$108 million awarded to support family violence victims and service providers

Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) formula grants totaling $108 million have been awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to support state, territorial, and tribal domestic violence victims and organizations.

For the past three decades, the FVPSA has provided funding, oversight, training, and guidance to emergency shelters, crisis hotlines, prevention programs, specialized resource centers, and a wide-range of federal partners across the United States. 

$94.5 million will be awarded to 56 states and territories to fund and manage local domestic violence programs. State and territorial formula grants make up 70 percent of FVPSA appropriations and include a minimum award of $600,000, with the remaining funds to be allotted to each state through a population-based formula.

$13.5 million will be awarded to 56 domestic violence coalitions to expand and enhance statewide and territorial responses to domestic violence victims and organizations with an emphasis on systems reform, public policy, training and technical assistance, prevention and public awareness. Grantees will each receive awards of $241,000.

Family Violence Prevention and Services Act formula grants continue to be the only government funding stream dedicated specifically to domestic violence shelters and programs for direct services to victims of domestic violence and their children.  Other support services funded under the act for victims of domestic violence and their children include court and legal advocacy and individual and group counseling.