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),…

The Kingdom Builders' Family Life Center, a non-profit organization in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been awarded a $335,000 Project Grant under the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women's Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program (CFDA 16.023). Through this 3-year grant, the organization will provide culturally appropriate crisis intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, and comprehensive victim services to African American survivors of sexual assault in the Colorado Springs metro area. The grant will enable the center, in partnership with the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, to establish, maintain, and expand the delivery of these critical services that address the unique linguistic and cultural barriers faced by underserved populations when seeking assistance for sexual assault. The funding will support the organization's efforts to offer a range of services, including crisis intervention, counseling, legal and medical advocacy, referrals, and direct assistance to adult, youth, and child victims, as well as their family members and others affected by the victimization.

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, kingdom builders family life center, in partnership with colorado coalition against sexual assault, will provide crisis intervention and comprehensive victim services to african american survivors of the colorado springs metro area.