Deadline: 27-Oct-2025
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), under the Victims of Child Abuse Act (VOCA), has announced a new funding opportunity to expand and enhance children’s advocacy centers (CACs) for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
This program seeks to strengthen investigative responses and treatment services for child abuse victims while providing holistic support to families in Tribal and Native communities.
AI/AN children and families face disproportionately high rates of abuse and exposure to violence. National data show that AI/AN children have the highest rate of victimization in the United States at 13.8 per 1,000 children. These realities highlight the urgent need for culturally sensitive, multidisciplinary, and evidence-informed responses. The program will help Tribal communities establish facility-based CACs and improve existing ones by ensuring access to resources, specialized training, and technical assistance.
The program’s goal is to build Tribal capacity to implement and expand comprehensive, community-driven, multidisciplinary responses to child abuse and neglect. This includes developing curricula, practice tools, and resources to adapt the CAC model for AI/AN communities; ensuring multidisciplinary teams have access to high-quality training and evidence-based practices; and delivering coordinated, customized technical assistance in partnership with VOCA-funded programs. Additionally, the awardee will be responsible for maintaining and updating a five-year strategic and operational plan to align resources, maximize impact, and strengthen collaboration.
OJJDP will prioritize applications that directly support law enforcement operations, combat violent crime, protect American children, and enhance services for victims of trafficking and sexual assault.
A total of $700,000 will be awarded under this opportunity, with one anticipated award of up to $700,000. The period of performance will begin on October 1, 2025, and run for 12 months. Applicants may submit budgets below the ceiling, provided they are reasonable and manageable within their capacity.
Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribal governments, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit entities, including small businesses. This opportunity represents a critical investment in addressing child abuse in AI/AN communities by fostering collaboration, expanding access to trauma-informed services, and ensuring that children receive the justice and protection they deserve.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.