Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security (SAVES) Demonstration

The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) issues this forecast to announce available funding for eligible applicants to submit applications to the Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security (SAVES) demonstration program. SAVES will implement comprehensive domestic violence safety policies, procedures, and outreach activities to enhance safety for victims of domestic violence in the child support program. Additionally, SAVES will increase access to child support services for parents not currently receiving child support due to safety concerns. SAVES grantees will develop, test, and implement model practices for safe access to child support and parenting time services. State and tribal child support agencies selected as implementation sites will receive technical assistance, training, and research support from the SAVES Center grantee (see companion forecast HHS-2022-ACF-OCSE-FD-0018) in addition to participating in peer to peer technical assistance and learning opportunities. Grant projects will include public/victim education and outreach strategies; staff and partner training; development of responsive good cause protections for victims accessing public benefits with child support cooperation requirements; implementation of comprehensive domestic violence expert-informed case processing policies and protocols for victims and perpetrators; and establishment and assessment of specialized domestic violence triage teams. State and tribal child support agencies applying for this funding will be expected to engage with public assistance agencies, courts, and state and local domestic violence service providers to develop and implement a cross-systems, coordinated response to victims’ need for economic supports and access to public safety net program resources. For OCSE’s existing policy and program guidance to states and tribes, see IM-14-03 (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/policy-guidance/domestic-violence-awareness-month-focus-resources-collaboration-and), IM-15-02 (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/policy-guidance/safe-access-child-support-services-scope-issue), and IM-19-06 (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/policy-guidance/model-procedures-domestic-violence-cases) This award will have a 5-year project period comprised of five separate budget periods. The amount forecasted in this synopsis is for year 1 of the project. Grantees will receive up to $210,000 in continuation funds each year for years 2-5 of the project. The total project budget for the 5-year project period is forecasted to be $1,260,000.