Program Brief

INTRODUCTION
The Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program (Disability Grant Program) was created by the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000). Congress, OVW, and victim advocates recognized the need to focus on domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault against individuals with disabilities due to the proliferation of such violence and the gaps in service provision and the criminal justice response for this population. The goal of this program is to build the capacity of such jurisdictions to address such violence against individuals with disabilities through the creation of multi-disciplinary teams.

Disability Grant Program recipients will provide training, consultation, and information on domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault against individuals with disabilities and enhance direct services to such individuals.

ELIGIBILITY
By statute, eligible applicants are:

• States;
• Units of local government;
• Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations; and
• Nonprofit and nongovernmental victim services organizations, such as a State domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions or nonprofit, nongovernmental organization serving disabled individuals.

In order to receive funds under the Disability Grant Program, an organization must qualify as one of the four eligible entities defined by the statute. OVW consistently interprets the term "State" in all of its program statutes to mean the executive of the State government, which may include executive agencies, but does not include any "state instrumentality" such as a public university. OVW, therefore, does not consider public universities as "States," for purposes of eligibility for the Disability Grant Program.

However, some Universities have affiliated nonprofit organizations that may qualify under the statute. In order for a nonprofit organization to qualify under the Disability Grant Program, it must demonstrate that it is a "nonprofit and nongovernmental victim services organization, such as a State domestic violence or sexual assault coalition or a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization serving disabled individuals." VAWA considers only nonprofit organizations that are also nongovernmental and that qualify as victim services organizations as eligible for this grant program. VAWA 2005 defines "Victim Services" and "Victim Service Provider" as a "nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that assists domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims, including rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, faith based organizations, and other organizations, with a demonstrated history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking." 42 U.S.C. 13925(a) (35).

Indian tribe is defined as any tribe, band, pueblo, nation or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.1601 et seq.)), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians" 42 U.S.C. 13925(a) (13). Tribes that are receiving services provided by a tribal consortium are eligible to apply for funding through this program. Any organized community of Indians, or a consortium representing several Indian tribal governments, that requests funding must submit a tribal resolution from each constituent tribal government that would participate in the activities outlined in the application.

SCOPE OF PROGRAM
The statutory purpose areas of the FY 2007 Disability Grant Program are as follows:

• To provide personnel, training, technical assistance, advocacy, intervention, risk reduction and prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault against disabled individuals;
• To conduct outreach activities to ensure that disabled individuals who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault receive appropriate assistance;
• To conduct cross-training for victim service organizations, governmental agencies, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities about risk reduction, intervention, prevention and the nature of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault for disabled individuals;
• To provide technical assistance to assist with modifications to existing policies, protocols, and procedures to ensure equal access to the services, programs, and activities of victim service organizations for disabled individuals;
• To provide training and technical assistance on the requirements of shelters and victim services organizations under Federal antidiscrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
• To modify facilities, purchase equipment, and provide personnel so that shelters and victim service organizations can accommodate the needs of disabled individuals;
• To provide advocacy and intervention services for disabled individuals who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault; or
• To develop model programs providing advocacy and intervention services within organizations serving disabled individuals who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
OVW Multi-Disciplinary Team Requirement
Every program supported by Disability Grant Program funds must identify and support a multi-disciplinary team comprised of, at a minimum, the following:

• At least one nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services organization, such as a state domestic violence or sexual assault coalition; and
• At least one nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services organization serving disabled individuals.

Multi-disciplinary teams may also include faith and community-based organizations.

VAWA defines "victim services" and "victim service provider " as a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that assists domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims, including rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, faith-based organizations, and other organizations, with a demonstrated history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking."

Technical Assistance Requirements
Multi-disciplinary teams will be required to participate in all technical assistance events sponsored by OVW related to the Disability Grant Program. Technical assistance will be both substantive and skills-based in nature. Technical assistance will assist multi-disciplinary teams in building their capacity and develop, strengthen, and maintain collaborative relationships among team members and other key stakeholders. Technical assistance will be delivered through, but not limited to all award recipient meetings, site visits, tele/video conference calls, and web-based technical assistance. Awards on FY 2007 will be made as Cooperative Agreements. Multi-disciplinary teams should anticipate a high level of involvement with OVW and intensive technical assistance for the duration of the project.

Project Requirements
OVW will be funding multi-disciplinary teams to address violence against individuals with disabilities. The goal of the Disability Grant Program is to build capacity, enhance collaboration, and to create accessible, appropriate services for individuals with disabilities who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault through the creation of multi-disciplinary teams. OVW has developed the following guidelines for such multi-disciplinary teams:

• Multi-disciplinary teams must include representatives from at least one nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services organization, such as a domestic violence and/or sexual assault coalition and one nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services organization serving disabled individuals. These organizations may have a local or statewide focus.
• Multi-disciplinary teams must address activities described in at least one statutory purpose area.
• Multi-disciplinary teams must demonstrate a high level of commitment from all parties to work collaboratively.
• Multi-disciplinary team members will be expected to address issues of accessibility within their own organizational service and employment practices. Multi-disciplinary teams will be expected to develop and implement a plan to increase accessibility within their own organizations.
• Multi-disciplinary teams must focus on capacity and skill building activities during the first year of the grant. These activities should continue throughout the life of the project.
• Multi-disciplinary teams will be required to conduct a needs assessment of the service area and develop and implement a strategic plan.
• Multi-disciplinary teams must develop and implement a realistic plan to sustain project activities after OVW funding concludes.
• Multi-disciplinary teams, including all team members, must participate in all technical assistance opportunities sponsored by OVW.
• Multi-disciplinary teams must engage in cross-training.
• Multi-disciplinary teams must develop policies around confidentiality and information sharing.

In meeting these requirements, it is strongly encouraged for each multi-disciplinary team to have in place a structure for governing, planning, and implementation. This collaborative structure should include decision makers from each of the multi-disciplinary team members. This structure should have the authority and leadership to make decisions about policies and procedures that are essential to the project.

MOU Requirements
Each applicant must enter into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with at least one nonprofit, nongovernmental domestic and/or sexual violence victim services organization AND one nonprofit, nongovernmental disability organization. The MOU must demonstrate a strong commitment by all parties to work as a multi-disciplinary, collaborative team in order to improve services to individuals with disabilities and to increase accessibility. Collaboration must be meaningful and ongoing and include fair compensation for participation.

For more information about the Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program, please contact:

Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)
800 K Street, N.W., Suite 920
Washington, D.C. 20530
Phone: 202-307-6026
Fax: 202-307-3911
TTY: 202-307-2277
Website: www.usdoj.gov/ovw