Request for Proposals - Funding Available for Tribal Domestic Violence Survivor Programs

KaraAdams (Former Community Manager)

Courtesy post on behalf of The National Indigenous Women's Resources Center

Request for Proposals - Funding Available to Programs Assisting Survivors

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center is requesting proposals from tribal/ native domestic violence and /or sexual violence programs in order to sub-grant funds from the ARP Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault from Culturally Specific Populations Grant Program. This request also invites urban Indian and LGBTQ2S organizations focused on domestic and/or sexual violence advocacy and services to submit proposals. Sub-grantees will receive technical assistance and training from NIWRC and our partner organizations with expertise in Indian Country and issues related to domestic and/or sexual violence and pandemic responses. 

Response Due Date: Extended to Friday, October 14, 2022, 11:59 p.m. MDT

➡️  Submit Proposal  

​This funding to culturally specific sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, LGBTQ two-spirited organizations, and urban Indian organizations may be used for the following:

Prevention Activities: Virtual services, supportive services, temporary housing assistance, mobile advocacy services, and supplies to reduce exposure to and risk of contracting COVID-19.

• Outreach and education about strategies that reduce COVID-19 transmission. 
• Disseminate educational materials and resources on precautions to prevent, contain, or mitigate COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. 
• Virtual services, temporary housing options, and supportive services to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, including paying for the operating, staffing, and administrative expenses of the facilities for rape crisis/sexual assault programs. 
• Temporary refuge in conjunction with supportive services and in compliance with applicable state or tribal law or regulations including: 
• Housing provision, including assistance in locating and securing safe and affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services. 
• Rental subsidies and rental assistance.
• Temporary refuge or lodging in individual units such as apartments (not required to be owned, operated, or leased by the program). 
• Safe homes
• Hotel or motel vouchers 
• Prevention services, including outreach to increase access to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services and reduce exposure to and risk of contracting COVID-19. 
• Strengthen partnerships with local and state public health authorities, local/state health departments, emergency services managers, health care providers, culturally specific community-based organizations, tribes, urban Indian organizations, LGBTQ two-spirited organizations, domestic violence programs, and rape crisis centers/sexual assault programs to improve emergency operations throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

Please note that grantees are expected to use materials from federal agencies and/or local/state public health departments.

Preparation Activities and Technical Assistance: Culturally specific sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, LGBTQ2S organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

• Assess the capacity to provide continuity of sexual assault services, including emergency operations plans and plans to address increasing service demands, remote services operational capacity, potential provider closures, and staff absenteeism. 
• Training to review, update, and/or implement emergency operations plans and plans to address increasing service demands, remote services operational capacity, potential provider closures, and staff absenteeism. 
• Training, information, and assistance for ensuring the continuity of services to support survivors to make decisions related to their ongoing safety and well-being during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 
• Training, information, and assistance to ensure continuity and maintain the capacity to provide services, including age-appropriate counseling, supportive services, and culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

The provision of remote services, virtual services, and mobile advocacy are allowable activities.

Response Activities and Technical Assistance: Ensure the continuity of services. 

• Fund staffing increases, workforce supports for employees/advocates, workforce capacity building, and any related costs to retain, reward, or recruit staff to ensure the continuity of sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, LGBTQ two-spirited organizations, and urban Indian organizations for survivors and their dependents. 
• Provide services, training, technical assistance, and outreach to increase access to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services. 
• Provide advocacy, case management services, and information and referral services related to culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services, including:
• Assistance in accessing related federal and state financial assistance programs
• Legal advocacy to assist survivors and their dependents. 
• Medical advocacy, including referrals for appropriate health care services (including mental health, alcohol, and drug abuse treatment) (No reimbursement for any health care services). 
• Assist to locate and secure safe, affordable permanent housing and homelessness prevention services. 
• Transportation, childcare, respite care, job training, and employment services, financial literacy services and education, financial planning, and economic empowerment services. 
• Parenting and other educational services for victims and their dependents. 
• Direct crisis intervention, including counseling, mobile advocacy, telehealth, peer support, and in-person assistance. Mobile advocacy allows for advocates to work out in the community in order to support sexual assault survivors wherever it is safe and convenient for the survivor. 

Staffing enhancements, workforce supports, and workforce capacity building are allowable activities. 

Workforce Expansions, Capacity Building, and Reimbursement Support: Cover the costs of contractors. 

• Planning for implementation of culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services: COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; language access planning, or virtual/remote services implementation. 
• Training providers and staff on COVID-19 mitigation activities: implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation. 
• Hiring providers and staff to carry out culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services; COVID- 19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation.
• Reporting data to HHS on culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services, COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation; and 
• Expenses to secure and maintain adequate personnel to carry out culturally specific sexual assault and domestic violence services; COVID-19 mitigation strategies; implementation of mobile advocacy services; or virtual/remote services implementation. Such expenses may include:
• Hiring bonuses and retention payments
• Childcare
• Transportation subsidies
• Other fringe or personal benefits authorized by HHS regulations. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a tribal organization or native non-profit whose primary purpose is advocacy focused on domestic violence and/or sexual violence and/or trafficking. Maybe located in an urban area or reservation/tribal lands.
• Must be engaging in Covid mitigation and response activities
• Must provide, or are building capacity to provide advocacy, resources, and direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence/ trafficking 24/7/365

Project Period & Budget

The project period for this sub-award is for 1 year with a start day of October 1, 2022, and end date of September 30, 2023, with an option to submit proposals for years 2 and year 3 of the awarding period through August 31, 2025. NIWRC anticipates a total funding range between an estimated $50,000 -200,000 each per year. 

Reporting

Sub-recipients will be required to provide NIWRC with monthly financial and programmatic reports. If you need assistance with proposal submission and budget, please contact our Grants Management Specialist, Carolyn Gresham, at cgresham@niwrc.org. 

For any other questions contact Brenda Hill, Director of TA & Training, at bhill@niwrc.org.