Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding

Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding

Family Violence Prevention and Services Act:
Programs and Funding
Garrine P. Laney
Analyst in Social Policy
March 31, 2009
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R40473
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding

Summary
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), enacted originally in 1984 as Title II
of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, assists states in preventing incidents of
domestic violence and provides shelter and related assistance to victims of such violence and their
dependents. It also provides technical assistance and training on domestic violence to state and
local government agencies, nonprofit private organizations, and other persons who seek it. The
act was amended in 1992 and, with passage of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act, again
in 2003. Key components of the FVPSA include state and tribal formula grants, state domestic
violence coalitions, the national domestic violence hotline, and the domestic violence resource
network.
Although the authorization of appropriations for FVPSA programs expired at the end of FY2008,
Congress continues to fund the programs. On March 11, 2009, the Omnibus Appropriations Act,
2009 (P.L. 111-8; H.R. 1105) was enacted into law. The act provides FY2009 funding for the
following FVPSA programs: $5.50 million for demonstration grants for community initiatives,
$127.78 million for battered women’s shelters, and $3.21 million for the national domestic
violence hotline. The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 provides that whenever
appropriations for the hotline in a fiscal year exceed $3 million, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services may use a portion of that funding for establishing and operating an Internet
website that provides information and assistance to victims of domestic violence. The 111th
Congress may consider legislation that would address the expired authorization. This report will
be updated to reflect legislative activity.

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Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding

Contents
Recent Developments.................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Description of FVPSA Programs ................................................................................................. 1
Family Violence/Battered Women’s Shelters ......................................................................... 1
Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations .................................................................................. 2
Children Who Witness Domestic Violence ............................................................................ 3
State Domestic Violence Coalitions ....................................................................................... 3
National Domestic Violence Hotline and Internet Grant......................................................... 4
Public Information Campaign................................................................................................ 4
Demonstration Grants for Community Initiatives .................................................................. 5
Transitional Housing Assistance............................................................................................ 5
Information and Technical Assistance Centers ............................................................................. 6
The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence ............................................................ 7
The Resource Center on Domestic Violence–Child Protection and Custody........................... 7
The Battered Women’s Justice Project ................................................................................... 7
National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence........................................................ 7
Sacred Circle, National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women ................. 7
FVPSA-Related Initiatives .......................................................................................................... 7
Institutes ............................................................................................................................... 8
The Greenbook ..................................................................................................................... 8
Enhanced Services for Children Who Have Been Exposed to Domestic Violence .................. 9
Domestic Violence – Indian Health Care Pilot Project ........................................................... 9
Runaway and Homeless Youth and Relationship Violence ..................................................... 9
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health ..................................... 10
National Domestic Violence Shelter Study .......................................................................... 10
Authorization and Appropriations for FVPSA Programs ............................................................ 10
General Authorization ......................................................................................................... 11
National Domestic Violence Hotline and Internet Grant....................................................... 12
Demonstration Grants for Community Initiatives ................................................................ 12
Transitional Housing Assistance.......................................................................................... 12

Tables
Table 1. Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Program Authorizations and
Appropriations ....................................................................................................................... 11

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 12

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Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding

Recent Developments
On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8;
H.R. 1105) into law. The act provides FY2009 funding of $5.50 million for demonstration grants
for community initiatives, $127.78 million for battered women’s shelters, and $3.21 million for
the national domestic violence hotline.
Introduction
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) was originally enacted in 1984, as
Title III of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act,1 to assist states in preventing incidents
of family violence and to provide shelter and related assistance to victims of family violence and
their dependents, with the expectation of preventing future acts of violence in families. In
addition, the act authorizes technical assistance and training on family violence programs to
states, local public agencies, nonprofit private organizations and others. Congress amended and
extended the act in 1988,2 in 1992,3 in 2000,4 and most recently in 2003 with passage of the
Keeping Children and Families Safe Act.5 Authorization of appropriations for FVPSA programs
expired at the end of FY2008; however, Congress, through passage of the Omnibus
Appropriations Act, 2009, provides FY2009 funding for FVPSA programs.
FVPSA is administered by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) of the Administration
for Children and Families (ACF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It serves as the primary means by which
federal funding is used to support emergency shelter and related assistance for victims of
domestic violence and their children. The act authorizes state and tribal formula grants, state
domestic violence coalitions, the national domestic violence hotline and domestic violence
resource network, transitional housing grants for victims of domestic violence, and demonstration
grants for community initiatives. Not all activities authorized under the act have received
appropriations. This report describes programs authorized under FVPSA and related initiatives,
and provides authorization and appropriation levels.
Description of FVPSA Programs
Family Violence/Battered Women’s Shelters
The largest FVPSA program provides formula grants to states and territories that are used by
domestic violence shelter and victim advocacy programs for emergency shelter and other services

1 P.L. 98-457; 42 U.S.C. 10401.
2 P.L. 100-294, Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1988.
3 P.L. 102-295, Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1992.
4 P.L. 106-386, Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.
5 P.L. 108-36, Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003.
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Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding

such as counseling, transportation, and legal assistance for victims of family violence.6 The act
defines “shelter” as the temporary refuge and related assistance to victims of family violence and
their dependents according to state law and regulations.7 “Related assistance” is defined as the
provision of direct assistance to victims of family violence and their dependents to prevent further
violence, help victims gain access to civil and criminal courts and other community services,
facilitate victims in their efforts to make sound decisions concerning their safety, and assist
victims in recovering from the effects of the violence.8 Related assistance includes:
• outreach and prevention services for victims and their children, employment
training, preventive health services within domestic violence programs, domestic
violence prevention programs for school-age children, family violence public
awareness campaigns and counseling services to abusers;
• counseling provided by peers individually or in groups and referrals to
community social services;
• transportation, technical assistance on obtaining financial assistance under
federal and state programs, and referrals, not reimbursement, for health care
services;
• legal advocacy that provides victims with information and assistance through the
civil and criminal courts, and legal assistance; or
• counseling, support services, and child care services for children or dependents
of family violence and children who witness it.
FVPSA funds for family violence shelters are allocated to states and territories based on the
relative population of the state except that (1) each state is allocated not less than 1% of the total
grant or $600,000, whichever is less; and (2) Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands are allotted not less than
one-eighth of 1% of the amounts available for grants. The Secretary of HHS determines the
population of each state and the total population of all states based on the most recent census data
and, if available, the annual population estimates that are produced by the Secretary of
Commerce. Formula grants to states and territories are allocated as follows: 70% to immediate
shelter and related assistance; 25% to related assistance; and 5% to administrative costs.
Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations
Grants are also provided to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit private organizations
that have been approved by an Indian tribe to operate a family violence shelter on an Indian
reservation. 9 The purpose of these shelters is to prevent family violence and provide immediate,
safe shelter and related assistance for Indians and their dependents who are victims of family
violence. Funds can also be used for demonstration programs that offer multisystem interventions
and services for children who witness domestic violence and for training for agencies and other
entities that work with these children.

6 42 U.S.C. 10402.
7 42 U.S.C. 10421(4).
8 42 U.S.C. 10421(5).
9 42 U.S.C. 10401(b).
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Children Who Witness Domestic Violence
The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 200310 amended FVPSA to require the Secretary
to award grants for demonstration programs that provide (1) multisystem interventions and
services for children who witness domestic violence and (2) training for agencies, providers, and
other entities that work with these children. 11 The purpose of the programs is to minimize the
trauma of witnessing domestic violence and, thereby, increase the chances for these children to
become healthy, nonviolent adults. The act provides that when appropriations for a fiscal year for
FVPSA state grants exceed $130 million, the Secretary must use some of the excess for these
projects to assist children who witness domestic violence. To date, funding levels for these grants
have not exceeded $130 million; thus, under this section, FVPSA funding has been unavailable
for these purposes. The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act
of 2005 (VAWA 2005),12 however, provides for a Safe Havens for Children Pilot program,
authorizing $20 million for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 for grants to assist children
and youth exposed to violence. This act authorizes the Attorney General, acting through the
Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, and in collaboration with the Department of
Health and Human Services, to administer this grant program.13 In addition, HHS has used
proceeds from a “semipostal” stamp to fund related demonstrations.
State Domestic Violence Coalitions
The FVPSA authorizes grants to state domestic violence coalitions that collaborate with public
agencies and other service providers, provide training and technical assistance, as well as help
with needs assessments, social service and legal advocacy training, and Domestic Violence
Specialist Certification programs.14 A state domestic violence coalition may include
representatives of Indian tribes and tribal organizations. These coalitions work with (1) local
domestic violence programs and providers that provide direct services to victims to encourage
appropriate responses to domestic violence within the state; (2) judicial and law enforcement
agencies to ensure appropriate responses to domestic violence cases and related issues; and (3)
family law judges, criminal court judges, Child Protective Services agencies, and children’s
advocates to develop appropriate responses to child custody and visitation issues in domestic
violence cases and cases of child abuse. In addition, the coalitions conduct public education
campaigns on domestic violence and participate in planning and monitoring the distribution of
grant funds to their states.
To be eligible for a grant, an entity must be a statewide, nonprofit domestic violence coalition.
The state domestic violence coalition must be organized to provide services, community
education, and technical assistance to programs that establish and maintain shelter and other
services for victims of domestic violence and their children. Moreover, the coalition must be
composed of members from a majority of programs for victims of domestic violence in the state.
Also, the coalition’s application must indicate that law enforcement agencies and legal or judicial

10 P.L. 108-36, Sec. 406(c).
11 42 U.S.C. 10402 (c).
12 P.L. 109-162, Sec. 401; 42 U.S.C. 14043(d)(2).
13 For more information on this program, as well as others that are designed to address violence against women and
children, see CRS Report RL30871, Violence Against Women Act: History and Federal Funding, by Garrine P. Laney.
14 42 U.S.C. 10410.
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entities actively participated in its preparation and that they will also participate in activities under
the grant.
The law allots funds to each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
and the combined U.S. Territories in an amount equal to 1/53 of the amount appropriated for each
fiscal year. The combined U.S. Territories are Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; they are to receive
not less than 1.5% of the appropriated funds each fiscal year.15
National Domestic Violence Hotline and Internet Grant
FVPSA provides for the Secretary to award one or more grants to private, nonprofit entities to
establish and operate a national, toll-free telephone hotline to assist victims of domestic
violence.16 A grant may be extended for a maximum period of five years. In establishing the
hotline, the grantee must contract with a carrier to use the telephone line; employ, train, and
supervise personnel on answering calls and providing counseling and referral services to callers;
assemble and maintain a current database of information on services available for referral to
victims of domestic violence; and publicize the hotline nationally to potential users.
On a 24-hour a day basis, seven days a week, the National Domestic Violence Hotline makes safe
and confidential telephone service available for callers who are victims of domestic violence.17
With materials in various formats and telephone service offered in 139 languages, the hotline
provides information to callers on domestic violence shelters and programs, social service
agencies, and legal and other advocacy groups throughout the country. Moreover, friends, family
members, and employers of victims of domestic violence who are seeking information about
domestic violence use the hotline. Batterers also use the hotline to learn of intervention programs
in their areas.18
The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 200319 provides that whenever appropriations for
the hotline in a fiscal year exceed $3 million, the Secretary may use a portion of that funding for
establishment and operation of a secure Internet website that provides information and assistance
to victims of domestic violence. The Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009, provides FY2009
appropriations of $3.21 million for the hotline.
Public Information Campaign
FVPSA authorizes the Secretary to make grants to public or private nonprofit entities, including
Indian tribes or tribal organizations, for developing a public information campaign concerning
domestic violence that uses a number of approaches such as public service announcements, paid
educational messages for print media, public transit advertising, and electronic broadcast media.20

15 42 U.S.C. 10410.
16 42 U.S.C. 10416.
17 The telephone number for the hotline is 1-800-799 SAFE (7233).
18 For further information on the hotline operations, see its website at http://www.ndvh.org.
19 P.L. 108-36; 117 Stat. 829.
20 42 U.S.C. 10414.
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Applicants must meet three criteria to receive a grant. The first criterion is concerned with what
the applicant will do with grant money to educate these communities and groups, while the
second criterion asks what the applicant’s general record has been in conducting public
information campaigns. Finally, the third criterion seeks information on the applicant’s strategy
for conducting a campaign directed specifically at population groups that are most at risk. In the
past, FVPSA funds have been used to award some small grants for public information campaigns,
but none was awarded in either FY2008 or FY2007.21
Demonstration Grants for Community Initiatives
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administers these community projects. 22 Funding
is authorized for grants to nonprofit private organizations that coordinate community projects for
intervening and preventing domestic violence. In coordinating these community projects, the
organizations must include representatives of pertinent sectors of the local community such as
health care providers, the education community, the religious community, the justice system,
domestic violence program advocates, human service entities such as state child services
divisions, business and civic leaders, and other pertinent sectors. In establishing and operating a
project, a nonprofit private organization must (1) establish protocols to improve and expand
domestic violence intervention and prevention strategies among affected sectors, (2) develop a
coordinated plan of action, involving many sectors of the community, for establishing and
operating the community project, and (3) provide periodic written analysis and evaluation of the
project so that the approach used can be applied in other communities. The Secretary is to award
these grants for a three-year term and ensure that grantees are geographically dispersed
throughout the nation.
Transitional Housing Assistance
The act authorizes assistance to individuals and their dependents who are homeless or need short-
term housing assistance as a result of fleeing domestic violence, as well as those for whom
emergency shelter services are unavailable or inadequate. 23 Originally established in the Violence
Against Women Act, 2000, to be administered by HHS,24 this program has never been funded.
The PROTECT Act of 2003,25 however, established a similar transitional housing assistance
program within the Department of Justice (DOJ), which has been funded every year since
FY2004. Prior to passage of the Violence Against Women Act, 2005 (VAWA 2005),26 DOJ had
sole responsibility for administering this transitional housing program; however, VAWA 2005
provides that, in awarding grants for this program, the Attorney General must consult the Director
of the Office on Violence Against Women and the Departments of Housing and Urban
Development and Health and Human Services.27 Legislation was introduced in the 110th Congress

21 Information received during a telephone conversation with an ACF representative on October 31, 2008.
22 42 U.S.C. 10418.
23 42 U.S.C. 10419.
24 Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Division B; P.L. 106-386; 114 Stat. 1491.
25 The Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003, P.L. 108-21;
117 Stat. 650.
26 Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, P.L. 109-162; 119 Stat. 2960.
27 119 Stat. 3038.
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that would have amended the FVPSA to authorize an additional transitional housing assistance
program for youth who were victims of sex trafficking; no action was taken on this proposal.
Information and Technical Assistance Centers
Information and technical assistance centers are authorized to provide resource information,
training, and technical assistance to governmental agencies at the federal, state, local, and tribal
levels, domestic violence programs, faith-based groups, and others offering services to victims of
domestic violence.28 The Secretary of HHS must award grants to private nonprofit organizations
to establish and maintain one national resource center and no more than seven special issue
resource centers that focus on one or more of the following issues of concern to victims of
domestic violence:
• criminal justice response to domestic violence, including court-mandated abuser
treatment;
• improving Child Protective Service agencies’ response to battered mothers of
abused children;
• use of the self-defense plea by victims of domestic violence;
• improving interdisciplinary health care responses and access to health care
resources for victims of domestic violence;
• improving access to and the quality of legal representation for victims of
domestic violence in civil litigation, including the issuance and enforcement of
protection orders; and
• providing technical assistance and training to state domestic violence coalitions.

To be eligible for a grant an entity must be a private nonprofit organization that (1) focuses
primarily on domestic violence; (2) demonstrates experience working on domestic violence
issues; (3) has representatives from domestic violence programs who reflect the geographic and
cultural diversity in the region; and (4) demonstrates strong support from domestic violence
advocates both nationally and regionally for them to be designated as the national or a special
issue resource center. No later than six months after receipt of a grant, FVPSA requires a grantee
to submit a report to the Secretary of HHS that evaluates the grantee’s effectiveness in using grant
funds.
HHS reports that it has funded the: (1) National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, (2)
Resource Center on Domestic Violence–Child Protection and Custody, (3) Battered Women’s
Justice Project, (4) National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and (5) Sacred
Circle, National Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women. These centers are
described more fully below.29

28 42 U.S.C. 10407.
29 Information in this section was received from ACF via e-mail dated May 2, 2008.
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The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
This center serves as a source of extensive information, training resources, and technical
assistance concerning domestic violence policy and practice. Federal, state, and local government
agencies, Indian tribal organizations, business and community leaders, the media, and other
professionals and volunteers use the center as a resource in addressing domestic violence. The
center maintains a central resource library for collecting, preparing, analyzing and disseminating
information and statistics on the incidence and prevention of family violence (especially repeated
incidences of violence) and the provision of immediate shelter and related assistance.
The Resource Center on Domestic Violence–Child Protection and
Custody
This center addresses child custody issues that are presented during domestic violence cases,
focuses on improving the response of Child Protective Service agencies, and identifies and
develops policies and programs that are appropriate to the legal, cultural and psychological
dynamics of child protection and custody cases that involve family violence.
The Battered Women’s Justice Project
This project provides services that assist legal advocates, law enforcement personnel, corrections
officers, judges, attorneys, domestic violence organizations, government agencies, and private
citizens with legal technical assistance and training in criminal, civil, and self-defense issues.
National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence
This center is concerned with improving interdisciplinary health care responses and access to
health care resources for victims of domestic violence. It provides support to health care
professionals, domestic violence service providers, government agencies, researchers and policy
makers who are interested in developing a comprehensive health care response to domestic
violence, e.g., routine screening, protocols, regular staff training, and resource material.
Sacred Circle, National Resource Center to End Violence Against
Native Women
The Sacred Circle addresses violence against Native women in the context of their unique
historical, jurisdictional, and cultural experiences. Tribes, tribal organizations, and other
individuals and entities can receive resource information and materials, and technical assistance
on domestic violence. The Sacred Circle also offers consultation services.
FVPSA-Related Initiatives
Following is a description of some FVPSA-related program initiatives that, in some cases, receive
FVPSA discretionary funds.
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Institutes
A number of culturally-specific Institutes receive funding to improve services and try new
approaches for addressing and preventing domestic violence within specific communities.
• The Institute on Domestic Violence in the African-American Community provides
an interdisciplinary vehicle and forum for scholars, practitioners, and observers
of family violence in the African-American community to offer their perspectives
based on research findings, examination of service delivery and intervention
mechanisms, and identification of appropriate and effective responses to family
violence in the African-American community. The Institute sponsors
conferences, symposia, and community-based initiatives.
• The National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence (Alianza)
is a network, composed of Latina and Latino advocates, community activists,
practitioners, researchers, and victims of domestic violence, that is committed to
devising culturally effective strategies and programs to eliminate domestic
violence in Latino communities. To promote understanding, initiate and sustain
dialogue, and provide solutions to domestic violence in these communities,
Alianza relies on public policy, community education and development, and
training and technical assistance.
• Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence (AAPI) is a national
coalition of domestic violence experts, shelter workers, public policy activists,
and social justice organizations. The coalition works to raise awareness in Asian
and Pacific Islander communities about the damaging effects of domestic
violence on the individual and family; address the root causes of domestic
violence; organize cultural transformation by emphasizing community
accountability and creating new social norms; and expand leadership and
expertise within the communities. The AAPI builds supportive networks,
increases awareness and prevention of domestic violence, identifies resources,
and informs and promotes research and policy.
The Greenbook
This collaborative demonstration project of HHS and the Department of Justice provides grants to
implement recommendations contained in “Effective Interventions in Domestic Violence and
Child Maltreatment: Guidelines for Policy and Practice,” known as the Greenbook.30 The
suggested guidelines concerning the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment
were developed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and were
implemented at six demonstration grant sites. The guidelines focus on how dependency courts,
child protective services, and domestic violence service providers, working collaboratively with
their communities, address domestic violence and child maltreatment in families. FVPSA
provides funding for technical assistance to expand the dissemination and replication of
promising practices that resulted from this collaboration.

30 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Effective Interventions in Domestic Violence and Child
Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice,” 1999. http://www.thegreenbook.info/
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Enhanced Services for Children Who Have Been Exposed to
Domestic Violence
Through demonstration grants, the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) has supported the
need for effective practice models and enhanced services that respond to children who are
exposed to domestic violence. The demonstrations operated as a collaborative effort among state
governments, federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits having tax-exempt status, faith-
based and community-based groups and other private nonprofit groups or public agencies (but not
higher education institutions) with demonstrated experience concerning the effect of domestic
violence on children. These eligible entities collaborated with state domestic violence coalitions
and state organizations managing the family violence program.
From FY2005 through FY2007, FYSB funded grantees from nine states and local communities to
identify, design, and test various approaches for providing enhanced direct services to children
exposed to domestic violence. The grantees reported significant progress in achieving their
project goals in three areas: (1) expanding the capacity of domestic violence programs to assist
children and adolescents coming into emergency shelters; (2) expanding the capacity of domestic
violence programs to address the needs of non-sheltered families and their children; and (3)
developing and enhancing community-based interventions for those children whose parents have
not sought services or support from a domestic violence program. FYSB plans to develop a
collection of promising practices that emerged through the initiative.
The Stamp Out Family Violence Act of 2001, in creating a “semipostal” stamp, enabled the public
to directly and tangibly contribute to funding for domestic violence programs, including this
demonstration project. Issued for sale on October 8, 2003, the Family Violence Stamp has
generated sales of over $3 million to support domestic violence programs administered by HHS.
Domestic Violence – Indian Health Care Pilot Project
This project is a collaborative effort of two FVPSA-funded domestic violence resource centers –
the National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Sacred Circle: The National
Resource Center to End Violence Against Native Women. The objective of the project is to
improve the health care offered by tribal health care programs for Native American women who
are victims of domestic violence. This is a multi-year project that supports pilot sites in
developing culturally appropriate prevention strategies and resources for health care providers
and victims of domestic violence. Currently, there are 19 pilot sites where multidisciplinary teams
implement model policies and procedures, conduct training on domestic violence and its
relationship to health, screening procedures, responses to domestic violence victimization, and
prevention strategies. Improvement in the rates of screening for domestic violence at project sites
is being traced by the Indian Health Service.
Runaway and Homeless Youth and Relationship Violence
The FYSB supports efforts in 16 states and community-based organizations to design and develop
collaborative services that address the intersection of youth services by the domestic violence and
runaway and homeless youth service provider communities. These efforts are seen as an
opportunity to improve services for a population of youth at high risk for experiencing domestic
violence, both as perpetrators and victims. Since these youth may not be reached by traditional,
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school-based domestic violence prevention and intervention services, innovative approaches are
encouraged. Grantees must design and provide more responsive services and improved outreach;
develop training materials and curricula; and develop protocols for effective prevention and
intervention strategies to improve service for this population.
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health
This Center aims to increase understanding about the range of trauma-related issues facing
domestic violence survivors and their children and to promote survivors’ access to services that
are essential to their safety and well-being. The Center promotes cross-system dialogue among
domestic violence and mental health organizations and increases the capacity of local and state
agencies to effectively assist victims of domestic violence who are experiencing trauma
associated with abuse and/or are living with mental illness. In addition, it develops and
disseminates information about program models and educational tools, conducts conferences and
symposia, and consults on service improvement strategies.
National Domestic Violence Shelter Study
Through the National Institute of Justice, the FYSB sponsored an independent study of the
experiences of domestic violence shelter residents–Domestic Violence Shelters: Survivors
Experiences.31 The University of Connecticut, the National Resource Center on Domestic
Violence, and state domestic violence coalitions and programs in eight participating states
collaborated on this study. The study sought information about the experiences of survivors of
domestic violence who seek shelter, whether their expectations were met, their assessment of
immediate outcomes associated with their stay at the shelter, any variation in outcomes across
demographic and shelter program characteristics, and recommendations to improve shelter
program services.
Authorization and Appropriations for FVPSA
Programs
Table 1 shows authorized amounts for FVPSA programs for fiscal years 2004 through 2008, and
enacted appropriations for these programs for fiscal years 2006 through 2009.

31 Eleanor Lyon, Shannon Lane, and Anne Menard, Domestic Violence Shelters: Survivors Experiences, December
2008. http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225025.pdf
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Table 1. Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Program Authorizations and
Appropriations
(in millions)
Annual
Authorization
Levels for
FY2004–
FY2006
FY2007
FY2008
FY2009
Program
FY2008
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
General
$175.00 $126.64
$124.73
$122.55
$127.78
Authorization/
Battered
Women’s Shelters
National
$3.50 $2.97
$2.97
$2.92
$3.21
Domestic
Violence Hotline
Demonstration
$6.00 $5.18
$5.19
$5.00
$5.51
Grants for
Community
Initiatives
Transitional
$25.00 $0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Housing for
Victims of
Domestic
Violence
Source: For each fiscal year, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations. For
authorization of appropriations–Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention provided information on Demonstration Grants for Community Initiatives.

The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act reauthorized FVPSA programs through FY2008 and
no legislation has been considered to extend it further. Nonetheless, Congress continues to
provide appropriations. On March 11, 2009, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8;
H.R. 1105) was enacted into law. For FY2009, the act provides funding of $5.5 million for
demonstration grants for community initiatives, $127.78 million for battered women’s shelters,
and $3.21 million for the national domestic violence hotline (see Table 1). For FY2009, the Bush
Administration requested $5 million for demonstration grants for community initiatives, $122.55
million for the family violence prevention and services programs (which included the battered
women’s shelters), and $2.92 million for the national domestic violence hotline.
General Authorization
Section 310 of FVPSA authorized $175 million for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
Appropriations are distributed as follows:
• Formula Grants to States and Territories for Family Violence/battered women’s
shelters (not less than 70%)
• Grants to Indian Tribes or Tribal Organizations (not less than 10%)
• State Domestic Violence Coalitions (not less than 10%)
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Family Violence Prevention and Services Act: Programs and Funding

• Information and Technical Assistance Resource Centers on Domestic Violence
(5%) and
• Evaluation, Monitoring and Administration32 (up to 2.5%).

If, however, appropriations exceed $130 million in a given year, the Secretary is required to
reserve a portion of the excess for demonstration programs related to children exposed to
domestic violence. (Appropriations have never exceeded that amount.33)
National Domestic Violence Hotline and Internet Grant
Section 316(g) authorized $3.5 million for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. As noted
earlier, the internet grant is funded only if appropriations exceed $3 million in a given year.
Demonstration Grants for Community Initiatives
Section 318(h) authorized $6 million for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for
Demonstration Grants for Community Initiatives.
Transitional Housing Assistance
Section 319(f) authorized $25 million for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2008 for transitional
housing assistance.

Author Contact Information

Garrine P. Laney

Analyst in Social Policy
glaney@crs.loc.gov, 7-2518

32 Although the statute does not specify a set percentage for Discretionary Grant Projects and Institutes, ACF reports
that any funds not used for administrative activities are available for these purposes.
33 HHS has used proceeds from a “stop family violence” postage stamp for these demonstration projects.
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