The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and…

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $750,000 Project Grant under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program (CFDA 16.524) to Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders In Solidarity. Through this 3-year grant, the organization will provide culturally specific civil and criminal legal assistance to Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Iowa. At least 50% of the funds will support legal services for victims of non-intimate partner sexual assault. The project will focus on advancing racial equity, increasing legal aid for sexual assault victims, and serving underserved communities. Key services include legal representation, advocacy, and assistance in matters such as family law, immigration, and justice system support. Monsoon will also develop multilingual outreach materials to promote the available legal services.

The legal assistance for victims (LAV) grant program, authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20121, is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth (ages 11 to 24) victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault by providing funds for comprehensive direct legal services to victims in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Legal assistance is assistance in: a) divorce, parental rights, child support, tribal, territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing, campus, education, healthcare, privacy, contract, consumer, civil rights, protection or other injunctive proceedings, related enforcement proceedings, and other similar matters; B) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-conviction matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victims safety, privacy, or other interests as a victim; C) alternative dispute resolution, restorative practices, or other processes intended to promote victim safety, privacy, and autonomy, and offender accountability, regardless of court involvement; or D) post-conviction relief proceedings in state, local, tribal, or territorial court with respect to a conviction of a victim relating to or arising from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or SEX trafficking victimization of the victim. Through this continuation legal assistance for victims project, monsoon asian pacific islanders in solidarity, in partnership with iowa migrant movement for justice, will provide culturally specific legal services in family law and immigration law to asian pacific islander survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in iowa, particularly to asian populations in DES moines, ames, west DES moines, cedar rapids, and iowa city and to native hawaiian and pacific islander populations in dubuque, waterloo, marshalltown, sioux city, storm lake, ottumwa, and atlantic. At least fifty percent of award funds will be used to support survivors of non-intimate partner sexual assault. The project will address the following priority areas: 1) priority area 1: advancing racial equity; 2) priority area 2: increasing legal services to victims of sexual assault; and 3) priority area 3: underserved communities. The following products will be developed during the project period: a one-page outreach and education pamphlet in english, mandarin, hindi, burmese, karen, vietnamese, nepali, LAO, arabic, pohnpeian, marshallese, and chuukese for dissemination during outreach events.