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 $854,696 Sexual Assault Services Formula Program (SASP) grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women on August 1, 2024, supports the Iowa State Department of Justice in providing a range of victim services to address sexual assault across the state. These services include personal advocacy, individual and group counseling, assistance with crime victim compensation applications, information and referral, civil and criminal justice advocacy, and housing support. The grant funds sub-awards to organizations such as Niad Center For Human Development, Family Resources, Inc., Crisis Intervention Advocacy Center, and Centers Against Abuse & Sexu to deliver these specialized services to sexual assault survivors in different regions of Iowa. The program aims to supplement existing local resources and enhance the capacity of service providers to deliver culturally-sensitive, victim-centered support statewide.

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.