Local Training and Education Program for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (DV)

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), through its Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (IVPB), has released a Request for Application (RFA) for its Domestic Violence Prevention (DVP) Program. The RFA, titled "Local Training and Education Program for the Prevention of Domestic Violence," seeks to support one local project over a four-year term. CDPH has a longstanding commitment of over 30 years to preventing multiple forms of violence through a public health lens. This initiative is grounded in California Penal Code Section 1203.097, which mandates funding from legislatively collected batterer’s fees. Since 1995, these funds have supported a statewide Domestic Violence Training and Education (DVTE) Fund, which finances programs aimed at raising public awareness and enhancing the quality of services for domestic violence victims. The RFA focuses on funding a community-led project that will implement primary prevention strategies targeting interpersonal violence (IV), including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse. Applicants must demonstrate at least three years of experience in community organizing or public health policy, system, and environmental (PSE) change work. Importantly, the selected program will not fund direct services for victims but will support initiatives that promote social norm change, community organizing, and efforts to improve the social determinants of health that contribute to violence. Applicants must select and justify their focus population(s) and jurisdiction(s), guided by data and aligned with the program’s prevention objectives. Award funding is set at $292,800 annually for four years, totaling a maximum of $1,171,200, contingent upon annual legislative appropriation. No carryover of funds between fiscal years is permitted, and the program may not be used to supplant existing services or fund activities such as construction, lobbying, direct medical care, or religious instruction. Eligible applicants include California-based public or private nonprofit organizations, local health departments, community-based organizations, schools, and American Indian Tribes, among others. Fiscal sponsorship is permitted for organizations that do not hold 501(c)(3) status themselves, provided they are sponsored by an entity that does. To apply, organizations must submit a mandatory, non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) by January 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST. This LOI must be submitted on official letterhead via email and is a prerequisite for submitting the full application. Applications are due by February 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST, also via email. Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed. Questions about the RFA must be submitted in writing by January 15, 2026, with responses posted online by January 27, 2026. An optional informational webinar will be held on January 8, 2026. The review process consists of four stages: administrative screening, scoring, notification of decision, and contract modification. Applications must include several attachments, including a narrative summary, implementation and evaluation plan, budget details, organizational capability narratives, and several administrative documents. Only applications scoring at least 75 out of 100 points will be considered for funding, though meeting this threshold does not guarantee an award. The anticipated contract start date is July 1, 2026, with a performance period extending through June 30, 2030. Invoices are reimbursed in arrears, and grantees are required to manage funds in alignment with state fiscal regulations and reporting requirements.

Justify priority population with data; avoid duplicating existing projects; use provided SOW and IEP templates without additions; follow deadlines strictly.