A study by the Centers for Disease Control shows that about 10% of students report being physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last 12 months*. Those who experience dating violence as youth may be at risk of forming unhealthy relationships as adults. Men and youth are a critical part of successful efforts to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Program Overview

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) currently administers 18 grant 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 Engaging Men and Youth Program, created by the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), will fund projects that develop or enhance new or existing efforts to engage men and youth in preventing crimes of violence against women with the goal of developing mutually respectful, nonviolent relationships.

The Engaging Men and Youth Program is designed to support programs that encourage children and youth to pursue nonviolent relationships and reduce their risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and provide information on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or child sexual abuse and how they affect children and youth. The program is also intended to create public education campaigns and assist community organizing to encourage men and boys to work as allies with women and girls to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

VAWA 2005 authorized the appropriation of $10 million for each of Fiscal Years 2007 through 2011 for the Engaging Men and Youth Program. The first funding for this program was for Fiscal Year 2008 when $2.82 million was appropriated.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for projects that develop or enhance efforts to engage men and youth to prevent crimes of violence against women are:

• Nongovernmental domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victim service providers or coalitions;
• Community-based child or youth services organizations with demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing the needs and concerns of young people;
• State, territorial, tribal, or local governmental entities that are partnered with service providers; and
• Programs that provide culturally specific services.

Eligible applicants for awareness campaign funding are nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations or coalitions that have a documented history of creating and administering effective public education campaigns addressing the prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or State, territorial, tribal, or local governmental entities that are partnered with service providers.

The Engaging Men and Youth 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