Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program (SASP)

Grant Overview

The Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Re-authorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), 42 U.S.C. 14043g, and is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault.

The SASP Formula Grant Program funds states and territories to support rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations, that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. SASP funds are designed to supplement other funding sources directed at addressing sexual assault on the state and territorial level. Rape crisis centers and other nonprofit organizations such as dual programs providing both domestic violence and sexual violence intervention services play a vital role in assisting sexual assault victims through the healing process, as well as assisting victims through the medical, criminal justice, and other social support systems.

Purpose Areas

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. 12511(a)(1), funds under this program must be used for one or more of the following purposes:

1. Adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault.
2. Family and household members of such victims.
3. Those collaterally affected by the victimization, except by the perpetrator if such victimization.

Specifically, funds under the SAS Formula Grant Program must be used to support the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of rape crisis centers and other nongovernmental or tribal programs and projects to assist individuals who have been victimized by sexual assault, without regard to the age of the individual.

Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12511(b)(2)(C), intervention and related assistance may include:

1. 24-hour hotline services providing crisis intervention services and referral.
2. Accompaniment and advocacy through medical, criminal justice, and social support systems, including medical facilities, police, and court proceedings.
3. Crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, and comprehensive service coordination and supervision to assist sexual assault victims and family or household members.
4. Information and referral to assist the sexual assault victim and family or household members.
5. Community-based, culturally specific services and support mechanisms, including outreach activities for under-served communities.
6. Development and distribution of materials on issues related to the services described in numbers 1 through 5.