46 Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-2006
Grant ProgramsThe Domestic Violence Program Office was responsiblefor administering and managing several federal and stategrant programs, totaling approximately $27.6 million duringFY 2005-2006. These funds went to community andstatewide programs to operate domestic violence centers;assist victims transitioning from welfare to work; enhancevictim services; provide domestic violence education forlaw enforcement <strong>of</strong>ficers, prosecutors, judges, and thepublic; and many other life saving activities. A description<strong>of</strong> each grant program is provided.Family Violence Prevention and Services ActThe Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)allots funds to states based on a formula, for the purpose<strong>of</strong> assisting in the prevention <strong>of</strong> family violence and theprovision <strong>of</strong> immediate shelter and related assistance forvictims <strong>of</strong> family violence and their dependents. <strong>Florida</strong>’sallotment is allocated by the Legislature to <strong>Florida</strong>’s certifieddomestic violence centers in order to provide emergencyshelter, counseling, information and referral, twenty-fourhour hotline, case management, child assessment, communityeducation and pr<strong>of</strong>essional training services todomestic violence victims and the public at large. During FY2005-2006, the department received $3,888,144 from the US<strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Health and Human Services, which providesan integral part <strong>of</strong> each certified domestic violence center’sbudget. A small percentage goes to support the trainingand technical assistance efforts <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Florida</strong> CoalitionAgainst Domestic Violence.TANF Domestic Violence Diversion ProgramThe Federal Personal Responsibility and Work OpportunityReconciliation Act <strong>of</strong> 1996 provided states the option <strong>of</strong>developing a state program to address issues <strong>of</strong> domesticviolence for recipients <strong>of</strong> the Temporary Assistance for NeedyFamilies (TANF) program. In recognition <strong>of</strong> the federal option,the <strong>Florida</strong> Legislature created the Domestic Violence DiversionProgram to provide support services to victims who areunable to participate in training or work requirements due tosafety considerations or the residual effects <strong>of</strong> the violence.(See Chapter 414, F.S.) <strong>Florida</strong>’s certified domestic violencecenters play a pivotal role in providing safety and support tothese TANF clients.The department provided $7,750,000 in TANF funds in FY2005-2006 to certified domestic violence centers for provision<strong>of</strong> counseling and other related services to eligibleclients. Regional Workforce Boards, service agencies andother sources refer clients to the certified domestic violencecenters. The funds ($500,000) also allow the <strong>Florida</strong>Coalition Against Domestic Violence to provide domesticviolence training for the department’s Welfare TransitionProgram employees who work with TANF recipients. TheUS <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Health and Human Services providesfunds to the department.Violence Against Women ActThe department directed three grants under the ViolenceAgainst Women Act Program, which is administered by theUS <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Justice. The Grants to Encourage ArrestPolicies and Enforcement <strong>of</strong> Protection Orders and the RuralDomestic Violence and Child Victimization EnforcementGrant are discretionary grants. The STOP Violence AgainstWomen is a formula grant.Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement<strong>of</strong> Protection OrdersThe Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement<strong>of</strong> Protection Orders program is a discretionary grant toencourage states, units <strong>of</strong> local government, and Indiantribal governments to treat domestic violence as a seriousviolation <strong>of</strong> criminal law. Funding from this grant was usedto support training for the state’s fatality review teams. Thegrant period ended in December 2005.Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization EnforcementProjectThe <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong> and Families received a$900,000 federal grant in September 2003, for domesticviolence services in <strong>Florida</strong>’s rural communities. The grantfunds the Rural Domestic Violence and Child VictimizationEnforcement Project, a two-year statewide initiative to helpchildren from violent homes by providing direct servicesto rural areas and migrant farm working communities. Theproject also is intended to increase awareness <strong>of</strong> the effects<strong>of</strong> domestic violence on children and <strong>of</strong> the relationshipbetween domestic violence and child maltreatment.The project is coordinated by a partnership between theDomestic Violence Program Office, the <strong>Florida</strong> CoalitionAgainst Domestic Violence, the <strong>Florida</strong> State University Institutefor Family Violence Studies, and ten local domesticviolence service providers. The grant funds the followingmeasures:• Places child advocates in rural communities;• Provides advocacy, crisis counseling, supportgroups, safety planning, and community educationservices to rural and migrant farm working childrenDomestic Violence Annual Report 2005-200647
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