MOUNT VERNON – The Mount Vernon Police Department and New Directions were recipients of a portion of $4 million in Violence Against Women Act Grants approved by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.
The program assists local governments and nonprofit, community-based organizations in administering justice for and strengthening services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
The Police Department was awarded $35,000 for its domestic violence/sexual assault liaison for 2023. New Directions received a $29,616.32 grant and an $11,090.89 grant from the program for 2023.
The Office of Criminal Justice Services administered two competitive grants for the federal fiscal year 2022 VAWA program, according to a release from the agency. The first took proposals from victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors and courts throughout Ohio. The local agencies received grants from the Violence Against Women Act grant program.
The second grant was tailored for community-based, culturally specific victim service applicants that provide culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities.
Earlier this year, New Directions received a $115,752.21 grant through the 2021 Family Violence Prevention and Services Act American Rescue Plan Act rape crisis centers and Sexual Assault Programs Supplemental COVID-19 Funds.
The grant funding was offered to help programs that provide virtual/remote and crisis services, support sexual assault survivors’ emergency needs and pay for hiring and retention bonuses to attract and maintain staff.
