H.R. 8813 — Supporting Survivors from Faith-based Communities Act

This section sets forth congressional findings on the lifetime prevalence of intimate partner physical violence, sexual assault, or stalking, which affects 41 percent of American women and 26.3 percent of American men, along with associated impacts such as injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. It further finds that faith communities often serve as a central source of support for survivors, particularly in underserved populations, that many survivors seek to address spiritual dimensions of healing with advocates, and that religious involvement can improve psychological well-being and reduce depression among survivors.

This section authorizes the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, to award grants to a consortium of eligible entities to establish and operate a national faith-based resource center on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The center provides education, training, and technical assistance to faith communities, faith institutions, victim service providers, culturally specific organizations, and Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies to improve responses to victims with faith and to enhance the capacity of faith communities and institutions to prevent and respond to such violence. The section defines a consortium of eligible entities as an agreement among at least three organizations, including two faith-based organizations from different underserved faith communities and one culturally specific organization, with at least one member having served as lead applicant on two or more prior OVW grants. It further defines eligible entities to include faith-based nonprofits or culturally specific organizations with demonstrated experience delivering trauma-informed, victim-centered training, while excluding any organization that prioritizes family cohesion, marriage, or similar considerations over victim safety and autonomy. The section applies existing VAWA definitions and grant conditions and requires grant applications to include attestations on victim safety priorities, plans for engaging additional faith communities, evidence of relationships with diverse faith stakeholders, and a compensated victim advisory working group.

This section directs the Attorney General to develop and publish model State legislative language addressing religious divorce denial. The Attorney General must consult with experts in religious divorce denial, advocates working with affected victims, victims who have experienced religious divorce denial, faith leaders, faith communities, and population-specific victim service providers, and must design the language to account for relevant religious laws and cultural practices while remaining workable within affected faith communities and consistent with constitutional requirements.

This section requires each consortium of eligible entities receiving a grant under this Act to submit a report to the Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, one year after first receiving the grant and annually thereafter that describes grant activities and populations served and assesses effectiveness in achieving the purposes of this Act. This section also directs the Director to compile and summarize such reports and submit a report on program activities and effectiveness to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees by November 1 of each even-numbered fiscal year.