

OVW grant program information: OVW Grants and Programs Webpage.
Program performance measures under the Measuring Effectiveness Initiative: VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative webpage.
Program-specific sections in OVW's most recent report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs.

What's New About this OVW Program

The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) revised the definition of victim services to include legal services. Applicants that support victim services will be allowed to include comprehensive legal assistance by an attorney. Comprehensive legal services may not be more than 10% of the project's overall budget. All legal services must be limited to a scope or focus that can be sufficiently addressed within the award period.
VAWA 2022 included a requirement that not less than 40 percent of available CSSP funds will be allocated for programs that meaningfully address non-intimate partner sexual assault. This includes adult survivors of child sexual abuse.
The award period for CSSP is 36 months. Projects that include an OVW priority area may be allowed an additional time period to expend award funds.
The maximum award amount is $400,000. Projects that include an OVW priority area may receive additional funds that exceed this maximum award amount.