OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Grants to Support Families in the Justice System (Justice for Families) Program

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the United States Department of Justice, administers grant programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The Justice for Families Program is designed to strengthen the civil and criminal justice system’s response to families experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child sexual abuse. This program aims to improve coordination among courts, communities, and service providers to ensure that victims and nonoffending parents receive effective, trauma-informed support while enhancing offender accountability. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that enhance court-based and court-related services for affected families. Funded activities may include supervised visitation and safe exchange services for children, training for court personnel and related professionals, development or enhancement of court infrastructure, and the provision of civil legal assistance and advocacy services. Projects are expected to address systemic gaps and improve accessibility, safety, and outcomes for victims navigating the justice system. Applicants may focus on one or more statutory purpose areas, particularly supervised visitation or court-based program improvements. Funding is provided through discretionary grants with an anticipated total program funding of 16,000,000 dollars and approximately 22 awards expected. Individual awards range from 650,000 to 800,000 dollars depending on project scope and duration. Standard project periods are 36 months, with up to 48 months allowed for new supervised visitation initiatives that require additional time to establish security measures. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program, allowing applicants to request full funding for eligible project costs. Funds must be used for allowable activities consistent with statutory requirements and program guidance. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, courts, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, legal service providers, and victim service providers. Applicants must establish formal partnerships with both a court and a nonprofit victim service provider, documented through a memorandum of understanding or letter of commitment. Additional eligibility requirements include maintaining tax-exempt status for nonprofits and submitting multiple statutory certifications related to service delivery, victim protections, and program compliance. The application process involves two required submission steps. First, applicants must complete and submit the SF-424 form through Grants.gov by July 16, 2026. Second, the full application must be submitted through the JustGrants system by July 21, 2026. Required application components include a proposal narrative, budget and budget narrative, memorandum of understanding, certifications, and various supporting documents such as a summary data sheet and proof of nonprofit status if applicable. The proposal narrative must clearly describe project goals, activities, implementation strategy, and partnerships. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including the purpose of the project, the proposed activities and outcomes, the capacity of the applicant and partners, and the reasonableness of the budget. Additional consideration may be given to projects that align with federal priorities such as addressing human trafficking or improving services in rural or underserved communities. Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate measurable progress through performance reporting and adherence to program objectives. Key dates for this opportunity include a release date in early June 2026, a pre-application question and answer session on June 15, 2026, and final submission deadlines in mid to late July 2026. Award notifications are anticipated by September 30, 2026, with project start dates expected around October 1, 2026. For assistance, applicants may contact OVW via email at OVW.JFF@usdoj.gov or by phone at 202-307-6026. This program is part of an ongoing federal effort and is expected to recur annually, supporting continuous improvements in justice system responses to family violence.

Ensure strong partnerships with courts and victim service providers; clearly align project goals with statutory purpose areas; follow formatting requirements strictly to avoid scoring penalties