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

This $262,652 federal Project Grant award under the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Assistance Program (CFDA 16.589) supports a 36-month project by Project Against Violent Encounters (PAVE) in Bennington County, Vermont. The project aims to improve access to sexual assault forensic medical examinations and aftercare services for rural survivors. Key activities include providing safety planning, resources, referrals, and supportive services such as transportation assistance for survivors needing exams, as well as follow-up support for medical, mental health, and legal needs. The project also involves community training and producing outreach materials targeting rural areas and colleges. This award reflects PAVE's extensive experience delivering comprehensive victim services and prevention programs in remote, geographically isolated communities.

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 by encouraging collaboration among victim service providers, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, other criminal justice service providers, human and community service providers, educational institutions, and health care providers; 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. Through this new OVW rural program project, project against violent encounters, in partnership with bennington county child advocacy center & special investigations unit and southwestern vermont medical center, will implement improving access to sane exams and aftercare services for rural survivors in bennington county. This victim service project addresses the following purpose areas: 1 and 4 for bennington county in vermont. Specific activities will include: 1) providing safety planning, resources, and referrals to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault; 2) providing supportive services for survivors in need of sexual assault forensic medical examinations, including assistance with safety planning and transportation to and from medical facilities; 3) providing follow up supports for survivors, such as filing police reports, filing for protection orders, and assistance with medical and mental health needs, including financial assistance; 4) providing print materials targeting rural communities and local rural colleges; and 5) providing county-wide training on available services. The project will address the following priority areas: priority area 2: prevent and end sexual assault. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.