The training and services to end violence and abuse against women with disabilities and deaf people grant program (disability program) is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20122

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) received a $720,000 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the "Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities" grant program (CFDA 16.529). The award will fund a 3-year project, "Ohio COSTS of Violence," to strengthen partnerships between organizations serving survivors with disabilities and those addressing domestic/sexual violence. Key activities include increasing organizational capacity to provide accessible services, conducting needs assessments, and developing strategic plans to enhance responses for survivors with disabilities and Deaf individuals. The project will focus on improving services in the 32-county Appalachian region of Ohio, as well as for underserved populations such as communities of color, those with limited English proficiency, older adults, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Specific deliverables will involve developing educational materials, providing cross-trainings on traumatic brain injury, modifying policies and procedures, and establishing survivor support services and resource navigation.

The goal of the disability grant program is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that improves the response to individuals with disabilities and deaf individuals who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. The ohio domestic violence network will collaborate with the brain injury association of ohio, and the forensic nursing network to strengthen partnerships and maintain or enhance a multidisciplinary collaborative team, known as ohio costs of violence; increase organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse; identify needs within the grantees organization and/or service area; and develop a plan that addresses those identified needs and builds a strong foundation for future work. The ohio costs of violence project addresses disabilities related to brain injuries that are directly caused by domestic violence or sexual assault for residents living in ohio. The intended outcome of the project is to ensure that all members and their respective statewide networks of direct service providers feel competent in meeting the complex victimization and disability-related needs of survivors thereby increasing survivor access to domestic violence, sexual assault, and disability services. During this project period, ohio costs of violence will focus on identifying and meeting the needs of the large rural areas, including the 32-county appalachian region in ohio, as well as other underserved populations such as communities of color, individuals with limited english proficiency, older adults, and lgbtqia+ communities. Specifically, the project will: increase access for survivors to educational materials on domestic and sexual violence and the develop additional survivor educational products. Develop and host professional cross trainings for local service providers on traumatic brain injury. Provide technical assistance to assist member organizations modify existing policies, protocols and procedures through implementing new healthcare policies and algorithms related to brain injury and domestic and sexual violence. Provide advocacy and intervention services for survivors. Develop model programs including a costs support group facilitator guide and enhancing brain injury resource navigation services.