Charleston, WV – Gov. Jim Justice announced that he has awarded $731,250 in West Virginia Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program funds to the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
These funds will be used to continue services by co-located advocates in Mason, Morgan, Pocahontas, and Randolph Counties to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and human trafficking.
Justice also annoucned that he has awarded $547,966.00 in West Virginia Sexual Assault Services Program grant funds to the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services. These funds will be used to provide and expand direct services to victims of sexual assault throughout the state.
The Sexual Assault Services Program was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 and provides grant dollars to states and territories to assist them in supporting rape crisis centers that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault.
Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program funds are used to support programs that: a) identify, assess, and appropriately respond to child, youth, and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural communities; b) establish and expand victim services in rural communities for child, youth, and adult victims; and/or c) increase the safety and well-being of women and children in rural communities by dealing directly and immediately with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and creating and implementing strategies to increase awareness and prevent these crimes.
Funds for these programs are administered by the Justice and Community Services (JCS) Section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services (DAS).
