OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Justice for Families Program - Solicitation | O OVW 2023 171466

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2023 171466

The OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Justice for Families Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), designed to strengthen how courts and related community systems handle family matters where there is a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or allegations of child sexual abuse. The program is authorized under 34 U.S.C. 12464 and was created through the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA 2013). Its core purpose is to improve both civil and criminal justice system responses so that families interacting with the courts are safer, better supported, and less likely to be placed into arrangements that increase risk for victims and children.

A central focus of the program is building and improving court-based and court-connected practices that directly affect victim safety and family outcomes. Supported activities include developing or enhancing supervised visitation and safe exchange programs, which are meant to allow parenting time or child handoffs to occur in a structured, security-conscious setting when violence or abuse is a concern. The solicitation also emphasizes training for professionals who work with families in the court system, recognizing that judges, court staff, guardians ad litem, custody evaluators, probation personnel, attorneys, advocates, and service providers need consistent, trauma-informed, and evidence-informed approaches when responding to coercive control, ongoing safety risks, and complicated family dynamics shaped by abuse.

In addition, the program supports civil legal services and resources connected to juvenile court matters. This reflects the reality that survivors and their children often need legal help navigating protection orders, custody and visitation disputes, divorce, child support, and related civil proceedings, and that juvenile court involvement can raise urgent safety and stability issues. By funding initiatives that connect legal assistance, court procedures, and community services, the Justice for Families Program aims to reduce barriers survivors face in asserting their rights and securing protective, workable court orders.

Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The solicitation notes there may be additional eligibility details in the full announcement under the section labeled "Additional Information on Eligibility," which typically clarifies any special requirements or allowable applicant types beyond the standard categories listed.

For FY 2023, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number O-OVW-2023-171466) was posted on December 13, 2022, with an original closing date of February 13, 2023. OVW anticipated making about 20 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $700,000 per grant. The funding activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services, and the program is identified under CFDA number 16.021.

The solicitation also ties awards to OVW performance measurement expectations under the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative. In practice, that means funded projects are expected to track and report progress using established performance measures and to show how their activities contribute to program goals such as improved court responses, safer visitation and exchange practices, more informed decision-making in family court settings, and stronger coordination between courts and community-based victim services.

• The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Justice for Families Program - Solicitation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.021.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 13, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 13, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O OVW 2023 171466

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