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

This federal Project Grant award of $525,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program (CFDA 16.016) supports Raksha Inc., a Georgia-based non-profit organization, and its partner the Tahirih Justice Center, in implementing a multi-faceted project to provide culturally and linguistically relevant services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the South Asian community in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Key activities include: 1) culturally and linguistically appropriate therapy, 2) housing support, 3) legal advocacy, 4) training for law enforcement and social service providers, and 5) education for first responders on issues like forced marriage. The project aims to enhance the capacity of the community to provide culturally specific resources and support, as well as develop prevention strategies that address culturally specific needs and resources for the South Asian population. The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

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, raksha INC., in partnership with the tahirih justice center, will implement a project addressing multiple purpose areas including: purpose area 1 - working with state and local governments and social service agencies to develop and enhance effective strategies to provide culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; purpose area 2 - increasing communities capacity to provide culturally specific resources and support for victims and their families; and priority area 5 - working in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies highlighting culturally specific issues and resources for the south asian community in the metropolitan area of atlanta, georgia. The project will address the following priority areas -priority area 1: advancing racial equity and priority area 2: strengthening efforts to prevent and end sexual assault. Specific activities will include: 1) culturally and linguistically relevant therapy; 2) housing support; 3) legal advocacy 4) training for law enforcement and social services providers; and 5) education for first responders about forced marriage.