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

The Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $600,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities program (CFDA 16.529) to Shalom Task Force, Inc. and its partner Ohel Children's Home and Family Services. The goal of this 3-year project is to strengthen partnerships, build organizational capacity, and develop strategic plans to improve the response to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and caregiver abuse in underserved Orthodox Jewish communities in the New York City metropolitan area. Key project activities include establishing a multidisciplinary collaborative team, conducting a needs assessment, and implementing initiatives to create more accessible, safe, and effective services for this vulnerable population. Ohel Children's Home and Family Services, a sub-awardee, will leverage its expertise as a disability service provider and history of delivering trauma-informed services to the community.

The goal of the disability 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, stalking, and caregiver abuse, and to hold perpetrators of such crimes accountable. The disability grant program brings together disability organizations and victim service providers to work in a collaborative manner at the intersection of disability and domestic and sexual violence. Shalom task force, INC will collaborate with ohel childrens home and family services to strengthen partnerships and establish a multidisciplinary collaborative team (team); 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 award is separated into two phases: 1) the planning and development phase and 2) the implementation phase. During the planning and development phase, each team will enter into a collaborative relationship, engage in capacity building activities, develop a collaboration charter, conduct a needs assessment, and develop a strategic plan and project focus memo. The implementation phase will commence after completion of the planning and development phase and OVW approval of the strategic plan. During the implementation phase, each team will implement the initiatives identified during the planning and development period. Throughout the project, each team will receive intensive technical assistance and support through a combination of meetings, on-site consultations, web resources, and tele/video conference calls. Each member of the team will be expected to address issues of accessibility and safety within their own organizational service and employment practices. Each organization is expected to develop and implement policies that address access and safety and a realistic plan to sustain project activities.