Victim Services Support Program
Letter from CVAD Director Sandi Tibbetts Murphy
On June 8, 2022, CVAD issued this letter to grantees regarding funding reductions projections for their grants starting October 1, 2022. Due to the reduction in deposits to the crime victim fund at the federal level, CVAD anticipated a larger reduction from VOCA.
May 18 2022 Grantee Meeting Files
On May 18, 2022, CVAD hosted a grantee meeting to discuss the impacts of the 2023 VOCA reduction. Here are the files and recording:
Topic: CVAD Budget Reduction Meeting
Start Time: May 18, 2022 01:36 PM
Meeting Recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/ZpJ7At8rzwZzgYS9bIPxNvmSn1HeUoiXLcvUCWyfSTon_WBjnec-oZ9nCYUDsn7b.5r1DpA3mMCTlN7xC
Access Passcode: RL@33.4w
General Grant Funding, Application and Review Process
The Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Iowa Attorney's Office generally awards their victim services grant funds for three-year grant cycles. Due to the uncertainty of VOCA funding, CVAD delayed releasing their competitive application by one year.
The next competitive grant cycle will begin on October 1, 2023. Requests for proposals and grant submission instructions will be posted here by mid-2022.
CVAD's victim service funding is concentrated into two focus areas: criminal justice grants and victim services grants. CVAD anticipates releasing the next round of funding in two phases. The request for criminal justice funding applications/grant solicitation is expected to be released in November 2022. The request for victim services funding applications/grant solicitation is expected to be released in January 2023.
Criminal Justice Grants
Criminal justice grants are awarded to non profit organizations, law enforcement agencies, courts, victim witness coordinators and prosecutors. The majority of funding for criminal justice grants is STOP and VOCA; the projects funded include violence against women prosecutors, victim witness coordinators, DART and SART teams, violence against women law enforcement efforts and community coordinated response teams.
Victim Services Grants
Victim services grants are awarded to non profit organizations, governmental agencies and institutes of higher education. Victims services grants fund projects and programs designed to assist crime victims with healing after victimization. These grants are for comprehensive victim services agencies, culturally specific agencies and organizations who serve victims in specific capacity.
CVAD is transitioning to a new grants management system and will update this page as we complete our transition to the new system.
Grant Review
The submitted proposals are reviewed and evaluated by a volunteer grant review committee. The committee is made up of persons with expertise in victim services, grant management, and public policy.
The review committee and CVAD staff submit their recommendations for funding to the Crime Victim Assistance Board. The Board determines final grant awards to the extent funds are available and to the extent the applicants meet eligibility criteria.
Click here for more information on grant eligibility, required grant certificates, and required grant reports.
Click here for administrative rules governing the VSS Program.
The VSS Program administers grant funds that provide partial funding to local and statewide crime victim service programs in Iowa.
- Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. The funds come entirely from fines and penalties assessed against convicted federal criminals.
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA or VW) funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Congress appropriates the funds annually. Iowa's VAWA Implementation Plan.
- Federal Family Violence Prevention & Services Act Grant (FVPSA) funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families. Congress appropriates the funds annually.
- Federal Sexual Abuse Services Program (SASP) funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Congress appropriates the funds annually.
- Iowa’s Domestic Abuse (DA) and Sexual Abuse (SA) funds are appropriated by the Iowa General Assembly annually.
Grantee Resources and Recordings
Meeting Recording from May 2021, Access Passcode: &Chn?KB0:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/zHaZBHtptxvcNLtSjLNcKzY-gJKSYLWV3D902iRNXUU6xfk6cGElLaq2gYMvOzg.1PKLL7d3fuYmrsMF
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May 17 and 18, 2021 Grantee Meeting PowerPoint (posted 5/19/21)
- Grantee Orientation Powerpoint (posted 10/2019)
- Grant Manual PowerPoint (posted 9/29/20)
Contact Information
Office of the Attorney General of Iowa
Crime Victim Assistance Division
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515-281-5044
Toll-Free: 800-373-5044
FAX: 515-281-8199
For more information contact Victim Services Support Program Administrator Lori Miller.
