OVW Underserved Program
Working Toward a Solution
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 2013 Reauthorization authorized the Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations (Underserved Program) to:
- Support the development and implementation of strategies targeted at adult or youth victims from underserved populations who have experienced violence and abuse, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking; and
- provide responsive services and support that more effectively meet the needs of these populations.
OVW Underserved Program
Grants under this federal program are awarded each year. This process starts with the release of a competitive grant solicitation. Eligible applicants are limited to population specific organizations and victim service providers that work on behalf of populations traditionally underserved due to:
- geographic location,
- religion,
- sexual orientation,
- gender identity,
- underserved racial and ethnic populations, and
- populations underserved because of special needs (such as language barriers, disabilities, alienage status, or age).
Underserved Technical Assistance
To help Underserved Grantees in reaching successfully their programmatic goals and objectives, the Office on Violence Against Women has established a cooperative grant agreement with ALSO. This partnership offers Underserved Grantees opportunities to:
- receive no-cost skill-and-content building training and curated information and resources
- have regular and on-demand consultations to issue-spot and troubleshoot challenges; and
- make connections with peers for learning and sharing.
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Created in 1995, OVW administers grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. OVW grants support coordinated community responses to hold offenders accountable and to serve victims.
