Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START)

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 16.587

Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice

Apr 24, 2024

For program-related questions:
202.307.6026
OVW.TribalGovernment@usdoj.gov

For financial questions:
888.514.8556
OVW.gfmd@usdoj.gov

The START program provides grants to assist tribal governments and authorized designees of tribal governments to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in their communities.

START grantees will receive additional training, technical assistance, and support that includes:

• A comprehensive assessment process that identifies the strengths and gaps of their community's responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking
• A customized project implementation plan developed in consultation with an OVW designated technical assistance provider

Funding must be used to:

• Develop and enhance effective governmental strategies consistent with tribal law and customs designed to reduce violent crimes and increase the safety of Indian women
• Build tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking crimes against Indian women
• Strengthen tribal law enforcement, prosecution, courts, probation, correctional facilities, and other tribal justice interventions
• Improve services to Indian women victimized by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking
• Collaborate with communities to develop education and prevention strategies targeting issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking
• Offer programs for supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children in situations involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking committed by one parent against the other with appropriate security measures, policies, and procedures to protect victims and their children
• Provide transitional housing and support services to help victims secure permanent housing and integrate successfully into the community
• Provide necessary legal assistance, at minimal or no cost, to aid victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence
• Offer services designed to meet the needs of youth ages 11 to 24 years who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking and the needs of youth and children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including support for the non-abusing parent or caretaker of the youth or child
• Develop and promote legislation and policies that enhance best practices for responding to crimes against Indian women, including the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking
• Develop, enhance, and implement law enforcement policies, protocols, and training opportunities focused on cases of missing or murdered Indians
• Compile and annually report data to the Attorney General related to missing or murdered Indians

Eligible applicants include:

• Indian Tribal governments
• Authorized designees of Indian Tribal governments
• Tribal consortia in the U.S. and territories

START applicants must have never received or have not recently received an award through the Tribal Governments Program (TGP). Past TGP awardees must have closed their grant before December 31, 2021 to be eligible.

Nationwide and U.S. territories

Award ceiling: $1,200,000 per year
Award floor: $500,000 per year
Project period: 3 years
Estimated number of awards: 60
Estimated total program funding: $52,000,000

The total program funding and number of awards include both the Tribal Governments Program and Tribal Governments START opportunities.

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov.

Applicants should submit an SF-424 and an SF-LLL in grants.gov by April 24, 2024.

Submit the full application, including attachments, in the JustGrants grants management system by April 25, 2024.

Applicant webinar recording

Abuse and violence · American Indian or Alaska Native · Child welfare · Children and youth · Criminal justice system · Culture and cultural competency · Families · Housing and homelessness · Human services · LGBTQI+ · Legislation and regulations · Policy · Substance use and misuse · Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention · Women