The rural domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking program (rural program) is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 12341

The Georgia Legal Services Program, Inc. received a $494,893 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Assistance Program (CFDA 16.589). This 36-month grant will allow the organization, in partnership with Women in Need of God's Shelter and the Prosecuting Attorneys Council, to implement a victim services project that aims to strengthen efforts to prevent and end sexual assault in 30 rural counties in Middle Georgia. Key activities include hiring two Rural Navigators to provide comprehensive screening, connect survivors to available resources, assist with accessing economic aid, and educate local law enforcement, courts, and service providers on topics specific to the needs of violence victims in rural areas. Additionally, the funding will help make currently available services more accessible to survivors, and enhance coordination among community stakeholders to ensure an effective response in the targeted rural regions.

Rural program funds are used to support programs that: 1) identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth, and adult victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in rural communities; 2) establish and expand victim services in rural communities to child, youth, and adult victims; 3) increase the safety and well-being of women and children in rural communities, by (a) dealing directly and immediately with domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking; and (B) creating and implementing strategies to increase awareness and prevent these crimes; and 4) develop, expand, implement, and improve the quality of sexual assault forensic medical examination or sexual assault nurse examiner programs. Grantees must use at least one of the following strategies in implementing their projects: 1) implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects among law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other related parties to investigate and prosecute incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; 2) provide treatment, counseling, advocacy, legal assistance, and other long-term and short-term victim and population specific services to adult and minor victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural communities; 3) work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies directed toward such issues; 4) develop, enlarge, or strengthen programs addressing sexual assault; and 5) develop programs and strategies that focus on the specific needs of victims of who reside in remote rural and geographically isolated areas. With this new rural domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking project, georgia legal services program, in partnership with women in need of gods shelter and prosecuting attorneys council, will implement a victim services projectto strengthen efforts to prevent and end sexual assault for 30 counties in middle georgia. Funding from this award will allow the project to make currently available services more accessible to survivors; strengthen trainings and education on topics specific to the needs of victims of violence for law enforcement, court officials, and community service providers; and collaborate with local and state agencies already in place to ensure an effective CCR in the targeted rural areas to provide safety and economic security for survivors. Specific activities will include hiring two rural navigators, who will: 1) provide comprehensive and trauma-informed screening for survivors; 2) direct them to available resources in the rural communities to improve safety and economic security; 3) assist in applying for and accessing economic assistance; and 4) educate and collaborate with community service providers in law enforcement, the courts, statewide and local agency service providers. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.