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Indiana will be receiving almost $1 million in new federal funding as part of a U.S. Department of Justice grant program designed to help support victims of sexual assault.
The Justice Department announced the Office on Violence Against Women will be receiving millions in grant funding for services in every state plus the District of Columbia, as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
A total of $51,860,858 in grant funding will be distributed nationwide.
The Judiciary Courts of the State of Indiana was listed as the award recipient for the state and will be receiving $980,363.
The OVW administers the Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program funds according to a statutorily determined, population-based formula.
States then, in turn, award funds to rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental or tribal agencies that provide direct intervention and related services to adult, youth and child victims of sexual assault.
“It is critically important that all victims of sexual assault are able to access support and safety. Research shows that the need for that support is substantial across our nation: more than half of women and nearly one-third of men experience sexual violence in their lifetimes, which is a truly staggering number,” Associate U.S. Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a news release. “This significant release of SASP funds reflects our unwavering resolve to combat sexual assault. It represents our dedication to supporting rape crisis centers and other organizations that provide trauma-informed services and counseling, training advocates and ensuring that every survivor receives assistance tailored to their unique needs. We’re not just investing in services; we’re investing in dignity, healing and justice for every survivor.”
The grant funding is almost a 45% increase nationally compared to last year.
Indiana was appropriated $676,908 in 2022 through the program.
“While we face significant challenges as a nation in preventing and addressing sexual assault, the increased resources for these programs through SASP funds underscore our dedication to centering the voices of survivors and enhancing services and support,” OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo said in a news release. “We at the Office on Violence Against Women recognize the importance of strengthening a robust community-wide response in aiding survivors of sexual violence. This collective effort ensures that survivors are not just heard, but that they are fully supported in accessing safety, healing and justice. I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to service providers, advocates, coalitions and especially survivors. Their relentless work, bravery and dedication in preventing and addressing sexual violence are not just commendable but essential.”
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