National Deaf Services Line

The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funds the National Deaf Services Line program (CFDA 16.056) to create and maintain remote services for Deaf victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, with the most recent solicitation posted in June 2024.

Grant opportunities under this program are issued as Cooperative Agreements with short application windows. The FY 2024 solicitation (O-OVW-2024-172054) closed June 24, 2024, and solicited continued funding for implementation of recommendations from the Expanding Deaf-Specific Victim Services Nationwide: A 5-Year Strategy report. The prior-year FY 2023 solicitation (O-OVW-2023-171791) closed September 8, 2023. Both opportunities targeted "Other" applicant types, though OVW's general program guidance identifies eligible applicants as victim service providers and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving Deaf people.

The program reflects OVW's recognition that in-person services to Deaf victims remain limited and that culturally and linguistically appropriate services—rooted in Deaf culture and delivered "for Deaf, by Deaf"—are underavailable. Virtual remote services are positioned as a bridge to reach unserved and underserved Deaf populations when culturally appropriate in-person crisis intervention, advocacy, and support cannot be accessed locally.

In FY 2023, OVW awarded funding to Activating Change to implement Phase Two of a two-part initiative, signaling this is a selective, continuation-focused program rather than a broadly competitive opportunity. Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis, and applicants are notified by fiscal year end. All applications route through Grants.gov and OVW's JustGrants system. Recipients must retain financial records and supporting documentation for three years from final expenditure report submission.

No current open solicitation is posted. Organizations interested in this program should monitor OVW's open notices of funding opportunities at justice.gov/ovw for the next annual solicitation, typically posted in the summer months.