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

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 continuation rural domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking grant award, new mexico immigrant law center (NMILC), in partnership with community against violence, phoenix house, catholic charities of southern new mexico, and LAS cumbres community services sanctuario DE corazon, will implement a legal victim services project for six counties in southeastern new mexico (LEA, eddy and chavez) and northern new mexico (RIO arriba, colfax and taos). Specific activities targetingimmigrant survivors will include: 1) providing onsite and virtual legal immigration services to survivors; 2) providingeconomic justice legal services, including employment authorization and representation when denied public benefits; 3) providingcase management and/or navigation services for survivors; 4) delivering trainings to partner organizations; 5) conducting outreach to clients about NMILC services; 6) offeringlegal clinics with partner agencies; 7) providinglegal services to obtain orders of protection, child support, custody and divorce, and supportive services such as, case management, therapy, and shelter; and 10) providing culturally-informed behavioral health and case management services. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.