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 U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $1,874,536 Sexual Assault Services Formula Program (CFDA 16.017) grant to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MN DPS) to support comprehensive services for sexual assault victims across Minnesota. This two-year formula grant, running from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2026, is designed to fund rape crisis centers, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies that provide direct victim support services such as intervention, advocacy, counseling, and related assistance.

As part of this grant, MN DPS has sub-awarded $XXX,XXX to the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center, a non-profit organization, to provide direct services to victims of sexual assault, implement education programs for sexual assault and domestic violence prevention on college campuses, and facilitate support groups for survivors.

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.