According to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control, about 10% of students report being physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last 12 months*. Youth may also experience emotional and sexual violence in various forms in dating relationships. Youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking require specialized services designed to meet the specific needs of young adults.

Program Overview

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) currently administers 18 programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and subsequent legislation. These grants are designed to develop the nation's capacity to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by strengthening services to victims and holding offenders accountable for their actions.

The Services to Advocate for and Respond to Youth Grant Program, created by the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), will fund projects that design (or replicate) and implement programs and services-using established domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking intervention models-to respond to the needs of youth who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

The Services to Advocate for and Respond to Youth Grant Program is designed to support projects that provide direct counseling, advocacy, legal, and mental health services for children and young adults who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. OVW-funded projects will include linguistically, culturally, and community relevant services for underserved populations or linkages to existing services in the community tailored to the needs of underserved populations.

VAWA 2005 authorized the appropriation of $15 million for each of Fiscal Years 2007 through 2011 for Grants to Advocate for and Respond to Youth. The first funding for this program was for Fiscal Year 2008 when $2.82 million was appropriated to fund projects that serve youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit, nongovernmental entities whose primary purpose is to provide services to teen and young adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
• Community-based organizations specializing in intervention or violence prevention services for youth;
• Indian Tribes or tribal organizations providing services primarily to tribal youth or tribal victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
• Nonprofit, nongovernmental entities providing services for runaway or homeless youth affected by domestic or sexual abuse.

The Services to Advocate for and Respond to Youth Grant Program is currently under development. Please check the OVW website for updated information and solicitation announcements.

If you have additional questions, contact OVW at (202) 307-6026.

January 2009

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance- United States, 2007.