Foa_Content_of_HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-EV-0060.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families-Family and Youth Services Bureau

Family Violence Prevention and Services Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Discretionary Grants

HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-EV-0060

Application Due Date: 08/11/2023

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Appendix

Funding Opportunity Title:

Family Violence Prevention and Services Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Discretionary Grants Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-EV-0060

Primary CFDA Number:

93.496 Due Date for Applications:

08/11/2023 Executive Summary

Notice:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) carefully and observe the application formatting requirements listed in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. For more information on applying for grants, please visit "How to Apply for a Grant" on the ACF Grants & Funding Page at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

This funding opportunity will award thirty cooperative agreements to implement culturally relevant sexual assault and domestic violence services for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and family violence for a four (4) year project period. The intent of Family Violence Prevention and Services Act's (FVPSA) Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault discretionary grant program is to build and sustain organizational capacity in delivering trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive, culturally relevant services for children, individuals, and families affected by sexual assault, domestic violence, and other traumas. This discretionary grant program will build upon the progress of culturally specific and community-based sexual assault and domestic violence programs in reducing the pervasive and harmful impact of violence and trauma by implementing culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and evidence-informed interventions for individuals and families who are from diverse, underserved, and historically marginalized communities.

Pre-Application Session:

FVPSA Program will conduct one (1) optional web-based Pre-Application Information Session.

For more information, see Section I: Program Description of this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for this funding opportunity is FVPSA. 42 U.S. C § 10403 (d)(1).

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Description Description:

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Violence Prevention Services (OFVPS) recognizes that the children and families across our programs are exposed to multiple forms of violence. ACF is committed to strengthening and expanding its existing efforts to promote social and emotional well-being of children, youth, and families and to facilitate healing and recovery by addressing risk factors and building the skills, capacities, and mechanisms for promoting safety, community connection, healthy relationships, and emotional healing.

The Administration for Children, Youth, and Families(ACYF) OFVPS, seeks to explore and implement strategies that can be used to build the capacity of community-based organizations serving families that are experiencing the effects of multiple forms of violence, including family violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and other lifetime traumas.

Research findings indicate that domestic violence and sexual assault disproportionately impacts members of racial and ethnic minority groups including African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Latinos/Latinas. This increased risk of domestic violence and sexual assault can be attributed to the marginalized status of these groups stemming from long-standing racial and gender discrimination.

An estimated 21.2 percent of non-Hispanic Black women and 13.6 percent of Hispanic women reported being raped during their lifetimes. Non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic women also experienced sexual violence other than rape during their lifetimes, with an estimated 38.2 percent and 35.6 percent, respectively, reporting such occurrences. In addition, an estimated

31.9 percent of Asian or Pacific Islander women experienced sexual violence other than rape during their lifetimes (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summaries / Vol. 63 / No. 8 September 5, 2014.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization — National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011).

Domestic violence victimization also occurs at significant rates among African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Latinos/Latinas. Approximately 41 percent of Black women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime (source: Ujima:

National Institute on Violence Against Women in the Black Community website fact sheet). An estimated 1 in 3 Latinas (34.4 percent) will experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during her lifetime and 1 in 12 (8.6 percent) reported experiencing IPV in the previous 12 months (source:Esperanza United website fact sheet). Among Asian American women, 16–55 percent report experiencing intimate physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime (source: Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence website fact sheet). These data suggest that interventions that address domestic violence and sexual assault by employing a culturally competent approach are likely to be more effective.

Research has shown that the impact of experiencing multiple forms of trauma and abuse throughout one’s lifetime is significantly higher among multiracial, African American, Hispanic/Latina, and Native American women. In 2010, researchers Green, Meet, & Shara studied the prevalence of lifetime trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Latina https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6308a1.htm https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6308a1.htm https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6308a1.htm https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6308a1.htm https://ujimacommunity.org/resources/ https://ujimacommunity.org/resources/ https://esperanzaunited.org/en/tag/factsheet/ https://www.api-gbv.org/resources/resource_type/factsheet/ https://www.api-gbv.org/resources/resource_type/factsheet/ immigrants and found that 75 percent of the women in this study had experienced one or more traumatic events [1]. Research also shows that lifetime experience of any trauma ranges from

62.4 percent for male southwest tribe members to 69.8 percent for female northern plains tribe members. [2] Culturally specific and linguistically appropriate trauma-informed domestic violence services can have both short-term and long-term wellness outcomes for individuals and families impacted by promoting safety, connections to community resources, healthy relationships, and emotional healing.

Unaddressed trauma, including trauma caused by family violence, domestic violence, dating violence and sexual assault impacts families’ social and emotional well-being, often seriously affecting their physical, mental, and behavioral health. Research demonstrates that abuse, violence, and discrimination across the lifespan play a significant role in developing mental health and substance abuse conditions among families in this country and throughout the world.

Experiencing trauma can also affect survivor's ability to access resources and services (e.g., through avoidance of trauma triggers or a reluctance to reach out when trust has not been established). Services must be sensitive to the fact that abusive partners may be exercising ongoing control over their partners’ ability to utilize resources by directly preventing access or through the threat of retaliatory violence. Understanding how these issues intersect in adults and children exposed to sexual assault, and family, dating, and domestic violence is essential to creating services and systems that address healing, emotional well-being, and safety needs. It is critical to reduce the pervasive and harmful impact of violence and trauma by building the capacity of domestic violence programs, state domestic violence coalitions, tribes, tribal organizations, community-based organizations, and statewide entities to offer trauma-informed, culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate, and accessible services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, family violence, sexual assault victims, and their children from diverse and historically marginalized communities. This funding opportunity supports the development and implementation of trauma-informed focused policies, protocols, and programs that will address the safety and support needs of adults and youth victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and family violence.

Through this NOFO, the FVPSA Program will fund grant recipients to implement culturally specific, trauma-informed, and evidence-informed domestic violence, and sexual assault services. Grant recipients are expected to identify specific trauma-informed and evidence-informed interventions that will be implemented and will be locally evaluated to document their effectiveness in supporting individuals and families impacted by sexual assault, and dating, domestic and family violence. It is expected that the research and implementation results of this grant program will contribute to the domestic violence and sexual assault fields evidence-based effective practices.

Evidence-informed practices bring together the best available research, professional expertise, and input from youth and families to identify and deliver services that promise positive outcomes for youth, families, and communities. These evidence-informed interventions differ from evidence-based practices that replicate practices that have been evaluated using rigorous evaluation design such as random controlled or high-quality quasi-experimental trials and that have demonstrated positive impacts for youth, families, and communities. The FVPSA Program will disseminate our grant recipients' research findings, protocols, and effective approaches to experts and service providers within the domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and family violence fields.

Services Target Audience: Grant recipients are expected to use their expertise to provide culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services as they relate to the ethnic, racial, cultural, and lingual diversity of survivors from underserved and historically marginalized communities. Grant recipients must define, describe, and justify their proposed target population(s). Examples of characteristics of appropriate target populations under this funding opportunity announcement are limited to adults, children, adolescents, and teens who are from diverse and historically marginalized communities and impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence.

Definitions:

Evidence-Based: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C 601 (c) (ii), “use evidence-based practices in policymaking, including identifying existing solutions, scaling up practices that are working, and designing solutions with regular input of the individuals and communities to be served.”

Culturally Specific Services: Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(7), “culturally specific services” means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities.

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(6), “culturally specific” means primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6(g)) (which means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian American; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics). The term ‘‘Hispanic’’ or ‘‘Latino’’ means individuals whose origin is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or any other Spanish speaking country. This underserved populations definition also includes other population categories determined by the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] or the Secretary’s designee to be underserved.

Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship (42 U.S.C. § 13925(a))

Domestic Violence: Felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws or jurisdiction receiving grant monies;

or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person's acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction (42 U.S.C. § 13925(a))

Family Violence: Any act or threatened act of violence, including any forceful detention of an individual, which: (a) results in or threatens to result in physical injury, and (b) is committed by a person against another individual (including an elderly person) to whom such person is, or was, related by blood or marriage, or otherwise legally related, or with whom such person is, or was, lawfully residing (42 U.S.C. § 10402)

Sexual Assault – For the purposes of this announcement ‘sexual assault’ means any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by federal, tribal, or state law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent.

Supportive Services – For the purposes of this announcement, “supportive services” is defined as services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault and their dependents that are designed to meet the needs of such victims and their dependents for short-term, transitional, or long-term safety and recovery. Supportive services include, but are not limited to, the following:

direct and/or provide referral-based advocacy on behalf of victims and their dependents, counseling, case management, employment services, referrals, transportation services, legal advocacy or assistance, child care services, health, behavioral health and preventive health services, culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and other services that assist victims and their dependents in recovering from the effects of the violence (45 CFR § 1370.2).

Underserved: For purposes of this announcement, “underserved population,” “underserved communities” or “people who have been historically underserved” should be read to be consistent with FVPSA statutory and regulatory definitions (at 42 U.S.C. § 10402 (14) and 45 CFR § 1370.2). For reference, the definition at 45 CFR § 1370.2 is given here: “Underserved populations means populations who face barriers in accessing and using victim services, and includes populations underserved because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, underserved racial and ethnic populations, and populations underserved because of special needs including language barriers, disabilities, immigration status, and age. Individuals with criminal histories due to victimization and individuals with substance use disorders and mental health issues are also included in this definition. The reference to racial and ethnic populations is primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300(u–6) (g)), which means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian American; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks and Hispanics. The term ‘‘Hispanic’’ or ‘‘Latino’’ means individuals whose origin is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or any other Spanish speaking country. This underserved populations’ definition also includes other population categories determined by the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] or the Secretary’s designee to be underserved."

Purpose/Goals:

1. Supporting innovative, culturally specific, community-based, non-residential services that enhance intervention and prevention for all survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence from racial and ethnic specific populations;

2. Strengthening the capacity and furthering the leadership development of racial and ethnic organizations to address sexual violence and domestic violence in their communities;

3. Promoting strategic partnership development and collaboration, including with health systems, early childhood programs, economic support programs, schools, child welfare, workforce development, domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence programs, other community-based programs, community-based organizations serving individuals with disabilities, faith-based programs, and youth programs, in order to further a public health response to supporting survivors of sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence from racial and ethnic specific underserved populations;

4. Increase access to and implementation of culturally specific, trauma-informed, and evidence-informed interventions for children, individuals, and families impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence who are from racial and ethnic specific populations, underserved, and historically marginalized communities;

5. Enhance culturally specific, trauma-informed, and evidenced-informed programming to reduce traumatic stress reactions for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children who are from racial and ethnic specific populations, underserved, and historically marginalized communities.

6. Identify factors and strategies associated with successful implementation and sustainment of culturally specific and trauma-informed programming.

7. Implement interventions, policies, practices, and collaborative models to improve services for individuals, children, and families who have experienced trauma and are exhibiting trauma symptoms while accessing sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning, Two-Spirited (LGBTQ2S) programs, and culturally specific community-based programs.

8. Evaluate how well the organization's approaches work of trauma-informed and evidence-informed interventions for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children who are from racial and ethnic specific populations, underserved, and historically marginalized communities thus contributing to the evidence base for culturally relevant services; and

9. Disseminate research findings, protocols, and approaches to experts and service providers providing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence services.

Phases of the Grant Grant recipients will complete an initial assessment and planning phase (Phase I) and describe preliminary plans for the implementation of trauma-informed-focused, culturally relevant programming and organizational capacity building (Phase II). Assessment and planning activities in Phase I must inform decision-making about the populations targeted, assessment tools that will be adopted, and the strategies and activities that will be necessary to successfully implement the chosen programming in Phase II.

In Phase 1, grant recipients will:

1. Identify the racial and ethnic specific populations and, underserved, and historically marginalized communities that will be served, the needs to be addressed within the community, and the culturally relevant/linguistically appropriate programmatic services that will address those needs.

2. Identify the culturally relevant intervention, assessment tool, and programming that will be used to address the impact of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and trauma for adults and children that will receive services. Identify and discuss the evidence that shows that the interventions, assessment tools, or programming selected are effective for both the population of focus and for the proposed program. Describe the applicant’s experience in using these various interventions and programs.

3. Establish outreach, awareness, and engagement plans in order to meaningfully engage and serve domestic violence and sexual assault survivors from racial and ethnic-specific populations. All FVPSA grant recipients are expected to ensure that products and activities are appropriately survivor-centered by regularly incorporating input and feedback from people with lived experience as survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, or sexual assault and their children into grant activities at multiple points in the development process.

4. Establish collaborative partnerships necessary with sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, health care providers, behavioral health care providers, researchers, LGBTQ2S organizations, and other culturally specific organizations in order to guide and support successful implementation.

5. Ensure the appropriateness of the selected culturally relevant, trauma-focused screening, assessment, and programming for targeted children, youth, adults, and their families.

6. Ensure the fit of the trauma-focused screening/assessment and programming for the existing culturally specific community into which they will be introduced.

7. Identify the existing culturally relevant programming that will be expanded with trauma-focused screening/assessment and programming.

8. Assess the capacity and readiness of your organization and its service/referral partners for the implementation of culturally relevant, trauma-focused screening/assessment and programming.

9. Identify a research partner to begin planning for the evaluation of the trauma-informed, culturally relevant interventions and discuss the population(s) for which the practice(s) have been shown to be effective and show that they are appropriate for your population(s) of focus.

10. Grant Recipients must submit a logic model for designing and managing their project as a deliverable in Phase I. A logic model is a one-page diagram that presents the conceptual framework for a proposed project and explains the links among program elements. See Section IV.2. Project Timeline and Milestones for more detailed information on Logic Models.

11. Develop and finalize sound plans for Phase II, including plans to: a) prepare an awareness, outreach, and engagement plan for serving domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault survivors from racial and ethnic specific communities; b) prepare the community-based organization and service/referral partners for implementation; c) adopt and scale up selected trauma-focused screening/assessment and programming; d) evaluate the processes and outcomes of installation and implementation;

e) sustain the delivery of the culturally specific domestic violence and sexual assault programming using resources from available funding streams; f) train community partners on culturally relevant, trauma-informed screening/assessment; and g) disseminate lessons and findings to the field over the course of the project.

In Phase 2, grant recipients will:

1. Formalize the services and partnership structure for the project, including the lead agency, the roles of key partners, and the proposed contents of formal agreements across agencies and service providers.

2. Implement comprehensive evidence-informed/trauma-informed culturally specific domestic violence and sexual assault services.

1. Provide culturally specific services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault. Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(7), “culturally specific services” means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities. Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(6), “culturally specific” means primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6(g)) (which means American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian American; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics). The term ‘‘Hispanic’’ or ‘‘Latino’’ means individuals whose origin is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or any other Spanish-speaking country. This underserved populations definition also includes other population categories determined by the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] or the Secretary’s designee to be underserved.

2. Provide in-person, virtual services, temporary housing options, and supportive services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence from racial and ethnic specific minority groups and underserved communities, including paying for the operating, staffing, and administrative expenses of the facilities.

3. Provide services, training, technical assistance, and outreach to increase access to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services.

4. Provide advocacy, case management services, and information and referral services concerning issues related to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services, including—

1. Assistance in accessing related federal and state financial assistance programs.

2. Legal advocacy to assist survivors and their dependents.

3. Medical advocacy, to include provision of referrals for appropriate health care services (including mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment), but not to include reimbursement for any health care services.

4. Assistance locating and securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services.

5. Provide transportation, childcare, respite care, job training and employment services, financial literacy services and education, financial planning, and related economic empowerment services.

6. Provide parenting and other educational services for victims and their dependents.

5. Provide direct crisis intervention services, including counseling, mobile advocacy, telehealth, peer support, and in-person assistance. Mobile advocacy allows for advocates to work within the community to support domestic violence and sexual assault survivors wherever it is safe and convenient for the survivor.

6. Provide prevention services, including outreach to racial and ethnic-specific communities and underserved populations to increase access to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services.

7. Strengthen partnerships with local and state public health authorities, local/state health departments, emergency services managers, health care providers, culturally specific community-based organizations, tribes, urban Indian organizations, LGBTQ2S organizations, domestic violence programs, and rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs to improve services and supports for survivors and their children.

3. Convene community-based activists, sexual assault service providers, domestic violence service providers, domestic violence survivors, practitioners, and researchers to support coordinated outreach efforts to racial/ethnic-specific populations, underserved populations, and historically marginalized communities and to discuss best practices for implementation services that address the dynamics of sexual assault, domestic violence, culture, victimization, trauma, oppression, and healing.

4. Develop a community engagement, education, and outreach strategy to involve racial/ethnic-specific populations and underserved communities in the creation and implementation of services relevant to the ethnic, racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of survivors and their children. All FVPSA grant recipients are expected to implement evidence-based, evidence-informed, and or promising strategies that regularly engage input and feedback from people with lived experience that are survivors of family violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault and their children into their needs assessments. FVPSA grant recipients will ensure that these activities are meaningful, trauma-informed and grounded in the lived experiences of survivors and their children. The grant recipient will encourage survivor voice(s) and lead in partnership with survivors in program selection, program design, program improvement, and/or other recommendations.

5. Evaluate the trauma-informed, culturally relevant interventions and discuss the population(s) for which the practice(s) are effective and show that they are appropriate for your population(s) of focus.

6. Implement activities necessary to ensure that the organization’s practices are more trauma-informed, including, at a minimum, plans to ensure standards of trauma awareness and competence for staff and supervisors, and plans for systematic screening and referral processes to identify families who should be referred for further clinical assessment and trauma-focused programming.

7. Offer training and technical assistance to staff, community partners, sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, and other community-based organizations with regards to culturally relevant, trauma-informed services, supports, and programming.

8. Plan for information dissemination, including fostering and strengthening communication and coordination activities with sexual assault service providers, domestic violence services, culturally relevant community-based organizations, and organizations serving underserved populations.

Grant Recipient Expectations Culturally specific, community-based organizations provide critical leadership on supporting underserved communities regarding the dynamics of sexual assault, domestic violence, culture, victimization, oppression, trauma, and healing. The FVPSA Program is committed to supporting the capacity building of community-based, culturally specific service providers responding to sexual assault and domestic violence survivors and their children, which includes supporting the implementation of culturally relevant, trauma-informed interventions, programming, and training.

Grant recipients may be at different stages of readiness for implementation and have different levels of familiarity with efforts to establish trauma-informed service systems. While some grant recipients may be attempting to further spread the availability of trauma-focused programming that already has been implemented in the community, others may be initiating campaigns to make trauma-focused programming accessible to its target population for the first time. Each grant recipient will be given the flexibility to proceed with assessment, planning, installation, and implementation activities at a pace that is appropriate based on its needs, objectives, and readiness.

Grant recipients' plans are expected to describe the organization's current coordination efforts with sexual assault and domestic violence service providers and culturally specific organizations, including details of past collaborations and plans for coordination of trauma-informed services for the culturally specific population that will be the focus of the applicant’s programming.

All grant recipients must demonstrate extensive expertise in analyzing the dynamics of sexual assault, domestic violence, culture, victimization, oppression, and healing, as well as a history of engaging underserved and historically marginalized communities in addressing these issues.

Applicants are also expected to increase awareness and promote dialogue between the sexual assault, domestic violence, mental health, and culturally specific service providers regarding the intersections of domestic violence, sexual assault, trauma, and culture. Finally, applicants are expected to implement programming that promotes safety, community connections, healthy relationships, and emotional healing.

1. Kaltman, S, Green, B, Mete, M, Shara, N (2010). Trauma, depression, and co-morbid PTSD/depression in a community sample of Latina immigrants. Psychological Trauma:

Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 2(1), 31-39.

2. Manson, S, Beals, J, Klein, S, Croy, C, AI-SUPERPFP (2005). Social epidemiology of trauma among 2 American Indian reservation populations. American Journal of Public Health, 95(5), 851-859.

All grant recipients are expected to ensure that the grant implementation approach, workplans, and deliverables are consistent with a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. The recipient will provide a comprehensive community equity plan (or other similar documentation within the application) that demonstrates the processes and policies the recipient has in place to ensure the proactive identification of systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved populations and strategic incorporation of activities to redress such barriers in ongoing workplans. This plan (or other similar documentation within the application) will also address policies and practices that are in place to ensure that the grant staffing plan supports the capacity to address those disparities in an ongoing, strategic, and culturally responsive manner, especially for underserved populations with documented history of long-standing significant disparities related to the topic of the grant. Ensure that the grant approach, workplans, and deliverables are consistent with prohibitions on discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation and proactively support access and redress barriers for LGBTQ2S survivors and their children. Also ensure that technical assistance and training is conducted in alignment with FVPSA regulations at 45 CFR part 1370.5(a) and (c) requiring that no person shall be based on actual or perceived gender identity or sexual orientation be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under, any program or activity funded in whole or in part through FVPSA.

Upon receiving funding, recipients are required to develop a disparity impact statement using local data and input to identify populations at highest risk for health, social, economic, or other disparities, such as low health literacy. The disparity impact statement will identify social, policy, historical, and other context associated with root causes and drivers of disparities. It will also provide the framework and plan for ongoing action and accountability, such as program improvement, incorporation of the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care, monitoring and assessment of the impact of the project on the program’s equity goals.

Below are available HHS resources:

OMH.gov: Guidance for Preparing a Disparity Impact Statement CMS.gov: Quality Improvement & Interventions: Disparity Impact Statement SAMHSA.gov: Disparity Impact Statement

Pre-Application Information Session:

The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services will conduct a pre-application information session on June 21, 2023 from 3:00 – 4:00 PM, [EDT]. The link to join the Zoom meeting is [https://acf-hhs-gov.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_h6DctgwJQIy5lIJ0Gc76mw], and the pass code is [284454]. The goals of the session are to provide the audience with any clarification or questions related to the information provided in this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Joining and participating is voluntary. Participants joining virtually may remain anonymous. Opting not to participate in the session will not affect eligibility, application scoring, or the award selection process. Applicants unable to attend can access the recording and transcript on the www.acf.hhs.gov/ofvps website after the session has concluded. In the event of a discrepancy between the presentation and/or materials and the NOFO, the NOFO takes precedence.

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$7,500,000 https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/Assets/PDF/Disparity%20Impact%20Statement%20Guide_7.19.2021.pdf https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/Downloads/Disparities-Impact-Statement-508-rev102018.pdf https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grants-management/disparity-impact-statement https://samhsa.gov http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofvps

Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$250,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$200,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$200,000 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2023 Length of Project Periods:

48-month project period with four 12-month budget periods

Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' Awards will be made for the first one (1) year budget period of the four-year project period.

Applicants should provide a budget for the first one (1) year budget period, but must include a plan for the entire four-year project period.

Additional Information on Awards:

Awards made under this funding opportunity are subject to the availability of federal funds.

Applications requesting an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period, or per project period, as stated in this section, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period. Please see Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Note: For those programs that require matching or cost sharing, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the required amount of match or cost share. A recipient's failure to provide the required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

For more information on these requirements, see Section III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching.

Applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond the 1-year period will be considered in subsequent years on a non-competitive basis, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress (e.g., compliance with terms and conditions of the award) of the grant recipient, review and approval of the project plan submitted in year 1, and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the federal government.

Description of ACF's Anticipated Substantial Involvement Under the Cooperative Agreement Award

All awards will be cooperative agreements. A cooperative agreement is an award instrument used when substantial involvement is anticipated between the awarding office and the recipient during performance of the contemplated project. OFVPS of the ACF will collaborate with the primary grant recipient throughout the project period.

OFVPS will provide consultation and will review and approve the work plan for the project, including Phase I and Phase II project plans, as well as the structure, integrity, and appropriateness of the trauma-informed services that will be provided.

OFVPS will also approve any revisions to the work plan or structure of the trauma-informed services during each budget period. Additionally, OFVPS will approve significant project activities and changes to project plans.

OFVPS will review and approve final drafts of all Phase I and Phase II implementation plans as well as any updated or new materials, articles, major publications, and research reports that are developed or distributed with resources made available under this cooperative agreement.

OFVPS will be involved in the development of long-term strategies for the implementation of the project and will participate in major project activities, such as conferences, topical meetings, or major project meetings. Grant recipients will plan topical meetings or major project meetings in conjunction with OFVPS to ensure participation of OFVPS staff. Grant recipients will provide a detailed plan for project implementation, including Phase I and Phase II implementation plans, a work plan, trainings/events schedule, evaluation schedule, and a plan for reporting on the effectiveness of the project.

OFVPS will organize periodic consultations, meetings, briefings, teleconferences, webinars, and other forums necessary to review current and planned activities, to share information, and to promote trauma-informed, culturally relevant services. Grant recipients must plan travel expenses and budget for at least one representative from your organization to participate in at least one OFVPS-sponsored meeting each budget period. OFVPS will keep grant recipients informed about expectations for performance, current OFVPS policy, and OFVPS's vision for addressing dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and family violence. The respective responsibilities of OFVPS and the awarded applicants will be identified and incorporated into the terms and conditions of the award during the pre-award negotiations. It is anticipated that the cooperative agreement will not change the project requirements for the grant recipient under this announcement.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

To be eligible to receive a grant to lead a program focused on Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, an entity shall—

(1) be a private nonprofit, or faith-based and charitable organization, nongovernmental organization that is— (A) a community-based organization whose primary purpose is providing culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence and dating violence from racial and ethnic minority populations; or ‘‘(B) a community-based organization whose primary purpose is providing culturally specific services to individuals from racial and ethnic minority populations that can partner with an organization having demonstrated expertise in serving victims of domestic violence and dating violence; or (C) institution of higher education (private, public, or state controlled); or (D) a tribal government or tribal organization, with a demonstrated record of serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence or sexual assault, and their children, from historically marginalized or underserved communities; and (2) have a board of directors and staffing that is reflective of the targeted minority group.

Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. See Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

Reference to Legal Status See Section IV.2. Legal Status of Applicant Entity for documentation required to support eligibility.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

No For all federal awards, any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all criteria listed in 45 CFR § 75.306.

For awards that require matching by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the amount required by the statutory match. A recipient’s failure to provide the statutorily required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, where “cost sharing” refers to any situation in which the recipient voluntarily shares in the costs of a project other than as statutorily required matching, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. These include situations in which contributions are voluntarily proposed by a recipient or subrecipient and are accepted by ACF. Non-federal cost sharing will be included in the approved project budget so that the recipient will be held accountable for proposed non-federal cost sharing funds as shown in the Notice of Award (NoA). A recipient’s failure to provide voluntary cost sharing of non-federal resources that have been accepted by ACF as part of the approved project costs and that have been shown as part of the approved project budget in the NoA, may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

III.3. Other

Application Disqualification Factors Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Award Ceiling Disqualification

Applications that request an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period or per project period ("per project period" refers only to fully funded awards), as stated in Section II. Federal Award Information, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period.

Required Electronic Application Submission

ACF requires electronic submission of applications at Grants.gov. Paper applications received from applicants that have not been approved for an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Applicants that do not have an internet connection or sufficient computing capacity to upload large documents to the internet may contact ACF for an exemption that will allow the applicant to submit applications in paper format. Information and the requirements for requesting an exemption from required electronic application submission are found in "ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Electronic Application Submission."

Missing the Application Deadline (Late Applications)

The deadline for electronic application submission is 11:59 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Electronic applications submitted to Grants.gov after 11:59 pm ET on the due date, as indicated by a dated and time-stamped email from Grants.gov, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. That is, applications submitted to Grants.gov, on or after 12:00 am ET on the day after the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ACF_Policy_for_Requesting_an_Exemption_from_Required_Electronic_FINAL_0.pdf funding opportunity.

Applications submitted to Grants.gov at any time during the open application period, and prior to the due date and time, which fail the Grants.gov validation check, will not be received at, or acknowledged by ACF.

Each time an application is submitted via Grants.gov, the submission will generate a new date and time-stamp email notification. Only those applications with on-time date and time stamps that result in a validated application, which is transmitted to ACF will be acknowledged.

The deadline for receipt of…