The grants for outreach and services to underserved populations (underserved program) was statutorily created in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 (vawa 2013) to develop and…

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $600,000 Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations (CFDA 16.889) project grant to Turning Point For Women & Families, a nonprofit organization located in Kew Gardens Hills, NY. The grant, awarded for the period of October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, will fund the organization's efforts to develop and implement targeted outreach strategies and provide victim services for adult and youth survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking within the Muslim and immigrant communities in New York City. The project's primary activities include community education and outreach, crisis intervention, advocacy, individual and group counseling, and referral for legal services through a partnership with Queens Legal Services. The grant aims to reach over 3,500 individuals annually through education and outreach, and provide direct services to at least 225 women over the three-year project period.

The grants for outreach and services to underserved populations (underserved program) was statutorily created in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 (vawa 2013) to develop and implement outreach strategies targeted at adult or youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations, and to provide victim services to meet the needs of such populations. Grant funds may be used to: 1) work with federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, agencies, and organizations to develop or enhance population specific victim services; 2) strengthen the capacity of underserved populations to provide population specific victim services; 3) strengthen the capacity of traditional victim service providers to provide population specific victim services; 4) strengthen the effectiveness of criminal and civil justice interventions by providing training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and other court personnel on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations; 5) work in cooperation with an underserved population to develop and implement outreach, education, prevention, and intervention strategies that highlight available resources and the specific issues faced by victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking from underserved populations; or, 6) strengthen the response of social and human services by providing population-specific training for service providers on domestic violence, dating violence sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations. Eligible applicants are limited to: population specific organizations or victim service providers that are (1) deaf programs (2) lesbian, GAY, bisexual, and transgender (lgbt) organizations, (3) organizations serving underserved religious populations, (4) disability programs, or (5) organizations serving certain underserved racial and ethnic populations. The proposed project will maintain and enhance tpnys culturally specific domestic violence services, and ensure that muslim women in new york city, an underserved population, receive population specific DV outreach and services. The project will address multiple challenges. The projects primary activities are community education and outreach, crisis intervention, advocacy, individual and group counseling, and referral for supplemental support services (protection order proceedings, a service provided by QLS, our MOU partner). Tpny is partnering with queens legal services (QLS) to offer the women served free legal advocacy and legal services that are limited to the context of protection order proceedings (either temporary or long-term relief). Overall, the project aims to reach over 3,500 each year through education and outreach efforts and provide direct services to at least 225 women during the three-year period (75 new clients per year).