Project Grant 15JOVW23GG02812RURA

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, THE SURVIVOR ADVOCACY OUTREACH PROGRAM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ATHENS COUNTY FOUNDATIONS RACIAL EQUITY COALITION OF ATHENS COUNTY, WILL IMPLEMENT A PROJECTFOR NINE COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO THATFOCUSES ON CULTURALLY SPECIFIC POPULATIONS WITHIN THE SERVICE AREAS AND INCREASING STAFFING LEVELS AT THE ATHENS COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) MOBILE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY, WHERE STAFF MEETS WITH CLIENTS AT SAFE LOCATIONS IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITY TO DELIVER THE INTERVENTION; 2) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH INVOLVES ADVOCATES TRAVELING INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH SURVIVORS TO ACCESS SERVICES AND CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPROVE CCR; AND 3) FUNDINGTHREE ADVOCATES, THE PARTIAL SALARY OF A FORENSIC INTERVIEWER, A CONTRACTUAL PSANE, SUPPORT HELPLINE/TEXT LINE CONTRACTUAL WORKERS, AND THE RACIAL EQUITY COALITION COORDINATOR. THE TIMING FOR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.