The grants to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and SEX trafficking against children and youth program supports comprehensive, community-based…

The Department of Justice Offices Boards and Divisions Office on Violence Against Women awarded $500,000 to the Domestic Violence Network through the Consolidated And Technical Assistance Grant Program to Address Children and Youth Experiencing Domestic and Sexual Violence and Engage Men and Boys as Allies (CFDA 16.888) for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025.

Under this Project Grant, the Domestic Violence Network will implement a comprehensive community-based project in Indianapolis, Indiana to develop and expand prevention, intervention, treatment, and response strategies for children and youth impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. Specifically, the Network will establish a coordinated community response team, conduct a needs assessment and strategic planning, provide direct trauma services to youth victims, train law enforcement and allied professionals, deliver education programs to youth-serving organizations, and implement youth-led prevention programming focused on healthy relationships and bystander intervention.

The grants to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and SEX trafficking against children and youth program supports comprehensive, community-based projects that develop or expand prevention, intervention, treatment, and response strategies to address the needs of children and youth impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and SEX trafficking, including support for their non-abusing parents, caregivers, and legal guardians. The grantee and project partners will implement a project addressing purpose area 2 - creating safer communities for youth: prevention, intervention, treatment, and response services for youth impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and SEX trafficking. The project will: 1) establish a coordinated community response team to oversee and guide project activities; 2) complete a limited community needs assessment and develop a strategic plan that outlines the implementation phase of the project; 3) provide direct services that address the emotional, cognitive, and physical effects of trauma on youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or SEX trafficking; 4) develop and deliver training to law enforcement and other allied professionals to appropriately respond to and support youth victims of violence; 5) develop and deliver educational programs that address the prevention of and response to the crimes previously listed for youth-serving organizations and programs; and 6) develop and deliver prevention programming for youth that is inclusive of youth-led strategies, assists youth in understanding and recognizing abusive behavior, and includes bystander intervention strategies.