U.S. Attorney’s Office Commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month

In commemoration of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio is announcing more than $3.3 million in grant funding awarded to programs in the District that address sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking in Northern Ohio communities.  This grant funding is awarded through the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

The following is a brief description of the programs and recipients receiving awards.

Transitional Housing Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (Transitional Housing Program).  Recipients include:

• Asian Service In Action, Inc., $475,000
• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, $325,000

The Transitional Housing Program provides aid to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are homeless, or in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance, as a result of their victimization, and for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable or insufficient.

Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program (SAS Culturally Specific Program). Recipients include:

• Asian Service In Action, Inc., $475,000

The SAS Culturally Specific Program provides intervention and assistance to victims of sexual assault from culturally specific communities that confront unique challenges when seeking assistance, such as language and cultural barriers.

Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program. Recipients include:

• The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, $800,000. 

The LAV program aims to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance for adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by providing funds for legal services to victims in matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence.

Grants to Support Families in the Justice System program (referred to as the Justice for Families Program).  Recipients include:

• Community Legal Aid Service Inc, $650,000
• Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Inc. $650,000

The Justice for Families Program seeks to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Office on Violence Against Women provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation.  Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.  In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges.

Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.

To sign up for OVW alerts visit this webpage or follow OVW on Twitter @OVWJustice.