Deadline: 27-Jul-2026
The 2026 Demonstration Program on Trauma-Informed, Victim-Centered Training for Law Enforcement, also known as the Abby Honold Program, supports law enforcement agencies in improving responses to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The programme provides funding for training that strengthens investigations and improves victim interactions from the initial report through the investigative process. The estimated total funding available is $5,050,000, with individual awards expected to range from $400,000 to $500,000.
Overview
The 2026 Abby Honold Program supports efforts to improve how law enforcement agencies respond to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The programme focuses on strengthening law enforcement capacity through trauma-informed and victim-centered training.
It is administered by the Office on Violence Against Women, a component of the United States Department of Justice, under the Violence Against Women Act.
Key Focus Areas
The programme focuses on improving law enforcement responses to violence and victimization.
Key focus areas include:
- Domestic violence response
- Dating violence response
- Sexual assault response
- Stalking response
- Trauma-informed law enforcement training
- Victim-centered investigations
- Improved victim interactions
- Initial report response
- Investigation process improvement
- Strengthening law enforcement capacity
- Improving investigative practices
- Enhancing survivor-centered public safety approaches
- Supporting Violence Against Women Act implementation
Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the Abby Honold Program is to help law enforcement agencies improve their response to victims from the first report through the investigation.
The programme supports training that helps officers understand trauma, communicate more effectively with victims, and conduct investigations in ways that are sensitive, respectful, and effective.
It aims to improve outcomes for victims while strengthening the quality of investigations involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Administering Agency
The programme is administered by the Office on Violence Against Women.
The Office on Violence Against Women is part of the United States Department of Justice.
The programme is funded under the Violence Against Women Act and supports law enforcement agencies working to improve responses to victims of violence.
Funding Available
The estimated total funding available under this opportunity is $5,050,000.
Individual awards are expected to range from:
- Minimum award: $400,000
- Maximum award: $500,000
The final award amount may depend on the proposed project, eligibility, funding availability, and review process.
Cost Share Requirement
This funding opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Applicants do not need to provide a local match as part of their proposal.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include law enforcement agencies at different levels of government.
Eligible applicants include:
- State law enforcement agencies
- Territorial law enforcement agencies
- Local law enforcement agencies
- Tribal law enforcement agencies
Certain government entities may also submit applications on behalf of law enforcement agencies that do not have the authority to apply independently.
These may include:
- Indian Tribal governments
- States
- Units of local government
- City or township governments
- County governments
- Federally recognized Tribal governments
- Special district governments
- State governments
Applicants with Existing OVW Grants
Recipients with grants ending by September 30, 2026, may submit applications.
However, they are unlikely to receive funding if they have sufficient funds to continue project activities through September 30, 2027.
Applicants with current or ending grants should carefully review available funding balances before applying.
Application Limit
Applicants may submit only one application under this notice of funding opportunity.
If multiple versions of the same application are submitted, only the most recent system-validated version will be considered for review.
Applicants should ensure the final submitted version is complete, accurate, and ready for review.
What the Funding Can Support
The programme supports training and capacity-building activities that improve law enforcement responses to victims.
Supported activities may include:
- Trauma-informed training for law enforcement officers
- Victim-centered investigation training
- Training on domestic violence cases
- Training on dating violence cases
- Training on sexual assault cases
- Training on stalking cases
- Development of improved response protocols
- Strengthening victim interview practices
- Improving officer understanding of trauma
- Enhancing investigative practices
- Building agency capacity to respond to victims throughout the reporting and investigation process
What is Trauma-Informed Training?
Trauma-informed training helps law enforcement officers understand how trauma can affect a victim’s memory, behavior, emotions, and communication.
This approach helps officers avoid judgmental responses and improves how they collect information, interact with victims, and support the investigative process.
Trauma-informed training can make law enforcement responses more respectful, effective, and victim-centered.
What is a Victim-Centered Approach?
A victim-centered approach places the safety, dignity, needs, and rights of the victim at the center of the response.
This means officers should communicate clearly, avoid victim-blaming, respect the victim’s experience, and support the victim throughout the process.
A victim-centered approach can improve trust, strengthen cooperation, and support better investigative outcomes.
Why It Matters
Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking may experience fear, trauma, confusion, and barriers to reporting.
The way law enforcement responds during the initial report and investigation can affect whether victims feel safe, believed, and supported.
The Abby Honold Program matters because it helps law enforcement agencies build the skills needed to respond with sensitivity, professionalism, and effectiveness.
By improving training and investigative practices, the programme can strengthen victim safety, accountability, and public trust.
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the training need, target law enforcement agency, planned activities, implementation approach, and expected outcomes.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should first confirm that they are an eligible state, territorial, local, or Tribal law enforcement agency.
If a law enforcement agency cannot apply independently, an eligible government entity may submit the application on its behalf.
Step 2: Identify the Training Need
The application should clearly explain why trauma-informed and victim-centered training is needed.
This may include:
- Gaps in officer training
- Need to improve victim interactions
- Need to strengthen investigations
- Challenges in responding to domestic violence cases
- Challenges in responding to sexual assault cases
- Challenges in responding to stalking cases
- Need for stronger agency-wide practices
- Need to improve response from initial report through investigation
Step 3: Describe the Proposed Training Activities
Applicants should explain what training will be delivered and how it will improve law enforcement response.
The proposal should describe:
- Training topics
- Target officers or personnel
- Training schedule
- Training partners or experts
- Implementation plan
- How the training will be applied in practice
- How the agency will improve victim-centered response
Step 4: Connect Activities to Investigation Improvements
The proposal should clearly show how the project will improve investigations.
This may include improvements in:
- Initial response
- Victim interviews
- Evidence collection
- Case documentation
- Officer communication
- Understanding trauma responses
- Coordination with victim service providers
- Follow-up with victims during investigations
Step 5: Prepare a Strong Budget
Applicants should prepare a clear budget within the expected award range of $400,000 to $500,000.
The budget should be directly linked to the proposed training and implementation activities.
Since no match is required, applicants should focus on showing that requested funds are reasonable, necessary, and aligned with programme goals.
Step 6: Submit One Complete Application
Applicants should submit only one application.
If corrections are needed, the most recent system-validated version will be reviewed, so applicants should ensure the final version is complete and accurate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid weak or incomplete proposals.
Common mistakes include:
- Submitting more than one application without ensuring the final version is correct
- Not clearly showing law enforcement eligibility
- Failing to explain the need for trauma-informed training
- Not linking training to improved victim response
- Not showing how investigations will improve
- Providing a vague training plan
- Ignoring domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking focus areas
- Not explaining how victims will benefit
- Submitting an unclear budget
- Applying while having sufficient remaining funds through September 30, 2027
- Not demonstrating capacity to implement the project
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should be focused, practical, and victim-centered.
Useful tips include:
- Clearly explain the current gaps in law enforcement response.
- Show how training will improve victim interactions.
- Connect the project to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking investigations.
- Describe how officers will use trauma-informed practices in real cases.
- Include a clear implementation timeline.
- Explain how the agency will measure training outcomes.
- Show how the project will improve investigation quality.
- Include partnerships with victim service providers where relevant.
- Keep the budget realistic and tied to project activities.
- Make sure the final system-validated application is complete.
FAQ
1. What is the 2026 Abby Honold Program?
The Abby Honold Program supports trauma-informed and victim-centered training for law enforcement agencies responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
2. Who administers the programme?
The programme is administered by the Office on Violence Against Women, a component of the United States Department of Justice.
3. How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding available is $5,050,000.
4. What is the expected award range?
Individual awards are expected to range from $400,000 to $500,000.
5. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include state, territorial, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies. Eligible government entities may apply on behalf of law enforcement agencies that cannot apply independently.
6. Is cost sharing required?
No. This funding opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
7. Can applicants submit more than one application?
No. Applicants may submit only one application. If multiple versions are submitted, only the most recent system-validated version will be reviewed.
Conclusion
The 2026 Abby Honold Program provides important federal support to improve law enforcement responses to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
With estimated total funding of $5,050,000 and awards ranging from $400,000 to $500,000, the programme helps eligible law enforcement agencies strengthen trauma-informed, victim-centered training and improve investigative practices. Strong applications should demonstrate clear need, eligible applicant status, a practical training plan, victim-centered outcomes, and measurable improvements in law enforcement response.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.