The rural domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking program (rural program) is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 12341

The Department of Justice Offices Boards and Divisions Office on Violence Against Women awarded $700,000 under the Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Assistance Program (CFDA #16.589) to Safe Voices in Lewiston, Maine. The three-year project grant, effective October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025, will support Safe Voices' efforts to identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth, and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural communities. Specifically, Safe Voices will implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts among law enforcement, prosecutors, victim service providers and others to investigate and prosecute related incidents. The organization will also provide treatment, counseling, advocacy, legal assistance and other long- and short-term support services to adult and minor victims in rural areas, in addition to developing education and prevention strategies in cooperation with the community.

Rural program funds are used to support programs that: a) identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth, and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural communities; B) establish and expand victim services in rural communities for child, youth, and adult victims; and/or C) increase the safety and well-being of women and children in rural communities by dealing directly and immediately with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and creating and implementing strategies to increase awareness and prevent these crimes. Grantees must use at least one of the following strategies in implementing their projects: a) implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects among law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other related parties to investigate and prosecute incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; B) provide treatment, counseling, advocacy, legal assistance, and other long- and short-term assistance to adult and minor victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural communities; C) work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies directed toward such issues; D) develop, enlarge, or strengthen programs addressing sexual assault; and E) develop programs and strategies that focus on the specific needs of victims who reside in remote rural and geographically isolated areas. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.