The sexual assault services formula program (SAS formula program) was created by the violence against women and department of justice reauthorization act of 2005 (vawa 2005), 34 U.S.C. 12511

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) received a $916,732 Sexual Assault Services Formula Program (SASP) grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women. The SASP grant, with an award date of August 1, 2024 and an ultimate completion date of July 31, 2026, is designed to support comprehensive services for sexual assault victims across Alabama.

ADECA will use the SASP funds to supplement existing resources and enhance the capacity of rape crisis centers, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies to deliver critical intervention, advocacy, counseling, and related assistance to adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault. The agency will also distribute a sub-award of $252,846 to the Alabama Coalition Against Rape, Inc. (ACAR) to expand and enhance direct service provision to victims of sexual violence across the state, including medical and legal accompaniment, counseling, support groups, and outreach efforts.

The SAS formula program directs grant dollars to states and territories to assist them in supporting rape crisis centers (including governmental rape crisis centers not in territories and tribal governmental programs) and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault, regardless of age. Funds provided through the SAS formula program are designed to supplement other funding sources directed at addressing sexual assault on the state and territorial levels. Rape crisis centers and other nonprofit organizations, such as dual programs providing both domestic violence and sexual assault intervention services, play a vital role in assisting sexual assault victims through the healing process, as well as assisting victims through the medical, criminal justice, and other social support systems.