The grants to enhance culturally specific services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 20124

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $575,000 Project Grant under the Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program (CFDA 16.016) to the Atlantic Street Center, a non-profit organization in Seattle, Washington. Through this 3-year grant, Atlantic Street Center will provide culturally relevant services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking from Black/African American and other underserved racial/ethnic minority communities in Seattle, King County, and parts of Pierce County. Key services include advocacy, therapeutic counseling, referrals, information, outreach, and 24/7 access to a crisis line for immediate safety planning. The project aims to increase the community's capacity to deliver culturally specific resources, enhance traditional victim services, develop prevention strategies tailored to cultural needs, and address the safety, economic, housing, and workplace challenges facing these victims.

This program supports the maintenance and replication of existing successful community-based programs providing culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as the development of innovative culturally specific strategies to enhance access to services and resources for victims who face obstacles to using more traditional programs. Culturally specific services means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities which are statutorily defined as american indians (including alaska natives, eskimos, and aleuts); asian americans; native hawaiians and other pacific islanders; blacks; and hispanics. Projects must address at least one of the programs statutory purpose areas. Through this new culturally specific services program project, atlantic street center (ASCS) will implement a project addressing the following purpose areas: increase communities capacity to provide culturally specific resources and support for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes and their families; enhance traditional services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies highlighting culturally specific issues and resources; and provide culturally specific resources and services that address the safety, economic, housing, and workplace needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including emergency assistance. The project will also address the following priority area: priority 2- strengthening efforts to prevent and end sexual assault. ASCS will provide services for black/african american or other survivors of color who have been a victim of domestic abuse, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in seattle, throughout king county, and parts of pierce county, WA. Specific activities will include: advocacy, therapeutic services, referrals and information, outreach, and access to support 24 hours a day, five days a week including access to a crisis line for immediate safety planning.