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 Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $450,000 Project Grant under the Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program (CFDA 16.016) to Progressive Life Center, Inc. for the period of October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026. Through this continuation grant, Progressive Life Center, Inc. will implement culturally specific bystander prevention education targeting the Black/African American community in Prince George's County, Maryland. Key activities include delivering in-person and virtual training to faith leaders, civic organizations, and community members, as well as distributing educational materials, connecting local service providers to the faith community, increasing access to victim services, and training local government staff on advancing racial equity for African American victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Progressive Life Center, Inc. has previously received over $600,000 in funding from this grant program from 2019-2023 to support similar community-based violence prevention initiatives in the Washington, D.C. area. As a sub-grantee, the organization has also provided independent living skills training and case management services for youth in the foster care system.

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 continuation culturally specific services program project, progressive life center, INC. Will implement a project addressing the following purpose areas: increasing communities capacity to provide culturally specific resources and support for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes and their families; working in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies highlighting culturally specific issues and resources regarding victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; providing 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; and examining the dynamics of culture and its impact on victimization and healing. The african american community-based bystander prevention education program will provide culturally specific services to address the needs of the black/african american community, including faith leaders and congregants, community bystanders, and the lgbtq+ community in prince georges county, maryland, targeting oxon hill and fort washington (southern prince georges county), upper marlboro and bowie (CENTRAL), and langley park, hyattsville and laurel (NORTHERN). The project will also address the following priority area: priority area 1 - advancing racial equity. Specific activities will include: a culturally specific bystander education program delivered to faith, civic and community-based organizations in-person and virtually, and the distribution of educational materials; educating faith leaders and congregants, and the distribution of toolkits; sharing resources and connecting local providers with the faith community; increasing access to services for victims through the provision of resources and direct services; and increasing awareness of local government staff on strategies to advance racial equity for african american victims through training.