More than $1.1 million in funding granted to domestic violence prevention efforts

CHARLESTON, WV — Governor Jim Justice released a statement regarding a funding award for programs that assist domestic violence survivors.

STOP Violence Against Women grant funds, totaling $1,124,446, are going to 21 projects throughout the state. These funds will be used to strengthen or create groups geared towards domestic violence victim support. These include victim service providers, law enforcement, as well as prosecution to bolster the justice system’s handling of cases regarding violence against women.

The funds give personnel, equipment, training, technical assistance, and information systems for the creation and strengthening of the groups. Projects through the state are financed with the goal of providing training and learning opportunities for service providers, law enforcement, prosecution, and court personnel.

Funds for this grant are given by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, and are administered by the Justice and Community Services Section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services.

STOP Violence Against Women program funds are to be distributed as follows:

• West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services – $171,074. Funds will go towards bolstering services for sexual assault and stalking victims through improved training, technical assistance, collaboration and gaining of resources.
• West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Institute – $74,280. Funds will go towards improving strategies and best practices for prosecutors, and to enhance victim services in court cases dealing with violence against women.
• Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia – $56,694. Funds will go towards expanding the Victim Outreach Remote Technology Project to better the justice system’s response to crimes of violence against women through improved training and broadening virtual access for victims and survivors in the West Virginia court system.
• West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc. – $46,645. Funds will go towards outreach, training, and technical assistance for STOP teams, activists, employers, religious communities, etc.
• Putnam County Commission – $27,332. Funds will be used to support continued investigation of domestic violence cases and other services and training.
• Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center – $66,564. Funds will be used for the development of better standards in working with survivors and allowing participation in awareness events. An amount of $30,424 will be put towards these efforts as well.
• Comprehensive Women’s Service Council, Inc. – $62,560. Funds will be used to create a coordinated and knowledgeable community response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, as well as making perpetrators responsible. Additional grants of $32,709 and $39,104 will be put towards these efforts as well.
• Branches Domestic Violence Shelter, Inc. – $106,065. Funding will be used to deliver thorough assistance to victims of violence, stalking, and sexual assault in Cabell County through effective prosecution, advocacy, intervention, support services, training and evidence collection.
• Family Refuge Center – $31,634. Funds will go towards enhancing advocacy for those healing from domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and teen dating violence through collaboration in Greenbrier County. An additional grant of $30, 692 will go towards those same efforts in Monroe County.
• Tug Valley Recovery Shelter Association, Inc – $80,345. Funds will be used to supply services to survivors and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.
• HOPE, Inc. – $59,373. Funding will be used to sustain a multifaceted method to prevent domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. An additional grant of $49,376 will go towards those same efforts, as well as human trafficking.
• Women’s Aid in Crisis, Inc. – $22,550. Funds will go towards methods of preventing violence against women by working in tandem to provide original, sustained, safe, victim-centered services with focused outreach to underserved women.
• Family Crisis Intervention Center – $19,667. Funding will go towards the sustained support from a full-time advocate that addresses the needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking. An addition grant of $17,147 will be put towards these same efforts.
• Ohio County Commission – $75,775. Funds will be used for a multi-agency approach to handle issues of family violence in general, but place much focus on violence against women.
• Logan County Commission – $24,436. Funds will be used to hire a part time Assistant Prosecuting Attorney focused on the prosecution of domestic violence cases, sexual assault and stalking cases, as well as dating violence cases. Funds will also be used for overtime pay for deputies that serve domestic violence petitions.

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