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1 1 (October 25, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govegmu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the legislitive debate since 1914 Updated October 25, 2021 Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) History of FVPSA Throughout much of the 20th century, domestic violence remained a hidden problem. Survivors (or victims) were hesitant to seek help, primarily because of fear of retaliation by their partners and concerns about leaving their communities. In the 1960s and 1970s, shelters and services for survivors became more widely available. In 1984, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a report that examined the scope and impact of domestic violence in the United States, and recommended improvements in law enforcement and community responses to offenses that were previously considered family matters. As a result of efforts by advocates and DOJ, Congress held a series of hearings on domestic violence. In response, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act was enacted as Title III of the Child Abuse Amendments of 1984 (P.L. 98-457). FVPSA has twice been amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), first enacted in 1994. FVPSA and VAWA are the primary vehicles for federal support to prevent and respond to domestic violence. FVPSA is focused on prevention and services for survivors, while VAWA's focus is on both services for victims and the criminal justice response to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence. Scope of the Issue FVPSA primarily addresses domestic violence and dating violence. Both can include acts of physical, psychological, and sexual violence as well as stalking. Domestic violence, sometimes referred to as family violence, involves current or former spouses, individuals who share children in common, cohabiting partners, and other intimate partners. Dating violence occurs between individuals who have a romantic relationship, including teenagers. Studies do not indicate a primary reason why domestic and dating violence are perpetrated, in part because of the difficulty measuring social conditions that can influence such violence. They do, however, identify two underlying factors: the unequal position of women and the normalization of violence, both in society and in some relationships. Estimating the number of individuals involved in intimate partner violence is complicated by varying definitions of the term and differing methodologies for collecting data. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined the prevalence of intimate partner violence in 2015. Over one-third of women and men in America reported that they had experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. However, women were more likely to have experienced related impacts, such as having injuries and a need for victim services. Overview of FVPSA FVPSA supports temporary shelter and services for survivors, as well as children exposed to domestic and teen dating violence. The law currently authorizes three major activities: the National Domestic Violence Hotline; domestic violence shelters, victim services, and program support; and the Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement and Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA) program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS') Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) administers funding for the hotline and domestic violence shelters and services. The CDC, also within HHS, administers DELTA. The statute authorized funding for these activities through FY2015. Table 1 shows final funding for FY2017 to FY2020 and enacted funding for FY2021. Funding increased over this period. Table I. FVPSA Final Funding, FY20 1 7-FY2020 and Enacted Funding, FY2021 (dollars in millions) FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 Hotline $8.2 $9.3 $10.3 $14.0 $15.0 Shelter & $150.5 $158.4 $163.9 $220.0 $380.5 Services DELTA $5.5 $5.5 $5.5 $7.1 $5.5 ARPA - - - - $250.0 G rantsa Total $164.2 $173.2 $179.7 $241.1 $651.0 Source: CRS, based on correspondence with HHS in October 2020 and review of enacted laws. Note: FY2020 includes appropriations under P.L. 116-136 and FY2021 includes appropriations under P.L. 117-2. a. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA; P.L. 117-2) authorized two new grant programs (to support culturally specific populations and survivors of sexual assault). These programs have not been implemented as of the date of this In Focus. National Domestic Violence H otlne Since 1996, HHS has competitively awarded a cooperative agreement to one organization to operate the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline provides information and assistance to adult and youth victims of domestic violence, family and household members of victims, and others affected by victimization. This includes support concerning domestic violence, dating violence, children exposed to domestic violence, intervention programs for abusive partners, and related topics. As required under FVPSA, the national hotline carries out multiple activities. It employs, trains, and supervises personnel to answer incoming calls; provides counseling and referral services to victims and others; and directly connects callers to service providers in local communities.

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