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 new rural domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking grant award, the northwest immigrant rights project, in partnership with new hope, will implement a victim services project for the washington state counties of adams, benton, chelan, douglas, franklin, grant, okanogan, and yakima. Specific activities targeting immigrant survivors will include: 1) outreach to immigrant communities; 2) education, training, and technical assistance to social service providers working with immigrant survivors; 3) cross-training and consultation to build partner capacity; 4) assessments to identify the emotional, psychological, and physical needs of immigrant survivors; 5) personalized action plans to restore safety, security, and well-being for survivors; 6) connection of survivors to support and resources to stabilize their lives; 7) legal services to ensure access to immigration protections; 8) referrals by new hope for legal assistance; 9) assistance by new hope with initial case preparation; and 10) referral of survivors for other civil legal needs outside of immigration. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.