The grants to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and SEX trafficking against children and youth program supports comprehensive, community-based…

The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women awarded a $500,000 Project Grant under the Consolidated And Technical Assistance Grant Program to Address Children and Youth Experiencing Domestic and Sexual Violence and Engage Men and Boys as Allies (CFDA 16.888) to the Sauti Yetu Center For African Women, Inc. The 36-month grant, which commenced on October 1, 2024, will support comprehensive, community-based efforts to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking against children and youth, particularly from underserved immigrant communities across New York City. Key project activities include reviving the Girls Empowerment and Leadership Initiative mentoring program, continuing the culturally tailored Aminah & Akeem Health Program on sexual and reproductive health, providing crisis counseling and short-term emergency support, and training law enforcement professionals to better identify and respond to African immigrant youth impacted by violence. The grant's primary service area is the Bronx, NY, with partner organizations Womankind and the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault providing additional victim services and support.

The grants to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and SEX trafficking against children and youth program supports comprehensive, community-based efforts to develop or expand prevention, intervention, treatment, and response strategies to address the needs of children and youth impacted by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and SEX trafficking, including support for their non-abusing parents, caregivers, and legal guardians. With this grant funding, the suati yetu center for african women, INC. Will implement CY purpose area 2 for youth (ages 11-21) from underserved immigrant communities across all five boroughs of new york city. This project will specifically serve 300 young women aged 12- 21 from immigrant families. MOU partners on this project include womankind and new york city alliance against sexual assault (the alliance) as the victim service provider. The project will: 1) revive the girls empowerment and leadership initiative mentoring program to support and build the social capital of african immigrant youth who struggle to fit into traditional school settings, especially international high schools often lacking support for languages beyond spanish; 2) continue the aminah & akeem health program, a culturally specific 10-week curriculum series on sexual and reproductive health tailored for african, muslim, and immigrant youth; 3) assist youth in crisis from sexual violence or domestic violence by utilizing crisis counselors and womankinds children and youth advocate; 4) partner with womankind to provide short-term emergency counseling to help youth cope with trauma; and 5) partner with the alliance to provide training for law enforcement professionals to help identify and respond to african immigrant youth impacted by sexual or domestic violence. The project addresses OVW priority areas of advancing equity and tribal sovereignty and expanding economic justice and financial advocacy for survivors. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.