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 Yarrow Project, a minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, Native American non-profit organization, received a $385,000 Project Grant from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program (CFDA 16.023). Through this grant, The Yarrow Project will provide direct intervention and related assistance services, including 24-hour rapid response, accompaniment and support, crisis intervention, direct payments, support groups, information and referrals, outreach, and traditional and cultural healing events. These services are exclusively for indigenous survivors of sexual assault, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, First Nations persons, and those indigenous to Mexico, Central and South America, in the Salish Sea/Puget Sound region of Washington state. This federal grant program aims to establish, maintain, and expand culturally specific services for sexual assault victims to address linguistic and cultural barriers faced by underserved populations.

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, yarrow project, will provide direct intervention and related assistance, including 24-hour rapid response, accompaniment and support, crisis intervention, direct payments, support groups, information and referrals, outreach, and traditional and cultural healing events. The project exclusively services indigenous survivors, including american indians, alaska natives, first nations persons, and those indigenous to mexico, central and south america of the salish sea/puget sound region of washington state. The project will address the following priority area: priority area 5, underserved communities- sexual assault services for the 2LGBTQ population.