The office on violence against women (OVW) emerging issues and training and technical assistance call for concept papers (call for concept papers)invitedinterested eligible entities to propose…

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded a $750,000 Cooperative Agreement under the OVW Technical Assistance Initiative (CFDA 16.526) to Valorus, doing business as the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA). With this 36-month award starting on October 1, 2023, Valorus will expand the implementation of the STARRSA (Science-Based Treatment, Accountability, and Risk Reduction for Sexual Assault) program, which provides interventions for college students who have engaged in sexual misconduct. The project aims to address gaps in services for campus sexual assault respondents, expand options for diverse and culturally specific campuses, and enhance the efficacy of grievance processes to hold students accountable. Key activities include refining STARRSA training materials, conducting outreach, selecting campuses for intensive technical assistance, providing STARRSA training, and offering ongoing support.

The office on violence against women (OVW) emerging issues and training and technical assistance call for concept papers (call for concept papers)invitedinterested eligible entities to propose projects that explore new and emerging issues and training and technical assistance projects addressing the needs and challenges of OVW grantees, subgrantees, and the larger violence against women field. In particular, with the passage of the violence against women act reauthorization act of 2022 (vawa 2022), PUB. L. No. 117-103, DIV. W, 136 stat. 49, 840-962, OVW sought to identify innovative projects and technical assistance that address the new and revised programs and issues included in vawa 2022, as well as other emerging issues in the fields of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. See 34 U.S.C. 12291(B)(11) and (16). OVW reviewed the submitted concept papers, selected promising projects in each of the call for concept papers purpose areas, and contacted selected applicants to invite them to submit a full application for their concept paper through the call for concept papers invitation to apply solicitation. With funding through the OVW FY 2023 emerging issues and training and technical assistance call for concept papers, valorus will implement the missing piece of the puzzle: effective interventions with students responsible for sexual misconduct project. This project will expand the implementation of starrsa (science-based treatment, accountability, and risk reduction for sexual assault). Starrsa is designed specifically for college and university students who have engaged in problematic sexual behavior. Expanded implementation of starrsa will address key gaps in services related to behavior change of campus sexual assault respondents, expand the options necessary to meet the needs of diverse and culturally specific campuses, and offer new opportunities to enhance the efficacy of grievance processes intended to hold students meaningfully accountable for their actions, prevent the behavior from recurring, and give them the skills needed to live safely in any community. During the course of the proposed project period, valorus and its project partners will: 1) review and refine the starrsa training materials and curriculum to incorporate new research; 2) conduct outreach and information sessions to expand knowledge about the diversity of the students engaged in sexual misconduct and the starrsa model; 3) select campuses through an application process for intensive TTA; 4) provide starrsa training; and 5) offer ongoing technical assistance. This award supports purpose area 1: emerging issues. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months for $750,000, of which $750,000 will be awarded through the OVW innovation fund.