,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hhac ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #ad1 #bjbf,ms4 ,lois ,frankel of ,florida 7for herself1 ,mrs4 ,kim1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,mr4 ,krishnamoorthi1 ,ms4 ,randall1 ,ms4 ,salazar1 ,ms4 ,simon1 and ,ms4 ,wilson of ,florida7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to provide for a grant program to support the establishment and operation of a national faith-based resource center on domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,supporting ,survivors from ,faith-based ,communities ,act #b4 ,findings ,congress finds as follows3 7#a7 #da percent of ,american women and #bf4c percent of ,american men experience1 over their lifetimes1 physical violence1 sexual assault1 or stalking by an intimate partner with associated impacts such as injury1 post-traumatic stress disorder1 the need for medical care1 or law enforcement involvement4 7#b7 ,faith and faith communities often play a central role in the lives of individuals experiencing domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 or stalking1 particularly in underserved or culturally specific populations4 ,faith and faith communities can be a source of strength and support for victims and survivors1 and can improve survivors' outcomes and resilience4 7#c7 ,many survivors of domestic or sexual violence want to be able to talk about the faith or spiritual dimensions of their healing journey with advocates1 yet it is rare for advocacy programs to take into account religious or spiritual concerns raised by survivors4 7#d7 ,studies have found that spiritual and religious sources of resilience are common among survivors of domestic violence1 sexual assault1 and child abuse4 7#e7 ,clergy respondents have often reported that they have been approached by victims of domestic abuse and were often the first professional the survivor approached4 7#f7 ,religious involvement can promote greater psychological well-being for domestic violence survivors1 including a greater quality of life1 and decreased depression4 #c4 ,national resource center on domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking in faith communities 7a7 ,definitions 7#a7 ,consortium of eligible entities ,the term consortium of eligible entities means-- 7,a7 an agreement among three or more eligible entities to collaborate in carrying out the purposes of this section1 including at least two faith-based organizations representing different underserved faith communities and one culturally specific organization2 and 7,b7 wherein at least one of the eligible entities of the consortium described in subparagraph 7,a7 has previously completed not fewer than two grants administered by the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women as a lead applicant4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity-- 7,a7 means-- 7i7 a faith-based nonprofit1 non-governmental organization with a demonstrated history of providing trauma-informed1 victim-centered training and technical assistance about the needs and experiences of victims with faith1 including a population-specific organization1 culturally specific organization1 or tribal organization2 or 7ii7 a non-faith-based culturally specific organization1 including a tribal organization2 and 7,b7 does not include any organization or subgrantee or contractor thereof that prioritizes family cohesion1 marriage1 family or community privacy1 opposition to divorce1 sexual purity1 or other considerations over the safety1 autonomy1 needs1 and preferences of victims4 ,a history of providing faith-based marriage counseling shall not1 by itself1 qualify an organization as an eligible entity4 7#c7 ,faith community ,the term faith community means a community of individuals who share a common religion or spiritual practice1 including a denomination within a religion or culturally-based spiritual practice1 a specific congregation1 or a culturally-based spiritual community4 7#d7 ,faith institution ,the term faith institution means an organized entity within a religious community1 such as a house of worship1 denominational body1 or other official structure of that community4 7#e7 ,religious divorce denial ,the term religious divorce denial means the refusal to cooperate in a religious divorce process or other religious marriage termination process1 thereby preventing the victim from exiting the marriage despite any civil legal proceedings or civil legal judgment of divorce4 7#f7 ,spiritual abuse ,the term spiritual abuse means the use or manipulation of religion1 religious law1 sacred texts1 or spiritual beliefs as a means of exerting coercive control or to justify domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 or stalking4 7#g7 ,victim with faith ,the term victim with faith means a victim of domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 or stalking who identifies with a faith or spiritual tradition1 including identifying culturally with a faith or spiritual tradition1 or holds religious or spiritual beliefs1 whether or not they are officially affiliated with a faith community or institution or participate in religious observances4 7b7 ,application of provisions of ,,vawa ,the definitions and grant conditions set forth in section #djjjb of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #abbia7 apply for purposes of this ,act4 7c7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general1 acting through the ,director of the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women1 may award grants to a consortium of eligible entities in order to provide for the establishment and operation of a national faith-based resource center on domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking4 ,the resource center shall provide education1 training1 and technical assistance to faith communities1 faith institutions1 victim service providers1 community-based and culturally specific organizations1 and ,federal1 ,state1 ,tribal1 and local agencies1 and criminal and civil legal system stakeholders1 and shall engage in other activities to-- 7#a7 improve the response of victim service organizations1 legal assistance providers1 law enforcement1 prosecutors1 courts1 child protective services1 housing providers1 and other stakeholders to victims with faith2 and 7#b7 enhance the capacity of faith communities and faith institutions to prevent and respond to domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking4 7d7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 a consortium of eligible entities shall submit an application to the ,attorney ,general at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,attorney ,general may require1 including-- 7#a7 information to demonstrate a collective history of providing training and technical assistance to one or more faith communities about trauma-informed1 victim-centered prevention and responses to domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking2 7#b7 information to demonstrate a collective history of providing training and technical assistance about one or more faith communities and the needs of victims with faith to mainstream victim service providers2 7#c7 an attestation that the safety and autonomy of victims with faith and their children are the primary priority of all consortium members1 and consortium members1 subgrantees1 or contractors will not prioritize family cohesion1 marriage1 family or community privacy1 opposition to divorce1 sexual purity1 or other considerations over the safety1 autonomy1 needs1 and preferences of victims2 7#d7 a plan to engage with experts from faith communities not directly represented by consortium members to provide training and technical assistance to and about those communities2 7#e7 evidence of longstanding relationships with faith-based organizations and stakeholders representing a variety of other faith communities2 and 7#f7 a plan to establish and be advised by a victim advisory working group composed of victims with faith1 including those who are underserved for reasons in addition to faith1 which shall meet periodically throughout the grant period to inform the activities carried out under the grant4 ,members of the victim advisory working group shall be compensated for their participation4 7e7 ,use of funds ,a consortium of eligible entities may use funds under this section to-- 7#a7 provide training and technical assistance to faith communities1 faith institutions1 seminaries and clergy training programs1 faith-based schools and institutes of higher education1 faith youth groups1 clergy and lay leaders1 and other faith stakeholders to equip them to-- 7,a7 understand and recognize domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking1 including the impact on children2 7,b7 draw upon faith values and texts to raise awareness about and address domestic violence1 dating violence1 sexual assault1 and stalking2 7,c7 develop and implement prevention programs that are consistent with faith teachings and trauma-informed1 victim-centered practices2 7,d7 educate community members about religious arbitration agreements1 terms of religious marital contracts1 and other religious premarital or marital documents intended to prevent or discourage religious divorce denial2 7,e7 support victims with faith within their faith communities in a victim-centered and trauma-informed manner2 7,f7 refer victims with faith to local victim service providers1 including population-specific and culturally specific programs1 and other resources2 7,g7 hold offenders accountable1 including implementing restorative practices in collaboration with entities receiving funding authorized under section #dahja of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid2 7,h7 support offender behavior change2 7,i7 enact safety protocols to protect victims with faith2 7,j7 understand legal issues impacting victims with faith and uphold protection orders and child custody orders2 7,k7 engage in peer-to-peer learning and teaching1 including with other faith communities2 7,l7 participate in coordinated community responses2 7,m7 prevent and respond to forced marriage2 or 7,n7 undertake other activities to prevent1 respond to1 address1 or support victims of faith2 7#b7 provide training and technical assistance to victim service providers and ,state and ,tribal coalitions1 legal service providers1 housing providers1 and other nonprofit organizations working with victims with faith1 and to criminal and civil justice agencies1 including law enforcement1 prosecutors1 courts1 probation and parole staff1 and child protective services to empower them to-- 7,a7 incorporate faith communities into coordinated community responses2 7,b7 address unique needs and experiences of victims with faith1 including spiritual abuse2 7,c7 understand and address barriers that victims with faith face when seeking safety and services1 including unconscious bias2 7,d7 implement faith-specific considerations and best practices for working with and supporting victims with faith1 including-- 7i7 providing religiously-appropriate food and dietary accommodations in shelters and transitional housing2 7ii7 to the greatest extent practicable1 understanding and taking into account faith-based modesty norms1 dress requirements1 and related cultural norms1 including during interactions involving law enforcement personnel2 and 7iii7 accommodating daily prayer1 rituals1 or other faith-based observances1 such as prayer timing and pre- and post-meal blessings2 7,e7 implement best practices for interacting with and collaborating with faith communities2 7,f7 in the context of intimate partner homicides1 honor faith traditions related to the care and handling of the deceased2 or 7,g7 undertake other activities to prevent1 respond to1 address1 or support victims of faith2 7#c7 provide appropriate training and technical assistance to other stakeholders1 including-- 7,a7 health professionals2 7,b7 researchers2 7,c7 disaster response coordinators and organizers2 and 7,d7 faith-based1 secular1 and non-sectarian social service agencies2 7#d7 support the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women in convening faith communities1 victim service providers1 culturally specific programs1 population-specific programs1 victims1 other stakeholders1 and federal government personnel to identify areas of strength1 ongoing challenges1 and emerging issues to guide future training and technical assistance1 and grantmaking2 and 7#e7 support the establishment and operation of a victim advisory working group required under subsection 7c77#f71 including compensation for members4 7f7 ,establishment ,phase ,during the first year of the initial grant cycle1 the consortium shall use grant funds solely for the purpose of establishing the basic administrative and operational infrastructure necessary to operate the ,national ,resource ,center1 including initial staffing1 governance structures1 and core systems to support its activities1 as well as developing partnerships to understand and address the needs of communities that are underserved for reasons other than1 or in addition to1 faith4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #b1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjca4 7h7 ,availability of grant funds ,funds appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended4 7i7 ,rules of construction 7#a7 ,funds made available under this section shall not be used to proselytize1 to promote any religion or religious viewpoint1 to promote religiosity or increased religious observance1 or for any other purposes related to faith or religion that are prohibited under federal1 state1 ,tribal1 or local law or violate the ,constitutional separation of religion and state4 7#b7 ,funds made available under this section shall supplement1 not supplant1 existing ,office on ,violence ,against ,women grants focused on specific faith communities4 #d4 ,model ,state ,code ,the ,attorney ,general shall1 in consultation with experts in religious divorce denial1 advocates working with victims experiencing religious divorce denial1 victims who have experienced religious divorce denial1 faith leaders1 faith communities1 and population-specific victim service providers1 develop and publish model ,state legislative language to address religious divorce denial4 ,this model legislative language shall take into account relevant religious laws and cultural practices1 and be designed to be workable within affected faith communities1 while remaining consistent with the requirements of the ,constitution4 #e4 ,reporting and evaluation 7a7 ,reports to the ,attorney ,general ,on the date that is #a year after first receiving a grant under this ,act1 and annually thereafter for the duration of the grant period1 each consortium of eligible entities shall submit to the ,attorney ,general1 acting through the ,director of the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women1 a report that includes-- 7#a7 a description of activities conducted under the grant and populations served2 and 7#b7 an assessment of the effectiveness of such activities in achieving the purposes of this ,act4 7b7 ,reports to ,congress ,not later than ,november #a of each even-numbered fiscal year1 the ,director of the ,office on ,violence ,against ,women shall compile and summarize the reports submitted under subsection 7a7 and submit to the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on the ,judiciary of the ,senate a report on the activities and effectiveness of the program established under this ,act4