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),…

Through the Office on Violence Against Women's Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program (CFDA 16.023), Sasha Center Inc. was awarded a $445,000 four-year project grant to provide culturally-specific services to African American survivors of sexual assault in Detroit, Michigan from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2027. The grant funding will enable Sasha Center Inc., a minority and women-owned nonprofit organization, to offer a 24-hour crisis hotline, culturally specific advocacy and crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, comprehensive service coordination, and community outreach. The goal of this project is to establish, maintain, and expand intervention and related assistance that is relevant and accessible for African American victims of sexual assault in the Detroit area.

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 continuation sexual assault services culturally specific program project, sasha center, INC., will provide a 24-hour hotline, culturally specific assistance and advocacy, crisis intervention, short-term individual and group support services, comprehensive service coordination, culturally specific grounding techniques, information and referrals, and outreach to african american survivors of detroit, michigan.