The sexual assault services culturally specific program (SAS culturally specific program) was created by the violence against women and department of justice reauthorization act of 2005 (vawa 2005),…

This federal Project Grant award of $385,000 was provided by the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women under the Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program (CFDA 16.023) to Alianza Nacional De Campesinas Inc. The funding will support the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate trauma-informed outreach, information, referrals, and direct intervention services for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, as well as their family and household members, in immigrant and migrant farmworker communities in Yuma County, Arizona and Imperial County, California. The project specifically aims to address the unique challenges faced by underserved populations from culturally specific communities when seeking assistance for sexual assault, such as linguistic and cultural barriers. Through partnerships with Campesinos Sin Fronteras and Lideres Campesinas, Alianza Nacional De Campesinas Inc. will deliver these vital services to the target populations, including the LGBTQ community, over the project period from October 2023 through September 2026.

The sexual assault services culturally specific program (SAS culturally specific program) was created by the violence against women and department of justice reauthorization act of 2005 (vawa 2005), 34 U.S.C. 12511(C), and is part of the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. Intervention and related assistance include advocacy, accompaniment (e.g., accompanying victims to court, medical facilities, police departments, etc.), crisis intervention and support services, and referrals, among other services. Under this program, such services may be provided to adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of such victims, and those collaterally affected by the victimization. Survivors of sexual assault from culturally specific communities frequently confront unique challenges when seeking assistance, such as linguistic and cultural barriers. Culturally specific community-based organizations are more likely to understand these challenges because they are familiar with the culture, language, and background of victims from their communities, who in turn are more inclined to seek services from such organizations. The goal of the SAS culturally specific program is to establish, maintain, and expand culturally specific intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault, which serve a vital role in providing services that are relevant for their communities. Through this new sexual assault services culturally specific program project, alianza nacional DE campesinas, in partnership with campesinos SIN fronteras and lideres campesinas, will provide culturally and linguistically trauma-informed responsive outreach, information, referrals and direct intervention services for sexual assault victims and their family or household members to immigrant and migrant women, including farmworker victim/survivors of sexual assault and their families in yuma county, arizona and imperial county, california. The project will address the following priority area: priority area 5, underserved communities- sexual assault services for the lgbt population.