Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2026 172608

The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Grants to Support Families in the Justice System (Justice for Families) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), focused on strengthening how courts and related community partners respond to families affected by violence. The program is designed for situations where domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking are part of the family history, as well as cases involving child sexual abuse. The central aim is to improve both civil and criminal justice system responses so that families navigating custody, visitation, protection orders, and related proceedings are handled in ways that prioritize safety, accountability, and survivor-informed decision-making.

Funding under this program is intended to build and expand court-based and court-connected services that directly address safety risks during family court and juvenile court processes. A major emphasis is on supervised visitation and safe exchange programs for children and youth, recognizing that parenting time arrangements can become high-risk points for ongoing coercion, intimidation, harassment, or physical harm. The program also supports training for professionals who work with families in the court system, which can include judges, court staff, custody evaluators, guardians ad litem, mediators, supervised visitation personnel, and other justice-system or justice-adjacent practitioners whose decisions and practices shape safety outcomes. In addition, the opportunity supports civil legal assistance and advocacy services for victims and for nonoffending parents, helping them access legal remedies, navigate court requirements, and protect children while family law matters are pending or ongoing.

Eligible applicants are broad and include public entities and nonprofit organizations that are positioned to improve court responses and services. Specifically, eligibility includes state governments, territories, county governments, and city or township governments; Indian Tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); courts, including juvenile courts; nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); legal services providers; and victim service providers. In practice, the program is well-suited to partnerships between courts and community-based organizations, since many of the most effective supervised visitation, safe exchange, and victim advocacy models depend on coordinated protocols and shared training across systems.

This opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 16.021, with an anticipated award ceiling of $800,000 per award and an estimated 22 awards expected. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services. The opportunity number is O-OVW-2026-172608. The posting indicates a creation date of June 1, 2026, and an original application closing date of July 16, 2026, giving applicants a defined window to propose projects that expand capacity, improve practices, and deliver services that make court-involved family processes safer and more responsive for survivors and children.

  • The Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Grants to Support Families in the Justice System (Justice for Families) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.021.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-01.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-16. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 22 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): OVW FY 2026 Justice for Families Program

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

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It focuses on strengthening how courts and related community partners respond to families affected by violence, with the goal of improving both civil and criminal justice system responses in family- and juvenile-court-related matters.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The central aim is to improve how custody, visitation, protection orders, and related proceedings are handled when there is a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or child sexual abuse. The program emphasizes safety, accountability, and survivor-informed decision-making in court-connected processes.

What types of violence or case histories does this program focus on?

The program is designed for situations where domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking are part of the family history, as well as cases involving child sexual abuse.

Which parts of the justice system does the program aim to improve?

The program targets improvements in both civil and criminal justice system responses, particularly as they affect families navigating family court and juvenile court processes.

What types of services or projects can this funding support?

Funding is intended to build and expand court-based and court-connected services that directly address safety risks during family court and juvenile court processes. The description highlights supervised visitation, safe exchange, professional training, and civil legal assistance and advocacy as key supported areas.

Why are supervised visitation and safe exchange programs emphasized?

The program recognizes that parenting time arrangements can be high-risk points for ongoing coercion, intimidation, harassment, or physical harm. Supervised visitation and safe exchange programs are emphasized to reduce safety risks for children, youth, survivors, and nonoffending parents during visitation and exchanges.

Does the opportunity support training for court and community professionals?

Yes. The program supports training for professionals who work with families in the court system and whose decisions and practices affect safety outcomes.

Who are examples of professionals that may be included in training activities?

The opportunity description lists judges, court staff, custody evaluators, guardians ad litem, mediators, supervised visitation personnel, and other justice-system or justice-adjacent practitioners.

Does the program support civil legal assistance?

Yes. The opportunity supports civil legal assistance and advocacy services for victims and for nonoffending parents to help them access legal remedies, navigate court requirements, and protect children while family law matters are pending or ongoing.

Who can apply for this grant?

Eligible applicants include a wide range of public entities and nonprofit organizations positioned to improve court responses and services.

Which government entities are eligible applicants?

Eligibility includes state governments, territories, county governments, and city or township governments.

Are Tribal governments and Tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include Indian Tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments).

Are courts eligible to apply?

Yes. Courts, including juvenile courts, are listed as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) are eligible.

Are legal services providers eligible applicants?

Yes. Legal services providers are specifically listed as eligible applicants.

Are victim service providers eligible applicants?

Yes. Victim service providers are specifically listed as eligible applicants.

Is this program designed for partnerships between courts and community organizations?

The opportunity description indicates the program is well-suited to partnerships between courts and community-based organizations, since effective supervised visitation, safe exchange, and victim advocacy models often depend on coordinated protocols and shared training across systems.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 16.021.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is O-OVW-2026-172608.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a grant.

What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Law, Justice and Legal Services.

What is the anticipated maximum award amount?

The anticipated award ceiling is $800,000 per award.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The posting estimates that approximately 22 awards are expected.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting indicates a creation date of June 1, 2026.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date is July 16, 2026.

How long is the application window based on the provided dates?

Based on the creation date of June 1, 2026 and the original application closing date of July 16, 2026, applicants have a defined window during that period to submit proposals.

What kinds of court proceedings or issues are specifically mentioned as priorities?

The description specifically references custody, visitation, protection orders, and related proceedings, with an emphasis on improving safety and accountability when violence is part of the family history.

What outcomes is the program trying to improve for families and children?

The program aims to make court-involved family processes safer and more responsive for survivors and children by strengthening court responses, expanding capacity, improving practices, and delivering services that address safety risks and support survivor-informed decision-making.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Office on Violence Against Women

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Previous opportunity: OSERS-OSEP: National Assessment Center, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.326G

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