The Justice Department announced more than $86.16 million in grants administered by the Tribal Affairs Division within the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to American Indian and Alaska Native communities. These funds aim to support survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.
The grants provided through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) will fund services for victims while supporting Tribal governments, including law enforcement, prosecutors, and Tribal courts. This initiative aims to enhance safety and uphold Tribal sovereignty. The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall of OVW at the annual Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program Institute.
“Tribal communities, and particularly American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have experienced disproportionately high levels of violence for too long,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This $86 million dollar investment represents the Justice Department’s commitment to working in partnership with Tribal nations to address and prevent gender-based violence and provide safety and justice for survivors.”
Included in these awards is more than $7.58 million under OVW's new Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) Program. This program focuses on capacity building early in the project period for Tribal governments that have not previously or recently participated in OVW’s Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program.
Additionally, OVW awarded $45.17 million under the established Tribal Governments Program to support responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities.
OVW also launched a new grant program this year through its Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative created based on recommendations from the Not Invisible Act Commission. Under this initiative, OVW awarded $2 million to support Healing and Response Teams using a Tribal-based model of care for Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases related to domestic violence crimes.
Further grants include more than $3.57 million under its Special Tribal Criminal Grant (STCJ) Program and $1.5 million under its Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative.
OVW is also awarding grants totaling $3.75 million under its Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative for collaboration between Tribes and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in investigating domestic violence cases.
Additionally, over $11.11 million is being awarded under its Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program for operating sexual assault services programs in Indian country and Alaska Native villages.
“We are committed to addressing the disproportionately high rates of violent crime faced by American Indian and Alaska Native women,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer.
Moreover, OVW is providing over $8.28 million under its Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program for nonprofit organizations developing such coalitions.
“The strength of VAWA is enhancing a coordinated community response,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo.
Since 1995, OVW has awarded more than $11 billion nationwide aimed at ending domestic violence through various programs funded by VAWA legislation.