Purpose

• For many crime survivors, hotlines are a critical resource for immediate and confidential support, especially in rural and remote areas where access to services is limited. Calling, texting, or using other means to access a hotline may be the first step for survivors who need emotional support, safety planning assistance, and referrals to other resources. Funding to build or improve national hotline infrastructure and capacity helps increase access to critical services, allows for more continuous and stable hotline support without interruption, and sustains uninterrupted access to services and resources.
• Crisis hotline services should be provided by highly trained staff and volunteers that empower victims and survivors while assessing their needs and identifying and providing appropriate referrals. Those answering hotline calls must be able to
  • identify appropriate reporting agencies and provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect callers directly (as a warm handoff) with appropriate providers;
  • provide information, resources, and referrals to other applicable services, such as shelter, housing, counseling, culturally specific and linguistically appropriate programs, legal services; and,
  • provide contact information for national or local resources, to address the specific needs of the caller.

Goals and Objectives

• Goal 1: Enhance capacity of national hotlines to respond to crime victims.
  • Objective 1: Maintain, enhance, or expand national crime victim hotlines to provide comprehensive crisis intervention support services using trauma-informed, survivor centered approaches that prioritize the safety and confidentiality of victims.
  • Objective 2: Provide support to hotline staff to minimize the risk and the effects of vicarious trauma and burnout.
  • Objective 3: Participate in the National Hotline Consortium, a collaborative network of leading national victim service and crisis intervention hotlines, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, resources, and promising practices.

Funding Priorities

• Applicants seeking priority consideration should specify in the proposal narrative which of the following goal(s) the project is intended to advance and how it will do so:
  • Directly supporting law enforcement operations (including immigration law enforcement operations);
  • Combatting violent crime;
  • Supporting services to American citizens;
  • Protecting American children; and
  • Supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault.

Funding Information

• Total amount to be awarded under this funding opportunity: $10,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $2,000,000

Duration

• Anticipated Period of Performance Duration: 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• The types of entities that are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity are listed below:
  • Government Entities
    • State governments
    • Special district governments
    • Native American Tribal governments (federally recognized)
    • Native American Tribal governments (other than federally recognized)
  • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), other than institutions of higher education
    • Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
  • For-Profit Organizations 
    • Organizations other than small businesses

For more information, visit Grants.gov.

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/360144