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Updated October 25, 2021
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)
History of FVPSA
Overview of FVPSA
Throughout much of the 20th century, domestic violence
FVPSA supports temporary shelter and services for
remained a hidden problem. Survivors (or victims) were
survivors, as well as children exposed to domestic and teen
hesitant to seek help, primarily because of fear of retaliation
dating violence. The law currently authorizes three major
by their partners and concerns about leaving their
activities: the National Domestic Violence Hotline;
communities. In the 1960s and 1970s, shelters and services
domestic violence shelters, victim services, and program
for survivors became more widely available. In 1984, the
support; and the Domestic Violence Prevention
Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a report that examined
Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA)
the scope and impact of domestic violence in the United
program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human
States, and recommended improvements in law
Services’ (HHS’) Family and Youth Services Bureau
enforcement and community responses to offenses that
(FYSB) administers funding for the hotline and domestic
were previously considered “family matters.” As a result of
violence shelters and services. The CDC, also within HHS,
efforts by advocates and DOJ, Congress held a series of
administers DELTA. The statute authorized funding for
hearings on domestic violence. In response, the Family
these activities through FY2015. Table 1 shows final
Violence Prevention and Services Act was enacted as Title
funding for FY2017 to FY2020 and enacted funding for
III of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984 (P.L. 98-457).
FY2021. Funding increased over this period.
FVPSA has twice been amended by the Violence Against
Table 1. FVPSA Final Funding, FY2017-FY2020 and
Women Act (VAWA), first enacted in 1994. FVPSA and
Enacted Funding, FY2021 (dollars in millions)
VAWA are the primary vehicles for federal support to
prevent and respond to domestic violence. FVPSA is
FY17
FY18
FY19
FY20
FY21
focused on prevention and services for survivors, while
Hotline
$8.2
$9.3
$10.3
$14.0
$15.0
VAWA’s focus is on both services for victims and the
Shelter &
$150.5
$158.4
$163.9
$220.0
$380.5
criminal justice response to domestic violence, sexual
Services
assault, stalking, and dating violence.
Scope of the Issue
DELTA
$5.5
$5.5
$5.5
$7.1
$5.5
FVPSA primarily addresses domestic violence and dating
ARPA
-
-
-
-
$250.0
violence. Both can include acts of physical, psychological,
Grantsa
and sexual violence as well as stalking. Domestic violence,
sometimes referred to as family violence, involves current
Total
$164.2
$173.2
$179.7
$241.1
$651.0
or former spouses, individuals who share children in
Source: CRS, based on correspondence with HHS in October 2020
common, cohabiting partners, and other intimate partners.
and review of enacted laws.
Dating violence occurs between individuals who have a
Note: FY2020 includes appropriations under P.L. 116-136 and
romantic relationship, including teenagers. Studies do not
FY2021 includes appropriations under P.L. 117-2.
indicate a primary reason why domestic and dating violence
a. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA; P.L. 117-2) authorized
are perpetrated, in part because of the difficulty measuring
two new grant programs (to support cultural y specific
social conditions that can influence such violence. They do,
populations and survivors of sexual assault). These programs
however, identify two underlying factors: the unequal
have not been implemented as of the date of this In Focus.
position of women and the normalization of violence, both
in society and in some relationships.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Since 1996, HHS has competitively awarded a cooperative
Estimating the number of individuals involved in intimate
agreement to one organization to operate the National
partner violence is complicated by varying definitions of
Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline provides
the term and differing methodologies for collecting data. A
information and assistance to adult and youth victims of
study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
domestic violence, family and household members of
(CDC) examined the prevalence of intimate partner
victims, and others affected by victimization. This includes
violence in 2015. Over one-third of women and men in
support concerning domestic violence, dating violence,
America reported that they had experienced sexual
children exposed to domestic violence, intervention
violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate
programs for abusive partners, and related topics. As
partner in their lifetime. However, women were more likely
required under FVPSA, the national hotline carries out
to have experienced related impacts, such as having injuries
multiple activities. It employs, trains, and supervises
and a need for victim services.
personnel to answer incoming calls; provides counseling
and referral services to victims and others; and directly
connects callers to service providers in local communities.
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Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)
In FY2019, the hotline received more than 28,500 calls and
facilities. No less than 25% of subgrant funding is to be
nearly 21,500 online chats per month. It was not able to
used for supportive services and prevention services (e.g.,
respond to all calls and chats due to capacity and increasing
assisting in the development of safety plans, providing
call and chat volume.
counseling and support groups, and services for children).
Subgrantees that receive funding must provide a nonfederal
The hotline maintains a database of domestic violence
match—of not less than $1 for every $5 of federal
service providers throughout the United States, including
funding—directly from the state or through donations from
information on the availability of shelter and services.
public or private entities. States have two years to spend
Further, it provides assistance to meet the needs of certain
funds. States and subgrantees may not deny individuals
populations, including individuals with disabilities and
from participating in FVPSA-funded services on the basis
underserved groups. Since 2007, the hotline has operated
of disability, sex, race, color, national origin, or religion
loveisrespect, the National Dating Abuse Hotline for youth
(this applies generally to FPVSA). States and subgrantees
victims of dating violence. In FY2018, the loveisrespect
may not impose income eligibility requirements on
hotline responded to nearly 2,400 calls and nearly 4,000
individuals participating in these programs. Generally, the
chats per month. The National Hotline has also collaborated
with the National Indigenous Women’s
requirements that apply to states also apply to tribes.
Resource Center, a
nonprofit organization, to develop and operate the
State Domestic Violence Coalitions (SDVCs)
StrongHearts Native Helpline for Native American
SDVCs are statewide nongovernmental, nonprofit domestic
survivors of domestic abuse.
violence organizations whose memberships are made up of
Shelters, Services, and Program Support domestic violence service providers in the state. Each state
has one SDVC, which is designated by HHS. Funding is
Appropriations for shelters, victim services, and program
divided evenly between the 56 of them. SDVCs must use
support provide funding for multiple activities: grants for
FVPSA funding for specific activities, such as working
states and territories, grants to Indian tribes, state domestic
with local programs to respond to domestic violence,
violence coalitions (SDVCs), training and technical
providing training and technical assistance, and planning
assistance centers, specialized services for abused parents
and monitoring the distribution of subgrants within states.
and their children, and administrative support provided by
HHS. Figure 1 shows allocations for FY2020.
Training and Technical Assistance Centers
Figure 1. FY2020 Allocations for Shelter, Services,
HHS administers grants for 14 training and technical
and Support (Totaling $220.0 million)
assistance centers. The purpose of these centers is to
provide information, training, and technical assistance on
domestic violence topics. This support is provided by
nonprofit organizations and other entities to survivors and
other stakeholders. The National Resource Center on
Domestic Violence and the National Indian Resource
Center Addressing Domestic Violence and Safety for
Indian Women are designated as national resource centers,
meaning they have a broader scope and more funding.
Other centers focus on selected populations (e.g., Latino
communities, Alaska Native communities), specialized
Source: CRS, based on correspondence with HHS in September
issues (e.g., mental health and trauma), and other topics.
2020. FY2020 data include supplemental (P.L. 116-136) funds.
Services for Children
Grants to States, Territories, and Tribes
If annual appropriations for shelter and services exceed
$130 million, HHS must reserve a quarter of the funds that
Of the appropriations for shelter and services, no less than
exceed this amount for services to children exposed to
70% must be awarded to states and territories and no less
domestic violence. This requirement was triggered in
than 10% must be awarded to Indian tribes. These funds are
FY2010 and each of FY2014-FY2021. In recent years,
to be used to establish, maintain, and expand programs to
HHS has directed the reserved funds to SDVCs and other
prevent and respond to domestic violence. Of the funding
entities to address trauma experienced by children exposed
for states and territories, each territory (GU, AS, USVI,
to domestic violence, support enhanced relationships
CNMI) receives no less than one-eighth of 1% of the
among children and their parents, and improve community
appropriation, or, in combination, about one-half of 1% of
responses to affected families.
the total amount appropriated. Of the remaining funds,
states (including DC and PR) receive an allotment of
Domestic Violence Prevention (DELTA)
$600,000 and additional funding based on their relative
Since 1996, CDC has awarded DELTA funding to SDVCs
shares of the U.S. population.
to coordinate local community projects to prevent domestic
violence. In total, 34 states have received funding under
States and territories (states) may use up to 5% of funding
various iterations of the program. Currently, 10 SDVCs
for administrative costs. Remaining funds are dedicated to
receive DELTA funds, and are implementing and
subgrants to eligible entities—local public agencies or
evaluating programs or policy efforts under three strategies
nonprofit private organizations—for community-based
to address domestic violence prevention: (1) engaging
programs that meet the goals of the grant. No less than 70%
influential adults and peers, including men and boys, as
of subgrant funding is to be used to provide shelter and
allies in prevention; (2) creating protective environments,
related expenses, including the physical space in which
including in schools and workplaces; and (3) strengthening
survivors reside and the expenses of running shelter
economic supports for families.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)
IF11170
Kara Clifford Billings, Analyst in Social Policy
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11170 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED