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Rural victims of domestic/sexual violence who seek to become and remain safe from violence face geographic challenges in reaching service providers. They may need to travel great distances, and there may be limited public transportation services in their communities. In one study, over 25% of women in small rural and isolated areas lived more than 40 miles from the closest service provider, compared to less than 1% of women in urban settings.

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Program Overview

RURAL

Rural Program

The Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Assistance Program (Rural Program) recognizes that victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and child sexual abuse who live in rural communities face unique challenges and barriers to receiving assistance rarely encountered in urban areas, including:

Geographic isolation;
Poor economic structure;
Strong social and cultural pressures;
Lack of available services in rural jurisdictions; and
Lack of anonymity and security when seeking shelter services.

These challenges significantly compound problems facing those seeking support to end violence in their lives. They also complicate the criminal justice system’s ability to investigate and prosecute cases, and create difficulties for victim service providers to identify and assist victims.

The 2013 Reauthorization of VAWA resulted in changes to the scope of the Rural Program, which led to a revision of the progress reporting form. Read OVW’s memo on these changes.

Forms & Instructions

Sample Reporting Form

Rural Sample Progress Reporting Form

View this sample reporting form to better understand reporting requirements for OVW grant-funded activities.

Direct download

Reporting Instructions

Rural Reporting Form Instructions

View program-specific reporting form instructions for more in-depth guidance on how to report grant-funded activities on the progress report.

Direct download

Trainings

Don't miss this training!

Rural Training Videos

Follow along with the training by downloading the transcript with minute markers to help you easily navigate to the sections you need help with.

Download transcript for Part 1

Webinar Training Materials

Rural Webinar Training Materials

Access and download all of the materials you need to follow along with the webinar training!

Reporting Tools

Training Video

Rural Training Videos

Review key sections of the reporting form with examples and detailed instructions on how best to report your grant-funded activities.

Reports

View All Program Reports

Reports to Congress

2016 Biennial Report to Congress

The Biennial Report to Congress presents aggregate activities and accomplishments that were funded under the Violence Against Women Act and reported by grantees in each funded grant program. The...

Direct download

Reports to Congress

Rural Chapter from the 2016 Report to Congress

Read about program accomplishments from July 2013 - June 2015 and hear from grantees in their own words.

Direct download

Summary Data Report

Rural Summary Data Reports

Summary data reports present a snapshot of activities and accomplishments that were funded during each 6-month reporting period within each grant program.

faqs

View All Program FAQs

FAQs

General FAQs

Click here to find out when progress reports are due and other general information about filling out your report.

FAQs

Staff

Click here to learn how to calculate and prorate FTEs, and how to report other tricky staffing scenarios, from stipends and overtime to staff with multiple job functions.

FAQs

Training

Click here to understand the difference between training and community education, and find answers to other related questions.

FAQs

Victim Services

Click here to learn how to report victims served, partially served, and not served with grant funds, where to track presenting and multiple victimizations, details and demographics, and the array of services victims received.

News & Updates

January 11, 2018

VAWA MEI’s newest resource for grantees

VAWA MEI has compiled grantees’ most frequently asked questions to help you get quick answers.