The United States government estimates one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Government statistics also reveal one in six women will experience an attempted or completed rape at some time in her life. Adults are not the only ones impacted by these crimes; researchers estimate that between 10% and 20% of American children are exposed to adult domestic violence every year*. A wide range of studies indicate that, on average, children who experience domestic violence exhibit higher levels of childhood behavior, social, and emotional problems than children who have not witnessed such violence**.

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 Children and Youth Exposed to Violence Grant Program, created by the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), will fund projects that seek to mitigate the effects of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on children and youth exposed to violence and reduce the risk of future victimization or perpetration of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The program will support projects that provide services for children including direct counseling, advocacy, or mentoring. Projects funded under these grants must include support for the non-abusing parent or the child's caretaker.

The program will also provide training and will promote coordination between domestic violence and sexual assault programs and programs that serve children and youth on how to safely and confidentially identify children and families experiencing domestic violence and properly refer them to programs that can provide direct services to the family and children.

VAWA 2005 authorized the appropriation of $20 million for each of Fiscal Years 2007 through 2011 for the Children and Youth Exposed to Violence Grant Program. The first funding for this program was for Fiscal Year 2008 when $2.82 million was appropriated to fund projects to serve children and youth exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include:

• Victim service providers, tribal nonprofit organizations, and community-based organizations that have a documented history of effective work concerning children or youth exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including programs that provide culturally specific services, childcare, after school care, and health and mental health services; or
• State, territorial, tribal, or local government agencies that are partnered with aforementioned organizations.

The Children and Youth Exposed to Violence 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

* Carlson, B.E.. Children exposed to intimate partner violence: Research findings and implications for intervention. Trauma, Violence and Abuse 1(4) - 2000.