The grants for outreach and services to underserved populations (underserved program) was statutorily created in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to develop and implement…

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded a $600,000 Project Grant under the Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations (CFDA 16.889) program to Shalom Task Force, Inc., a non-profit organization. Through this 3-year award, which commenced on October 1, 2023, Shalom Task Force will partner with the Beth Israel SOVRI Helpline to provide an array of services addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York City. Key services include maintaining crisis hotlines, providing counseling and case management, conducting outreach and education for professionals and the community, and strengthening the capacity of organizations to serve this underserved population. The project aims to increase access to comprehensive, culturally relevant victim services for Orthodox Jewish survivors of gender-based violence.

The grants for outreach and services to underserved populations (underserved program) was statutorily created in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to develop and implement outreach strategies targeted at adult or youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations, and to provide victim services to meet the needs of such populations. Grant funds may be used to: 1) work with federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, agencies, and organizations to develop or enhance population specific victim services; 2) strengthen the capacity of underserved populations to provide population specific victim services; 3) strengthen the capacity of traditional victim service providers to provide population specific victim services; 4) strengthen the effectiveness of criminal and civil justice interventions by providing training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and other court personnel on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations; 5) work in cooperation with an underserved population to develop and implement outreach, education, prevention, and intervention strategies that highlight available resources and the specific issues faced by victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking from underserved populations; or (6) provide population-specific training for social and human services providers on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations. Shalom task force (STF) will partner with the beth israel medical centers support for orthodox victims of rape and incest (sovri) helpline to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the orthodox jewish community in new york city. Through this continuation award, the project will: 1) maintain the STF hotline and the sovri helpline to provide crisis intervention, supportive listening, and referrals; 2) develop telephone case management follow up services for victims; 3) provide individual or group counseling, therapy, and psycho-education to survivors; 4) provide outreach, education and training on domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and technology to orthodox jewish rabbis, religious leaders, mental health professionals, social workers, educators and other professionals; 5) conduct community and prevention education programs to orthodox jewish youth and adults.