Family Violence Prevention & Services Act Program

The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) administers the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), the primary federal funding stream dedicated to the support of emergency shelter and related assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children.

The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services is committed to:

Providing shelter and other supportive services for victims and their children
Coordinating statewide improvements within local communities, social service systems, and programming regarding the prevention and intervention of domestic violence through the leadership of State Domestic Violence Coalitions and FVPSA State Administrators
Increasing public awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence, dating violence and family violence

Supporting local and community-based domestic violence programs with specialized technical assistance addressing emerging issues such as trauma-informed care; the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child maltreatment; culturally specific domestic violence services; and effective interventions for children exposed to domestic violence

To accomplish this work our team manages the following FVPSA grant programs:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS...

• Prevalent — 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

• A public health issue that contributes to chronic health problems and often limits the ability of survivors to manage other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension.

• A leading cause of homelessness for women and children; the need for safe and affordable housing is one of the most pressing concerns for survivors. (PDF)

• Preventable by proactively implementing programs, training, and services that stop violence and abuse from happening in the first place.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1984, Congress took action to address domestic violence as a public health issue by enacting the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), authorized under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act amendments that took place at that time. This action meant that survivors of domestic violence could access help through a 24-hour confidential hotline and put grant funding in place for community programs and services.

FVPSA OVERVIEW

FVPSA funding reaches over 1,500 domestic violence shelters and programs, supports over 240 tribes and tribal organizations to address and prevent domestic violence, and provides for a network of state coalitions and national technical assistance providers — all working to ensure vital crisis services are available to individuals experiencing domestic or dating violence and their dependents. The FVPSA Program recognizes the interrelated aspects of domestic violence with homelessness, economic hardship, workplace readiness, physical and behavioral health concerns, and culturally specific needs, and works across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to address these issues, including meeting the needs of children exposed to family violence. These coordinated efforts ensure that survivors can more easily access supportive services, violence-prevention resources, health care, housing, early childhood education, child support, responsible fatherhood programs, and much more. FVPSA Program efforts through grants and technical assistance resulting in:

Woman in dark room operating computer on hotline.

• 24-hour hotline with caring advocates providing connections to community resources

• Services, shelter, and support to 1.3 million survivors

• Support to more than 1,500 local domestic violence agencies

• Culturally appropriate and peer-led programs reaching more than 240 Tribes

• Collaborative training, technical assistance, and resource development at the intersection of domestic violence, homelessness, and housing

• Increased knowledge sharing and capacity building for culturally specific services and meeting the needs of children exposed to violence in the home

• Community-level coordination with 56 Domestic Violence Coalitions

For organizations working with survivors of domestic violence, FVPSA Program resources, technical assistance, and grant support may help increase your service capacity, community engagement, and survivor-centered practice.

NATIONAL HOTLINES & HELPLINES

National Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-7233
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
www.thehotline.org

The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides an immediate response to victims of domestic violence and their families, and a seamless referral system to community programs in response to the needs of the women, men and children on the line. The Hotline, operated 24/7 and available in 170 languages, is the first step to safety for many callers whose unique situation is assessed and evaluated to meet short-term needs, with a local referral to assist the caller in dealing with the long-term effects of family violence.

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

1-866-331-9474
1-866-331-8453 (TTY)
Text “loveis” to 22522
http://www.loveisrespect.org

Teens and parents anywhere in the country can the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline call toll free or log on to the interactive Web site, loveisrespect.org, and receive immediate, confidential assistance. In addition to a toll-free phone line, loveisrepect.org is the first interactive dating abuse website, staffed by trained advocates, where teens can write and immediately get assistance in a one-on-one private chat room.

StrongHearts Native Helpline

1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)
Text your message to 1-844-762-8483
Chat online on their website
www.strongheartshelpline.org

The StrongHearts Native Helpline is a 24/7 culturally appropriate, anonymous, confidential service dedicated to serving Native American survivors of domestic violence and dating violence and concerned family members and friends. StrongHearts connects callers at no cost one-on-one with knowledgeable advocates who can provide lifesaving tools and immediate support to enable Native survivors to find safety and live lives free of abuse. StrongHearts is a Native-centered hotline staffed by advocates with a strong understanding of Native cultures, as well as issues of tribal sovereignty and law. StrongHearts is a partnered effort, combining the technology and infrastructure of the National Domestic Violence Hotline with the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center’s expertise and community connections, as well as the trust of Native advocacy groups.

For additional resources, visit our FVPSA-funded Resource Center page.

The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) administers the FVPSA funding as specified within statue (42 U.S.C. § 10401 -10414 ). Appropriate funds are allocated through grant programs to states and territories, Tribes, and coalitions; competitive discretionary grants to national resource centers and specialized services for abused parents and their children demonstrations; and national domestic violence hotlines. To learn more, visit the Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS) website.