In this episode, Office on Violence Against Women grant specialist Jessica Neal interviews Dorian Johnson, formerly a project director at Spelman College in Georgia, to discuss how OVW funding through its Campus Program benefited students and provided new training opportunities to faculty and staff. Johnson and Neal also talk about the importance of OVW’s grants for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the vital role that technical assistance providers play in supporting...

In this episode, OVW’s Peer Review Working Group joins Patchwork to discuss an integral part of our grantee application review process – peer review. Peer review is a collection of experts from the field coming together to evaluate grant proposals based on the requirements outlined in each program’s solicitation. The working group also share answers to frequent questions that they receive, as well as contact and submission information for interested peer review applicants. Join Darlene...

In our first episode of the new year, Jennifer Landhuis, the Director of the Stalking Prevention and Resource Center (SPARC), joins Patchwork to discuss common misconceptions surrounding stalking, including how abusers are misusing technology. She also shares available resources for OVW grantees as well as the public to educate on stalking, identify when someone is being stalked, and help victims and survivors of stalking.  The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides federal...

Ending gender-based violence requires effort from everyone.  In this episode, Kellie Greene, a program specialist at OVW, joins Patchwork to share how her program seeks to engage children and men as allies in ending gender-based violence. As she puts it, the children of today will grow to become our future policy-makers, CEOs, and teachers, so educating them about the foundations of healthy relationships now will be instrumental in ending gender-based violence as they grow into their roles as...

Human Trafficking is a crime that affects all socio-economic backgrounds and it does not discriminate based on race, education level, citizenship status or gender.  In this episode, Savannah Sanders, the author of Sex Trafficking Prevention: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Parents and Professional and a survivor herself, joins Patchwork to share her story. She shares what she has learned about the field and how to help survivors of human trafficking on their paths of healing. 

One of the top priorities at DOJ is preventing violent crime. At OVW, one area we focus on specifically is sexual assault on campus.  Jennifer Hirsch, professor of Sociomedical Sciences and steering committee member at Columbia University, and Shamus Khan, formerly professor and chair of Sociology at Columbia and now a professor at Princeton University, wrote a book titled “Sexual Citizens: A Landmark Study of Sex, Power, and Assault on Campus.” In this episode, they join Patchwork to discuss...

For many victims of sexual assault, the road to recovery and becoming a survivor begins with the care of a nurse who is trained to help in the critical moments following a violent crime. These nurses are commonly referred to as a sexual assault nurse examiner, or SANE. In this episode, Kim Day joins Patchwork to share stories and advice that she has collected during her time working with victims as a SANE. She defines what she views as the single most important role a SANE can fulfill when...

OVW funds a program that seeks to address abuse, neglect, and exploitation -- including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking -- within the elder community. In this episode, Kristin Burki, the Director of the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life (NCALL), joins Patchwork to frame the topic of elder abuse. She explains how the abuse of elders is a form of power and control and elaborates on the complexities that may arise for elders when they want to report...

Dr. Tricia Bent-Goodley, a professor at Howard University who has spent decades as a social worker specializing in gender-based violence, joins Patchwork to share her first-hand experience on how cultural differences can drive misconceptions and create obstacles when working with victims of crime. To meet victims where they are means understanding where they come from, she says. To adequately care for a victim from a trauma-based perspective, care providers must first understand the community...

The Resource Sharing Project is part of a national movement to end sexual violence. They provide support to coalitions across the country that serve victims of sexual violence.In this episode, Kris Bein, the Assistant Director at the Resource Sharing...

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives protects the public in party by enforcing gun laws. The agency plays a leading role the Department of Justice’s efforts to keep communities safe by regulating gun traffic and removing weapons from...

Firearms in the hands of abusers dramatically increase the risk of homicide for victims of domestic violence. Law enforcement officers face significant danger when responding to domestic violence emergencies where a gun is present. United States...

The presence of a firearm dramatically increases the likelihood of homicide in a domestic violence situation. This heightened danger extends to everyone in the household as well as law enforcement officers who respond to domestic violence calls. In this...

Pastor Tony Lowden serves as the Executive Director of the Federal Interagency Council on Crime Prevention and Improving Reentry. In his role, he travels to different communities to learn how to best address issues to prevent crime, including domestic...

On October 15th, 2020, the Department of Justice will be transitioning to a new grants management system called JustGrants as well as a grants payment system known as the Automated Standard Application for Payments, or ASAP.In this episode, Lauren...

Dr. David Hunt is a recipient of the Attorney General’s Citizen Volunteer Service Award. He was recently recognized for his volunteer work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) where he works with their artists to...

Carrie Mitchell has worked at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) as a Grant Program Specialist for 12 years. She currently works on the Justice for Families Program.  In this episode of Patchwork, Carrie shares tips...

Deb DeBare serves as Senior Deputy Director at the National Network to End Domestic Violence. The NNEDV works to provide technical support to frontline staff across the nation combating domestic violence.  In this episode of Patchwork, Deb shares...

Beth Hassett is CEO of WEAVE, an organization with a mission to promote safe and healthy relationships and support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking.   In this episode of Patchwork, Beth talks about the difference...

Patchwork, a podcast from the U.S. Department of Justice, offers a glimpse into the implementation of VAWA, a federal movement to protect women. The podcast shows how VAWA grants are made, how federal funding supports communities across the country and...