GRANT TITLE:  SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES PROGRAM (SASP)
 

OVERVIEW: The Sexual Assault Services Program Grant (SASP) Grant funds will support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of sexual assault services by non-governmental victim services programs to assist those victimized by sexual assault. 

The purpose of the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) Grant is to provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment (i.e. accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, police departments, etc.), support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by sexual assault, except for the perpetrator of such victimization. 

These services include: 

• Accompaniment and advocacy through the medical, law enforcement, court, and social services settings.
• Crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, comprehensive service coordination and supervision for victims and family household members
• Information and referral
• Culturally appropriate outreach and support services
• Development and dissemination of materials 

EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS

1. The following list are examples of projects that could be funded under the SASP: 
   
   Funding of a victims services position that would provide crisis intervention and support services to adult/child victims of sexual violence. These services would be provided in court, legal, medical and office setting.
    
2. Funding for a Sexual Assault Services program that focuses on teens who have been victims of sexual violence. This project would address the social and philosophical barriers that lead to sexual assault and work to re-educate the young women so that they avoid unhealthy relationships as adults.
    
3. Funding a victims services project that would develop support group and crisis services to the non-offending parent of children who are sexually abused.
    
4. Funding for a support services for victims of sexual violence on campus.  This project would coordinate with local universities to provide an on-campus support group to women who have been sexually assaulted.
    
5. Developing an extensive outreach campaign to include radio, news and distributed materials for the purposes of making victims of sexual violence aware of current services available in a town or region.
    
6. Funding of a licensed mental health professional with experience in treating sexual assault trauma, to provide individual/group treatment to clients.
    
7. Printing and dissemination of coalition sexual assault brochures for underserved populations, including Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning (GLBTQ) population, and working with local GLBTQ groups to provide outreach and encourage the use of services.
    
8. Printing and dissemination of coalition sexual assault brochures for underserved populations, including physical or mental disabilities experiencing sexual assault and working with the local aging services to provide outreach and use of services.
    
9. Developing community specific sexual assault awareness materials including materials for underserved populations.
    

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for funding from the SASP Grant, an applicant must be a non-governmental victim services program. The domestic violence/sexual assault victim service providers must be certified through the Office of the Attorney General before applying for a SASP Grant. Child advocacy centers must be fully accredited by the National Children's Alliance at the time of application. Victim service providers from federally recognized Indian Tribes are exempt from this requirement.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: May funds be used to support services to children?
A: Yes funds may be used to support projects that focus on direct services for children who are victims of sexual assault. Services rendered to children do not have to be in connection to serving an adult parent and there is no age restriction on providing services to children.

Q: May funds be used to support projects that include education and prevention activities?
A: No, funds may not be used for education and prevention. However funds may be used for outreach to inform persons about the services provided by a specific program. For example, a program could use pamphlets, brochures, or community presentations to announce the services available under the grant.

Q: May funds be used to support projects implemented by child advocacy centers?
A: Yes, child advocacy centers and other programs and projects are eligible to apply for this funding stream; however, funds must be used to support direct intervention and related assistance. The intent of this program is to enhance core rape crisis services. Funds may not be used for prosecution or law enforcement projects such as forensic examinations or forensic interviewing.

Q: Are volunteer related expenses allowable under this program?
A: Yes, supporting these activities would be allowable. Examples would include training and supervision of volunteers.

Q: Are governmental agencies that provide rape crisis services eligible to apply?
A: No, only rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, non-governmental organizations may receive funds from these grants.

Q: Is there a limitation on the types of sexual violence SASP funds may be used to address?
A: Funds may be used to address intimate partner; stranger and non-stranger sexual assault; as well as adult, adolescent, and child sexual violence. Both male and female victims may be served.

Q: May SASP funds be used to address domestic violence?
A: Yes, but only if the reason for providing the services is sexual violence. For example, funding could support accompaniment of the victim for a sexual assault forensic medical exam, but could not be used to support a general domestic violence-related crisis shelter.

Q: May SASP funds be used for advocate training?
A: The funds may be used to train advocates (volunteer or employee) that will provide specific grant-funded services, but may not be used to provide a generalized statewide training.

Q: May funds be used for general professional training (i.e. for law enforcement, mental health, prosecutors etc.)?
A: No, funds may not be used for general training nor may funds be used to develop training curriculums.

Q: May grantees serve adult survivors of child sexual abuse or other survivors of a non-recent assault?
A: Yes. There are no limits on when the assault must have occurred.

Q: May Sexual Assault Nurse/Forensic Examiner programs be funded?
A: No. SASP funds cannot support activities that are conducted by or inherent to the criminal justice system such as sexual assault nurse/forensic examiner programs, law enforcement investigations, and/or prosecution of sex crimes. However, SASP funds can support advocates from non-profit, non-governmental agencies accompanying a victim through any aspect of the criminal justice system.

Q: May Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART) be funded? 
A: No. However, if an advocate position is funded under the grant, the advocate’s time in attending SART meetings may be covered as part of the advocacy he or she provides.

Q: May SASP funds support a hotline? 
A: Yes, to the extent the hotline is for sexual assault victims. If the hotline covers a broader array of issues, the costs should be pro-rated according to the percentage of calls that are for sexual assault. In order for a multi-issue hotline to receive SASP funds, the people who answer the hotline would need to have sexual assault specific training.

Q: Are women’s only or men’s only support groups allowable? 
A: Yes, assuming that the gender-specificity is for therapeutic reasons. Services should be available for victims of both genders.

Q: How long is “short-term counseling?” 
A: Up to one year.
 

BOARD PRIORITIES: The Violence Against Women Grant Board, comprised of six members, is charged with developing and reviewing grant proposals and determining funding awards. The Board has not specified any priorities for this grant program.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION: There will be new funding available for 2012 SASP and renewal awards for current subgrantees. New and renewal applications will be available through the OKGrants on-line system in July.   

For more information please contact the Federal Grants Division at 405/264-5008.