OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Strengthening Culturally Specific Campus’ Approaches to Address Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative

The Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program (Campus Program) (CFDA# 16.525) provides funding for institutions of higher education to develop and strengthen effective strategies to prevent and address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus, including improving trauma-informed investigations, creating coordinated community response approaches, developing and strengthening victim services, and developing or enhancing prevention education and awareness programs.

OVW created the Strengthening Culturally Specific Campuses’ Approaches to Address Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative (hereinafter referred to as the CSC Initiative) with funding from the Campus Program to support Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) in strengthening their institutional response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. By statute (34 U.S.C. 20125(a)(2)(C)), the Attorney General shall make every effort to ensure the equitable distribution of grants to TCUs and HBCUs under the Campus Program and, as a result of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2022, a set aside of 10% was designated for HBCUs in the Campus Program’s statutory authorization of appropriations. In addition, the FY 2022, 2023, and 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Acts included a 50% set aside for HBCUs, TCUs, and HSIs. The activities that will be supported through this initiative will focus on building the capacity of HBCUs, TCUs, and HSIs that have never received a Campus Program grant award or whose most recent award was from FY 2019 or earlier. These federal funds will support the development and implementation of culturally relevant strategies to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including the development of effective response protocols and prevention programming.