OVW FY 2018 Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus Program | OVW 2018 13820

Opportunity Information: Apply for OVW 2018 13820

The OVW FY 2018 Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is designed for colleges and universities to build stronger, more coordinated campus responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The central idea is that these crimes require a campus-wide, community-linked approach that prioritizes victim safety, expands and improves survivor services, and strengthens accountability for offenders.

A major focus of the program is supporting comprehensive coordinated community responses. That means campuses are expected to bring together the key people and departments that touch prevention, reporting, investigation, support services, and discipline. The opportunity emphasizes collaboration among campus victim service providers, campus safety or law enforcement, health providers, housing staff, administrators, student leaders, faith-based leaders, representatives from student organizations, and members of campus disciplinary boards. Instead of operating in separate silos, these groups are encouraged to create shared strategies, protocols, and communication pathways so survivors experience a more consistent, supportive, and effective response across the institution.

The program also stresses that campus efforts should not stop at the campus boundary. Effective responses are expected to connect with local off-campus partners in the criminal justice system and the victim services community. This includes building working relationships with local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors offices, courts, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim advocacy and victim service organizations. The intent is to ensure that survivors who want or need off-campus help can access it quickly, and that cases involving criminal conduct can be handled in a coordinated way that improves safety and strengthens accountability.

On the service and response side, the funding supports activities that develop and strengthen trauma-informed victim services. In practical terms, this points to improving how survivors are treated at every step of the process, from initial disclosure to ongoing support, while reducing the chance of re-traumatization. Campuses are encouraged to expand victim services and advocacy programs and to make sure survivors have access to holistic supports, which can include advocacy, safety planning, medical and mental health referrals, housing-related assistance, academic accommodations, and help navigating disciplinary and criminal justice processes.

On the prevention and systems side, the program supports strategies to prevent, investigate, and respond to these offenses. The opportunity encourages campuses to create or revitalize large-scale efforts that treat sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking as serious crimes and conduct violations. This includes adopting effective, culturally relevant policies and protocols, and implementing prevention approaches that fit the campus community. The message campuses are expected to communicate is clear: these offenses will not be tolerated, perpetrators will face meaningful consequences, and supportive services are available to victims.

In terms of eligibility and basic award details, applicants must be institutions of higher education, including public and state-controlled colleges and universities as well as private institutions of higher education. The assistance listing is CFDA 16.525. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is listed as Education (with an additional "Other" category noted in the source data). The opportunity number is OVW 2018 13820. The application window opened with a creation date of January 9, 2018, and the original closing date was February 22, 2018. OVW anticipated making about 45 awards, with an award ceiling of $750,000 per award.

Overall, this grant program is aimed at helping campuses move beyond isolated initiatives and toward coordinated, survivor-centered systems that combine prevention, strong victim services, effective investigations and disciplinary processes, and close collaboration with local community and criminal justice partners. The expected result is a safer campus environment where reporting pathways are clearer, services are more accessible and trauma-informed, and institutional and community responses work together to reduce harm and increase accountability.

• The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the education, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW FY 2018 Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.525.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 09, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 22, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 45 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for OVW 2018 13820

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