OVW FY 2009 Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities

Recognizing the pressing need to focus on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking against individuals with disabilities due to the proliferation of such crimes, Congress authorized the Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program (Disability Grant Program) in the Violence Against Women and the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005). The goal of the Disability Grant Program is to create sustainable, systemic change that will result in effective services for individuals with disabilities who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking and hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. The Disability Grant Program will support education, training, cross training, capacity building and the establishment of multi-disciplinary collaborative teams at the State and local level to address violence against and abuse of women with disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.12102)). Grant funded activities must fall within the specified statutory purpose areas outlined on page 7 of this solicitation. Applicants must address activities that fall within at least one statutory purpose area. Every program supported by Disability Grant Program funds must identify and support a multi-disciplinary collaborative 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 organization serving disabled individuals. Multi-disciplinary collaborative teams may also include faith-based and community organizations. Furthermore, multi-disciplinary collaborative teams must be comprised solely of organizations with a state focus (e.g., state independent living council, protection & advocacy/disability rights, sexual assault coalition, and/or domestic violence coalition) or solely of organizations with a local focus (e.g., independent living center, community mental health, rape crisis center, or domestic violence shelter/program). Multi-disciplinary collaborative teams comprised of a combination of organizations that focus on state and local issues will not be considered for funding.