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U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert has announced that the Virgin Islands Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council received a $270,782 grant from the Department of Justice in support of its domestic violence and sexual assault programs.
The award from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) supports the critical work of the U.S. Virgin Islands Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition’s efforts to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, according to the release.
“The Virgin Islands Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council (VIDVSAC) provides invaluable support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault-related offenses here in the Territory,” Shappert said. “VIDVSAC also sponsors important training and outreach initiatives to educate everyone about the consequences of these serious crimes.”
According to Ms. Shappert, the award is one of 87 totaling $15 million made nationwide by OVW’s State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program. The full list of awards for this program can be found here.
The program provides grants to each state and territorial domestic violence coalition and sexual assault coalition. Funds are for the purposes of coordinating victim services activities and collaborating and coordinating with federal, state, and local entities engaged in addressing violence against women. Statewide and territory-wide sexual assault coalitions provide direct support to member rape and crisis centers through funding, training and technical assistance, public awareness activities, and public policy advocacy. Statewide and territory-wide domestic violence coalitions also provide comparable support to member battered women’s shelters and other domestic violence service providers.
OVW 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.
