US: Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grant Program/National Indigenous Domestic Violence Hotline
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The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) is the primary federal funding source dedicated to supporting emergency shelters and services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and family violence, including their children.
Its main goal is to increase public awareness, prevent violence, and provide shelter and essential services to adults, youth, and children nationwide. To enhance the response to survivors, FVPSA emphasizes ongoing training and technical assistance for domestic violence service providers.
The program assists states and Indian tribes in raising public awareness and promoting both primary and secondary prevention of domestic violence. It also supports immediate shelter and supportive services for victims and their dependents, along with maintaining a national domestic violence hotline to provide critical help and information.
Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations with demonstrated expertise in family, domestic, or dating violence and a strong record of serving Indigenous victims. They must show support from advocacy groups and tribal domestic violence coalitions and have the capacity to operate a 24-hour Indigenous domestic violence hotline. This includes managing a comprehensive database of service providers in Indian Country and ensuring accessible services for underserved populations, such as ethnic and racial minorities, non-English speakers, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. Confidentiality and privacy of information are also strictly maintained.
The estimated total program funding available is $2,998,125, with an award ceiling matching this amount and an award floor of $2,000,000 per budget period. The project period spans 60 months, divided into five 12-month budget periods, providing sustained support over five years.
This funding supports the operation of the National Indigenous Domestic Violence Hotline, which provides 24/7 information, counseling, referrals, and direct connections to culturally relevant service providers for Indigenous victims, their families, and others affected by violence. The hotline must offer toll-free phone lines and systems for text and chat communication.
Public outreach efforts promote the hotline through social media, television, public awareness campaigns, websites, and printed materials. Referrals are customized based on local, state, and tribal resources to best serve community needs, with particular focus on Indigenous youth victims and family members affected by violence.
At times, the hotline may provide assistance or referrals to adult and youth perpetrators seeking help, as long as survivor safety is ensured. The program also offers nationwide training and technical support to strengthen domestic violence services for Indigenous communities.
Working in partnership with state, local, and tribal authorities, the hotline supports existing services rather than replacing them. Feedback from state coalitions is incorporated to enhance service delivery, respecting the diverse approaches different states take toward addressing domestic violence. Through these efforts, FVPSA plays a vital role in improving support systems for Indigenous victims of family and domestic violence across the United States.
