Calling All Advocates
COVID-19 has intensified the danger level and needs of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Are you a Tribal or Native organization struggling to meet the needs of survivors? NIWRC has a funding opportunity that includes a high level of technical assistance, training, and support.
Request for Proposals
The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center is requesting proposals from Native domestic violence and /or sexual violence programs to subgrant funds from ARP Support for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault from the 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. Subgrantees 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: Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 11:59 p.m. MDT
Submit Proposal
This funding to culturally specific sexual assault programs, domestic violence programs, LGBTQ2S+ 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 includes assistance 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, LGBTQ2S+ 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 in making 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, LGBTQ2S+ 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, employment services, financial literacy 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 advocates to work out in the community to support sexual assault survivors wherever it is safe and convenient for the survivor.
Staffing enhancements, workforce support, 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.
To complete your proposal, please use the platform Submittable using this link or use the button above.
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. It may be in urban areas 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, and trafficking 24/7/365.
Project Period & Budget
The project period for this sub-award is for year 2, with a start day of October 1, 2023, and an end date of September 30, 2024, with an option to submit a proposal for year 3 of the awarding period through September 30, 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 proposal submission and budget assistance in Submittable, 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.
