The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) developed the OVC National Directory of Victim Assistance Funding Opportunities 2001 in response to requests from state and local crime victim service providers for easy-to-access information about funding opportunities and contacts. The directory also provides a complete listing of professional colleagues nationwide for state victim assistance program administrators. This year, the Directory has also been expanded to include a list of grant programs that assist state and local agencies throughout the Nation and the territories, in preparing for and responding incidents of domestic terrorism and criminal mass casualty.

Although this directory is not an exhaustive listing of funding opportunities for victims, OVC plans to continue to keep compiling information and expanding this resource. To help us, OVC encourages you to make note of resources that should be included in future editions. For your convenience, a “new information” form has been included at the back of the “Quick Look” section of the directory.

The funding resources profiled in this directory come from the following federal grant programs:

1. The Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Formula Grant Program (Byrne Program). Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.

In 1968, Congress enacted legislation that provided funds for local crime control efforts in states and territories. This legislation, the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, established certain precepts: 1) criminal justice is an integrated system; 2) reduction of crime requires planning and evaluation of activities; 3) citizens must participate in crime reduction efforts; 4) victims’ needs must be considered; and 5) government at all levels and disciplines must work together to achieve common goals.

In 1988, Congress enacted the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which authorizes population-based grants to states. The states in turn subgrant the funds to state agencies, local governments, and other entities. The purpose of the Byrne Program is to help state agencies and local governments initiate innovative projects to reduce drug use and violent crime and to improve the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The Byrne Program authorizes states to allocate funds to projects that advance this overall strategy.

For more information on the Byrne Program, please contact the Bureau of Justice Assistance at (202) 514–6638.

2. Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families.

The purpose of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act includes several elements: 1) to help states increase public awareness about family violence, to prevent family violence, and to provide immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence and their dependents; and 2) to provide technical assistance and training related to family violence programs to states and local public agencies, including law enforcement agencies, courts, legal services, social services, health care professionals, and nonprofit organizations.

For more information on the FVPSA program, please contact DHHS, Administration for Children and Families at (202) 401–5529.

3. The Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant (PHHSBG). Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For Federal fiscal year 2001, Congress appropriated $44,225,000 for rape prevention and education programs conducted by rape crisis centers, state sexual assault coalitions, and other public and private nonprofit entities. These funds can be used for educational seminars; hotlines; training programs for professionals; preparation of information materials; education and training programs for college and university students and campus personnel which are designed to reduce the incidence of sexual assault; education and training to increase awareness about drug facilitated rape or sexual assault; and other efforts to increase awareness about, or to help prevent sexual assault, including efforts to increase awareness in underserved communities and among individuals with disabilities.

The remainder of the funds, for the sex offense set-aside in the amount of $7 million may be used for direct services or education. The sex offense set-aside remain in the PHHSBG and was not affected by the reauthorization that occurred in Fiscal Year 2000. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control will continue to provide technical assistance and oversight over these funds.

For more information about the Rape Prevention and Education program, contact The Program Implementation and Dissemination Branch, Division of Family Violence Prevention, National Center for Injuries Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (770) 488–1424.

4. STOP Violence Against Women Act Program (VAWA). Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Violence Against Women Grant Office. The 1994 Violence Against Women Act established four grant programs:

a) STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program. This program provides grants for states, territories, and the District of Columbia to develop and implement effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and enhance victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.

To carry out programs and projects specified in the Violence Against Women Act, funds granted to qualified states may be further subgranted by the state to agencies and programs including, but not limited to, the following: state offices and agencies; public and nonprofit organizations; units of local government; Indian Tribal governments; nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs; and legal services programs. Each state must allocate 25 percent of the STOP funds it receives to law enforcement, 25 percent to prosecution, and 25 percent to nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services. The remaining 25 percent may be allocated at the state’s discretion within the parameters of the Act.

b) STOP Violence Against Indian Women Discretionary Grants Program. This program establishes that 4 percent of the amount appropriated each year for the STOP VAWA Formula Grant Program be allocated for grants to Indian Tribal governments to develop and to strengthen the tribal justice system’s response to violent crimes against Indian women. To ensure development of a coordinated approach, the STOP Violence Against Women Act requires that Tribal governments with law enforcement and prosecution components allocate at least 25 percent of the program’s funds respectively to law enforcement; prosecution; and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs.

c) Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program. This program focuses on the needs and unique characteristics of rural communities in addressing domestic violence and child victimization. The program addresses these issues in appropriate, collaborative ways that improve and increase the services available to women and children while enhancing community involvement in developing a jurisdictional response to domestic violence and child victimization.

d) Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies. This program focuses on the development and implementation of laws, policies, and protocols that encourage or mandate the arrest of domestic violence offenders based on probable cause that an offense has been committed or when the terms of a valid, outstanding protection order have been violated. To ensure victim safety and perpetrator accountability in domestic violence cases, the program promotes aggressive, systemwide coordination throughout the criminal justice system and the nonprofit, nongovernmental victim service agencies.

For more information about the STOP VAWA Program, please contact the Office of Justice Programs at (202) 307–6026.

5. Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). Administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. The Victims of Crime Act of 1984 created a repository of fines, fees, and bond forfeitures from convicted Federal offenders. These monies are to be used for crime victims. Through the following programs, funds are made available to states and territories for crime victims and their service providers:

a) VOCA Crime Victim Compensation Program. VOCA victim compensation provides reimbursement for medical and mental health costs, funeral expenses, and lost wages. States and territories must also provide compensation to residents who are victims of terrorist acts and mass violence within or outside the United States. Compensation is paid only when other financial resources, such as private insurance or offender restitution, do not cover the loss. Federal and state regulations apply.

b) VOCA Crime Victim Assistance Program. All states and territories receive an annual VOCA victim assistance formula grant. VOCA authorizes states and territories to subgrant VOCA funds to agencies and nonprofit organizations the states and territories believe will best meet the unique needs of crime victims in that community.

VOCA contains three original priority areas for state distribution of victim assistance funds: child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Additionally, states must award funds to support services to underserved crime victims such as survivors of the victims of DWI/DUI crashes, survivors of victims of homicide, assault victims, adults molested as children, elder abuse victims, robbery victims, and other violent crime victims.

States establish their own victim assistance grant application process according to guidelines developed by OVC. States have maximum discretion to set priorities, establish policies and procedures, identify the services and programs to be funded within the state, and determine the conditions for continued funding. States also assess crime victims’ needs statewide, target resources to those areas, and train advocates to improve services for crime victims.

c) Children’s Justice Act Tribal Grant Program. Since 1989, the Federal Crime Victims Division of OVC has provided funding through the Children’s Justice Act

Partnerships for Indian Communities. These funds are used to help American Indian Tribes develop, establish, and operate programs to improve the investigation, prosecution, and handling of child abuse cases, particularly sexual abuse cases, so that these are conducted in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child victim.

For more information on the Crime Victim Assistance and the CJA Tribal Grant Programs, please contact the Office for Victims of Crime at (202) 307–5983. For information on the Crime Victim Compensation Program please refer to the Crime Victim Compensation Program Directory published by the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards or contact the state administrator listed under the “Quick Look” section.

6. The Children’s Justice and Assistance Act (CJA). The Children’s Justice and Assistance Act amended the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). CJA authorizes grants to states to improve the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases, particularly child sexual abuse and exploitation cases, and the handling of child fatality cases in which child abuse or neglect is suspected. CJA directs that such cases be handled in a manner that limits additional trauma to the child victim.

For more information on the Children’s Justice and Assistance Act Grant Program, please contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children and Families, Children’s Bureau at (202) 205–8076.

7. Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support (OSLDPS), Office of Justice Programs, was created to assist state and local response agencies throughout the United States in preparing for incidents of domestic terrorism.

a) State Domestic Preparedness Equipment Support Program. Funding is provided to plan for and execute a comprehensive threat and needs assessment, to develop a 3-year plan to enhance first responder capabilities, and to provide for equipment purchases and the provision of specialized training.

b) County and Municipal Agency Domestic Preparedness Equipment Support Program. Funding is provided to equip and prepare municipal fire and emergency first responders for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) domestic terrorist attacks including nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare and other explosive incidents.

For information on the State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support Program (OSLDPS), please contact the Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support at (202) 305–9887.

8. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the governmental unit that has leadership responsibilities for the Nation’s emergency management system. Local and state programs are the heart of the Nation’s emergency management system, and most disasters are handled by local or state governments. When the devastation is especially serious and exceeds the capability and resources of local and state governments, states turn to the Federal Government for help. FEMA supports state and local emergency management programs by funding emergency planning, training emergency managers and local officials, conducting large-scale tests called “exercises,” and sponsoring programs that teach the public how to prepare for disasters.

a) First Responder Anti-Terrorism Training Assistance. To enhance the capabilities of first responders in managing the consequences of terrorist acts, training is provided through each of the 50 states through fire training systems. The training is targeted for first responders; i.e., those who will come into contact with and be forced to manage the consequences of terrorist acts.

b) Crisis Counseling Assistance. After a major Federal disaster declaration by the President of the United States, FEMA provides immediate crisis counseling services including screening, diagnostic, and counseling techniques, as well as outreach services such as public information, community networking, consultation and education, which can be applied to meet mental health needs immediately. Mental health workers, specified in the grant, are eligible for training that will enable them to provide crisis counseling services. The grant may not be used to provide treatment for substance abuse, mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, or any pre-existing mental health conditions.

c) Emergency Management Institute Training Assistance. Funding is provided to defray travel and per diem expenses of state and local emergency management personnel who attend training courses conducted by the Emergency Management Institute at the Emmitsburg, Maryland and Bluemont, Virginia, facilities; and other selected off-site locations. The purpose of this training is to improve emergency management practices among state and local government managers in responding to emergencies and disasters. Programs embody the Comprehensive Emergency Management System by unifying the elements of management common to all emergencies: planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

d) Emergency Management Performance Grants. These grants are awarded to encourage the development of comprehensive emergency management, including terrorism consequence management, at the state and local level and to improve emergency planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities.

For information about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), please contact the FEMA Regional Office. See listing of FEMA Regional Offices.

9. State Funding Resources. How does information get into this directory? If a state government allocates state funding to assist crime victims, and if an Administrator responded to OVC’s survey, then this directory lists the award-making agency and the contact person. If information about your state is missing or incorrect, help OVC update the directory—complete the “new information” form at the back of the “Quick Look” section of the directory and return it to OVC.

With your help, future editions of OVC’s National Directory of Victim Assistance Funding Opportunities 2001 will provide even more comprehensive information about funding opportunities available to victim service providers.