A Guide to Understanding the Requirements of Purpose Area #5 (OVW Tribal Governments Program) in the Fiscal Year 2018 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation
us-doj-guidance-OVW-1317186A Guide to Understanding the Requirements of Purpose Area #5 (OVW Tribal Governments Program) in the Fiscal Year 2018 Coordinated Tribal Assistance SolicitationGuidance
US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women A Guide to Understanding the Requirements of Purpose Area #5 (OVW Tribal Governments Program) in the Fiscal Year 2018 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation Contact Information If you require help understanding this guide, please call the Office on Violence Against Women Tribal Affairs Division at 202-307-6026. Please note: This guide is not a substitute for the Fiscal Year 2018 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation. A copy of the official solicitation may be obtained by visiting http://www.justice.gov/tribal/grants.html.
Contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... .......................................... ........................................................................ ......................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview of Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native Women 3 Other resources on violence against AI and AN women 4 Sexual assault 5 Sex trafficking 7 Domestic violence 9 Stalking 11 Underserved populations 13 Eligibility 14 Basic eligibility information .................................................................................................................. ....................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... ................................................................................................ 14 Additional eligibility requirements 16 Selecting a partner 16 Summary of eligibility requirements 18 The Award Period and Budget Limits 19 The award period ................................................................................................................................. ......................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................. ..................................................................................... ........................................................................ ........................................................................ 19 Budget limits 19 Allowable Activities 20 Understanding program scope 20 Permissible use of funds available under Purpose Area #5 ................................................................. ...................................... ..................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................... ..................................................................... 20 Incorporating traditional practices and customs into your project activities 24 Unallowable Activities 25 Activities that may compromise victim safety 25 Other prohibited activities 28 Appendix A. Understanding the Role of an Advocate 30 The advocate’s role: The dos and don’ts of advocacy* 30 Appendix B. Sample Letters of Support and Exemption 32
Introduction Purpose Area #5 in the Fiscal Year 2018 US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) covers the Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program (Tribal Governments Program). The Office on Violence against Women (OVW) wants to make sure that Tribal Governments understand how to apply for Tribal Governments Program funding in Fiscal Year 2018. To further this goal, OVW has issued this guide to assist you in preparing an application under Purpose Area #5 of the consolidated solicitation. Please keep in mind that this guide is not a substitute for the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation or any of the applicable statutes, regulations, or policies that govern this program. You are responsible for reading the solicitation in its entirety and for following the instructions set forth in the solicitation. Tribes that are interested in applying for funding under Purpose Area #5 are encouraged to contact OVW’s Tribal Affairs Division with any questions or concerns about the program and the application process. OVW’s Tribal Unit can be reached using one of the following methods: Phone: 202-307-6026 Fax: 202-514-5818 Email: james.smith12@usdoj.gov 2
Overview of Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native Women Various national and regional studies have found that violence against women is more widespread and severe among self-identified American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) people than among other North American people.1 For example, the National Violence Against Women Study (NVAWS) found that self-identified AI and AN women were significantly more likely than women from all other backgrounds to have been raped and/or stalked at some point in their lifetimes.2 However, the results from this study cannot produce reliable estimates of violence against Native American women, either on or off reservations. Findings from several regional research studies also demonstrate high rates of victimization among Native American women. A relatively large study of a random sample of women (N=1,368) from six AI tribes in the southwest, northwest, northern Plains, and northeast found that 45 percent reported being physically assaulted and 14 percent had been raped since turning 18 years old.3 A study in a southwestern tribal community that included almost 600 individuals found that 91 percent of women reported experiencing some form of IPV.4 Verbal and physical violence in a relationship were experienced by approximately 75 percent of women and 16 percent of women reported forced sex by a 1 David G. Fairchild, Molly Wilson Fairchild, and Shirley Stoner, “Prevalence of Domestic Violence among Women Seeking Routine Care in a Native American Health Care Facility,” American Journal of Public Health 88, no. 10 (October 1998), 1515–1517, http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.88.10.1515; John Oetzel and Bonnie Duran, “Intimate Partner Violence in American Indian and/or Alaska Native Communities: A Social Ecological Framework of Determinants and Interventions,” American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research 11, no. 3 (2004), 49–68, http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/PublicHealth/research/centers/CAIANH/journal/Documents/Volum e%2011/11(3)_Oetzel_Intimate_Partner_Violence_49-68.pdf; Robert W. Robin, Barbara Chester, and Jolene K. Rasmussen, “Intimate Violence in a Southwestern American Indian Tribal Community,” Cultural Diversity and Mental Health 4, no. 4 (1998), 335–344, http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/cdp/4/4/335.pdf&productCode=pa. 2 Patricia Tjaden and Nancy Thoennes, Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Rape Victimization: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey (Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, 2006), 13–14, https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/210346.pdf. 3 Nicole P. Yuan et al., “Risk Factors for Physical Assault and Rape among Six Native American Tribes,” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 21, no. 12 (December 2006), 1566–1590, http://jiv.sagepub.com/content/21/12/1566.full.pdf+html. 4 Robin, Chester, and Rasmussen, “Intimate Violence” (see note 1). 3
partner. Almost half of the women reported needing medical care from injuries sustained during an episode of partner violence and a little more than one-third reported incidents that involved their children. In another study on a southwestern reservation, among all assault injuries reported by ambulatory and emergency services, one in four was due to IPV.5 Recently, researchers at the University of Alaska at Anchorage reported that the incidence of domestic violence among self-identified Alaska Native women was 8 to 12 times higher than among non–Alaska Native women.6 In a study of Athabaskan women residing in the interior of Alaska, almost two-thirds of respondents reported experiencing IPV in their lifetime and 18 percent of the respondents reported experiencing IPV in the past year.7 Despite these compelling indications that rates of sexual and intimate partner violence in AI and AN communities merit serious attention, these and other studies have used diverse methodologies therefore limiting the generalizability of these studies to women living in Indian country.8 5 Diana M. Kuklinski and Chris B. Buchanan, “Assault Injuries on the Hualapai Indian Reservation: A Descriptive Study,” The IHS Primary Care Provider 22, no. 4 (April 1997), 60–64, http://www.ihs.gov/injuryprevention/Documents/Assault%20Injuries%20on%20the%20Haulapai%20Indian%20Re servation%20-%20A%20descriptive%20study..pdf. 6 Marny Rivera, Assaults in Domestic Violence Incidents: Descriptive Statistics and Predictors of Legal Resolutions, presentation to Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis, Anchorage, AK, March 9, 2010, http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/research/2000/0601.intimatepartnerviolence/0601.05.awaic.pdf. 7 Darryl S. Wood and Randy H. Magen, “Intimate Partner Violence against Athabaskan Women Residing in Interior Alaska: Results of a Victimization Survey,” Violence Against Women 15, no. 4 (April 2009), 497–507, http://vaw.sagepub.com/content/15/4/497.full.pdf+html. 8 Ronet Bachman et al., Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and the Criminal Justice Response: What is Known (Washington DC: National Institute of Justice, 2008), https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/223691.pdf. 4 Other resources on violence against AI and AN women National Institute of Justice http://www.nij.gov/topics/tribal-justice/vaw-research/welcome.htm; http://vaw.sagepub.com/content/19/6/771 National Criminal Justice Resource Center https://www.ncjrs.gov/justiceinindiancountry/index.html National Indigenous Women's Resource Center http://www.niwrc.org/
Sexual assault What is sexual assault? Sexual assault can be defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs by force or without consent of the recipient of the unwanted sexual activity. Falling under the definition of sexual assault is sexual activity such as forcible sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape. It includes sexual acts against people who are unable to consent because of either age or lack of capacity. Improving the systemic response to sexual assault in Indian country Delay, confusion, lack of cooperation and insufficient communication between tribal, state, local, and federal law enforcement and prosecutors can make prosecuting sexual assault in Indian country difficult. Sexual assault victims will also be less likely to make reports to law enforcement if they perceive law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and others involved in the criminal justice field as being insensitive. Victims of sexual assault may also be reluctant to seek medical attention if they perceive healthcare professionals to be indifferent, uncaring, or judgmental. The most effective response to sexual assault uses a victim-centered approach, which requires the various criminal justice, health care, and victim services programs and organizations that are responsible for responding to sexual assault to work together collaboratively. OVW strongly encourages all applicants to Purpose Area # 5 to consider using their funding to improve the systemic response to the sexual assault of American Indian and Alaska Native women by • providing training on sexual assault to tribal, state and local, and federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim services programs, and healthcare professionals; • creating sexual assault codes, response protocols and policies for tribal, state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, victim services programs, and healthcare professionals; • establishing a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) as well as helping medical professionals to complete Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) training. A SART is a coordinated community response to sexual assault, often involving victim advocates, medical personnel, law enforcement, and other responders. SANE programs provide specially trained nurses to provide medical forensic exams for victims of sexual assault. 5
Impact of sexual assault on American Indian and Alaska Native women Sexual assault has serious physical and mental health impacts on victims. Women who have been sexually assaulted require access to health care, mental health specialists, and other services in order to aid in their recovery. Indian women may experience great difficulty in accessing these potentially life- saving resources because of the geographic isolation, economic disparities, and general lack of infrastructure in many tribal communities. Victims of sexual assault also require support and understanding from those closest to them in order to recover from the aftermath of the assault. However, Indian women who are sexually assaulted in small, close-knit reservation communities may be reluctant to disclose the details of their assault to family members or friends. Many Indian women wish to avoid the social stigma that can be associated with being sexually assaulted. Others may face pressure from friends and family not to report the assault.9 A specially trained and dedicated sexual assault victim advocate can be a valuable resource to Indian women who have been sexually assaulted. The role of a sexual assault victim advocate is to offer support, guidance, and counsel to victims of sexual assault as they make decisions about what to do after being assaulted. A sexual assault victim advocate can assist victims in deciding to seek medical help and reporting to law enforcement and can accompany victims to court if the offender is arrested and prosecuted. A sexual assault victim advocate can also help victims of sexual assault by offering them referrals for counseling, assisting them with enforcing their rights as a victim, seeking crime victim’s compensation, and helping victims access services by providing them with transportation. Sexual assault victims may be more willing to come forward and report their assault if they know that they will have access to confidential, victim-centered services that are offered by a dedicated, specially trained victim advocate. It is OVW’s goal to increase the number of sexual assault victim advocates who are available to assist American Indian and Alaska Native women in Indian country. OVW is particularly interested in funding applications that propose to use funding from Purpose Area #5 to • hire a full-time or part-time victim advocate who will be dedicated to assisting victims of sexual assault; • establish support groups for victims of sexual assault; • provide victims of sexual assault with access to group and individual counseling. 9 Sherry L. Hamby, Sexual Victimization in Indian Country: Barriers and Resources for Native Women Seeking Help (Washington, DC: National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women, 2004), https://vawnet.org/sites/default/files/materials/files/2016-09/AR_SVIndianCountry.pdf. 6
Other resources on sexual assault in Indian communities Applicants who are interested in learning more about the nature and dynamics of sexual assault in tribal communities are encouraged to consult the following resources: Mending the Sacred Hoop http://www.msh-ta.org/index.htm Southwest Center for Law and Policy http://www.swclap.org/ (see specifically the National Indian Country Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault at http://niccsa.org/) Tribal Law and Policy Institute http://www.tribal-institute.org Sex trafficking What is sex trafficking? Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act or for labor services induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced is under the age of 18. The term “commercial sex act” is used to mean any sex act where something of value is given or received by a person. This definition includes acts such as pornography of children or adults, live sex shows, street prostitution, phone sex, or servile marriages.10 10 Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, Pub. L. 106-386 (2000), http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/10492.pdf. 7 Response to sex trafficking in Indian country Effective response to the high rates of sex trafficking requires cooperation and coordination between state and tribal justice systems as well as outreach for community awareness. Lack of cooperation between federal, state, and tribal courts can make reporting these crimes even more difficult than it already is. The most effective response to sex trafficking is community outreach to change the culture of violence and exploitation within the tribal community. Victims may not feel comfortable seeking physical or mental help if they feel their community is not supportive of their situation.
OVW strongly encourages all applicants who apply to Purpose Area # 5 to consider using their funding to improve the systemic response to the sex trafficking of American Indian and Alaska Native youth and women by • providing training on sex trafficking to tribal, state and local, and federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim services programs, and health care professionals; • providing legal advice and representation for victims of sex trafficking. This could include creating sex trafficking codes, response protocols and policies for tribes to protect victims; • increasing services for youth and women that have been exploited through sex trafficking; • working toward improved coordinated community and criminal justice responses that hold offenders accountable and support victims. Impact of sex trafficking on American Indian and Alaska Native women Native American women experience higher rates of violence than any other group of women in the United States. Often women do not find helpful resources to escape sex trafficking or recover because they believe the process will be overwhelming, they lack access to a nearby resource center, or they feel no genuine connection to the staff. Lack of outlets and support can make it harder for women who are in need of help to seek it. Access to resources and community outreach can help American Indian women feel more safe and comfortable in their communities. Educational training and prevention campaigns within a community can help increase the comfort and confidence of survivors trying to integrate back into society and re-establish their lives. It is important to have regular review of tribal codes, as flawed judiciary systems contribute to the lack of support and hope victims of sex trafficking feel. These systems should include legal assistance for victims as well as properly trained advocates to help them understand all of their options. It is OVW’s goal to increase the safety of American Indian and Alaska Native women and to expand support within their communities. Other resources on sex trafficking in Indian communities Applicants who are interested in learning more about the nature and dynamics of sex trafficking in tribal communities are encouraged to consult the following resources: NCAI “Statistics on Violence Against Native Women” http://files.ncai.org/broadcasts/2013/February/Policy%20Insights%20Brief_VAWA_020613.pdf Tribal Law and Policy Institute http://www.tribal-institute.org Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition http://miwsac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96&Itemid=195 8
Domestic violence This section is excerpted in part from Jenny Gilberg et al., Addressing Domestic Violence in Indian Country: An Introductory Manual (Washington, DC: Mending the Sacred Hoop, 2003), http://mshoop.org/manual-pdf/Addressing%20Violence%20in%20Indian%20Country.pdf. What is domestic violence? Domestic violence describes physical violence or sexual violence occurring within a domestic or family relationship committed by an current or former intimate partner. Domestic violence is seen in both opposite- and same-sex partner relationships. Although the victims are primarily female, there are also male victims, who should be provided with needed services. The term “domestic violence” gets confusing because some disciplines also use it to describe violence being committed by a parent toward a child or perpetrated by an adult child towards an elderly parent or violence perpetrated by a sibling. We can also see “family violence” used interchangeably with “domestic violence.” The term “family violence” more frequently encompasses all domestic or familial relationships. What does it mean to advocate on behalf of victims of domestic violence? To advocate is to do more than provide services to battered women. It is to engage in the work of ensuring that the victim’s voice is being heard on multiple levels. Advocates support victims and plead on their behalf. Advocacy work should reclaim traditional values of respect and cooperation and strive to restore the balance and harmony to tribal communities. 1. Advocates should recognize the gendered nature of domestic violence by acknowledging and addressing the fact that we live in a society that enables violence of this magnitude to be perpetrated against women. Advocates must not get lost in trying to be fair but work to create change in a way that addresses this imbalance. 2. Advocates should engage in work that does not blame battered women or hold them responsible for the batterer’s violence. This can be challenging because battered women come with their own ways of being that may not always seem to be the most cooperative, constructive or helpful. 3. Advocates must hold Native offenders accountable and still remain respectful of them as our relatives. This can be trying as we judge offenders for their violence, yet also remember to not engage in ways that destroy their spirit. 4. Advocates should work to reclaim core values and beliefs. This is accomplished through remembering who they are, where they come from, and working to create social change. (See appendix A of this guide for more guidance on the role of victim advocacy programs). 9
Building a coordinated community response to domestic violence A coordinated community response (CCR) can best be achieved when all of the partners on the project enter into a formal collaboration. Successful collaboration requires comprehensive planning and well- defined channels of communication at all levels and across disciplines. Active participation and collaboration among the Tribal Government and nonprofit victim services providers, as well as law enforcement authorities, prosecution, and the judiciary is critical in developing a comprehensive response to the needs of Indian victims of violence against women. OVW understands that some tribal communities, for a variety of reasons, lack the criminal justice system infrastructure found in nontribal communities. Applicants that do not operate tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecution offices, or court systems should make note of this in the purpose area narrative portion of their applications. Such applicants should detail their efforts to create a CCR to violence against Indian women among relevant tribal programs, such as tribal social services, housing, and health. A CCR is when different members of the community work together to enhance victim services and offender accountability. A CCR often involves first responders such as advocates and law enforcement, but can also include prosecution, and other community organizations. At a minimum, applicants are encouraged to develop a response to addressing domestic violence that includes the following groups, to the extent that they exist within the applicant’s community: • Nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services agencies • Tribal law enforcement • Tribal prosecution • Tribal courts Other resources on domestic violence Applicants that are interested in learning more about the nature and dynamics of domestic violence are encouraged to explore the following resources: Mending the Sacred Hoop http://www.msh-ta.org/index.htm Southwest Center for Law and Policy http://www.swclap.org/ Tribal Law and Policy Institute http://www.tribal-institute.org/lists/domestic.htm National Institute of Justice http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/intimate-partner-violence/welcome.htm 10
Stalking What is stalking? Definitions of stalking vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Different definitions may be used in criminal stalking codes and in civil stalking codes for protection order or restraining order purposes. The Violence Against Women Act defines stalking as “engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.” Stalking can take a variety of forms. Stalkers may physically follow their victims, call them on the phone, send them letters or packages through the mail or through a courier, bombard their victims with emails or instant messages, photograph them from a distance or with hidden cameras, install surveillance software on their computers, and use global positioning systems (GPS) to track them in their cars. Tracking and intimidating a victim are stalking regardless of the method used. Barriers to relief for Native victims of stalking It has been reported that self-identified American Indian and Alaskan Native women are stalked at least twice as often as any other group.11 Native women living in rural communities face many barriers to safety. Native women may have limited access to telephones and transportation. In small communities where members tend to know everybody, a victim may hesitate to contact law enforcement or seek other services out of shame or for fear that her stalker will find out. She may be deterred from contacting law enforcement because her stalker is a friend or relative of a law enforcement officer or service provider. Many tribal law enforcement agencies are underfunded, understaffed, and undertrained in the area of stalking. A small number of law enforcement officers may be responsible for responding to calls in a large geographic area. Their response time may be too lengthy to provide any meaningful protection for victims. Some tribal police departments do not have a 911 emergency system in place. Many tribes lack sufficient space in their jails to keep suspects in custody. There may be confusion as to which law enforcement agency has jurisdiction over a call on “checkerboard” reservations, which may lead to additional delay or failure to respond to an emergency situation. There may also be an overlap in jurisdiction between tribal, state, local, and federal authorities depending on the exact location, the parties involved, and the act committed. 11 Patricia Tjaden and Nancy Thoennes, Stalking in America: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, Research in Brief (Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, 1998), https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/169592.pdf. 11
Intersection of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking The majority of women (Native and non-Native) who report being stalked have been stalked by an intimate partner (e.g., spouse, former spouse, or dating partner).12 The level of violence reported in domestic violence cases that involve stalking behavior is higher than those in cases that involve just stalking alone.13 In addition, approximately 31 percent of the women who reported having been stalked in the National Crime Victimization Survey also reported that their stalker had sexually assaulted them.14 Therefore, it is imperative that tribal communities that are developing a response to domestic violence and sexual assault consider how to appropriately address stalking behavior as part of their overall strategy. 12 Nancy K.D. Lemon, Domestic Violence and Stalking: A Comment on the Model Anti-Stalking Code Proposed by the National Institute of Justice (Minneapolis, MN: Battered Women’s Justice Project, 1994), http://www.mincava.umn.edu/documents/bwjp/stalking/stalking.html. 13 Lawrence A. Greenfield et al., Violence by Intimates: Analysis on Crimes by Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends, and Girlfriends, Bureau of Justice Statistics Factbook (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998), 3, http://bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vi.pdf. 14 Tjaden, Stalking in America (see note 11). 12 Other resources on stalking For more information on stalking, please visit the following: Office on Violence Against Women http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/docs/qa-factsheet.pdf Tribal Law and Policy Institute http://www.tribal-institute.org/lists/stalking.htm Addressing Stalking in Indian Country, Rebecca St. George, Mending the Sacred Hoop (February 2001) http://www.mincava.umn.edu/documents/stalking2/stalking2.html National Center for Victims of Crime’s Stalking Resource Center http://www.victimsofcrime.org/our-programs/stalking-resource-center National Institute of Justice http://nij.gov/topics/crime/stalking/welcome.htm
Underserved populations Although Native victims are inherently underserved, within Indian communities there may be victims who experience additional barriers to seeking assistance. VAWA defines “underserved populations” as populations who face barriers in accessing and using victim services and includes populations underserved because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity; underserved racial and ethnic populations; populations underserved because of special needs (such as language barriers, disabilities, alienage status, or age); and any other population determined to be underserved by the Attorney General or by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate. The criminal justice system and victim service organizations are also challenged as they attempt to provide services for underserved populations. OVW encourages meaningfully access to programming for underserved populations. Projects should consider resources, services and outreach strategies needed to reduce isolation, increase access to services, and establish trust with victims that typically would not engage the criminal justice system or nonprofit victim services. 13
Eligibility Basic eligibility information Title IX of VAWA 2005 establishes who is eligible to receive funding under Purpose Area #5. OVW will accept applications from any of the following: 1. A federally recognized Indian tribe 5. The authorized designee of a federally recognized Indian tribe 6. A tribal consortium OVW will accept applications from eligible applicants who have never before received OVW grant funding, as well as applications from some current OVW grantees. Table 1 on page 15 illustrates the eligibility for tribes with current OVW grants. If tribes are unsure about eligibility, they should contact their OVW Grant Program Specialist for clarification. 14
Table 1. Eligibility for tribes with current OVW grants Whether they are eligible (yes or no) Type of applicant Limits on eligibility FY 2018 OVW Tribal Governments Program grantee no 15 FY 2017 OVW Tribal Governments Program grantee no FY 2016 OVW Tribal Governments Program grantee yes Applicant is eligible only to continue and enhance activities in the FY 2015 award. If the applicant has 70% or more of funds remaining in the FY 2015 award, it is not eligible for FY 2018 funding in this program. If the applicant has 50–69% of funds remaining in the FY 2015 award, the amount of FY 2018 funding may be reduced from the requested amount. If the applicant has 49% or less of funds remaining in the FY 2015 award, it is fully eligible to continue the activities in the FY 2015 award with FY 2018 funding. FY 2015 or earlier OVW Tribal Governments Program grantee yes Applicant is eligible only to continue and enhance activities in the FY 2015 award. If the applicant has 70% or more of funds remaining in the FY 2015 award, it is not eligible for FY 2018 funding in this program. If the applicant has 50–69% of funds remaining in the FY 2015 award, the amount of FY 2018 funding may be reduced from the requested amount. If the applicant has 49% or less of funds remaining in the FY 2015 award, it is fully eligible to continue the activities in the FY 2015 award with FY 2018 funding. Tribal designee yes Designees with FY 2016 or FY 2017 awards are not eligible to apply for new awards, even if they seek designation from a different tribe. Tribal designees are not eligible to apply on behalf of tribes with current 2016 or 2017 awards. Eligible tribes, as described above, can apply through designees (as long as the designees don’t already have 2016 or 2017 awards).
Additional eligibility requirements Each eligible applicant must satisfy all of the program eligibility requirements in order to receive an award from the Tribal Governments Program. Collaboration requirement The Tribal Governments Program statute requires that each tribe or organization that is eligible to apply for Tribal Governments Program funding consult with a specific type of organization or group to implement the project. There are three ways to satisfy this requirement: 1. Partner with a nonprofit Indian victim services program from the tribal or local community. 7. Partner with a nonprofit tribal domestic violence or sexual assault coalition (if they exist in your community). 8. Partner with an advisory committee of women from the community that will be served by the project. This collaboration requirement is very important. Tribal communities that have had the most success in addressing violence committed against Indian women have all had one thing in common: they have worked closely with individuals and organizations who are well qualified to know the needs of Alaska Native and American Indian women who have been the victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking. Selecting a partner The following information is offered to guide to you in selecting an appropriate partner for your project. Nonprofit Indian victim services programs Nonprofit victim services programs, such as domestic violence shelter programs or rape crisis centers, have developed a deep understanding of the needs of victims of violence against women. They not only understand what victims need but they also know how to create programs and policies that appeal to victims but they also know the kinds of programs and policies that will discourage victims from seeking help. It is critical to have the input of the staff from these organizations in developing your project. It is also important that the nonprofit Indian victim services provider that you choose to partner with satisfy certain criteria. Ideally, you should partner with a nonprofit victim services program whose primary purpose is to serve adult and adolescent American Indian or Alaska Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and whose staff has a demonstrated history of assisting American Indian or Alaska Native victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. 16
