Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear announced that applications are now open for $2.2 million in federal grant funding from the Violence Against Women Act to support survivors of domestic and dating violence in Kentucky. The announcement was made Aug. 3.

The funding is available through the VAWA Services, Training, Officers and Prosecutors grant program, which requires administering agencies to allocate funds for law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services and state and local courts. The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is managing the grant distribution.

"Every single survivor of domestic or dating violence in the commonwealth deserves the opportunity to take back their life, and this federal grant funding helps us help those who need it most," Gov. Beshear said in a statement.

Organizations seeking the funds must submit applications online by 6 p.m. EDT on Sept. 11, 2026, via the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet's electronic grants management system.

Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson noted that victim service providers in Kentucky "give survivors support services that are, sadly, desperately needed in our commonwealth."

The funding comes as Fayette County faces significant domestic violence challenges, with at least eight people per day filing for protective orders against a significant other. Kentucky has one of the highest domestic violence rates in the country, with roughly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experiencing some form of domestic violence.

The Beshear administration has consistently prioritized funding for domestic violence prevention and victim services. Local agencies have indicated that federal funding for survivor services is being cut, forcing local organizations to struggle to meet all the safety needs survivors have.