Attorney General DeWine Awards Nearly $1 Million in Rape Crisis Program Grant Funding

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that he has awarded 25 rape crisis centers in Ohio with a total of nearly $1 million in new grant funding.  

"This is the first time that money from Ohio's new Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund is being used, so these are additional resources that can now go towards helping survivors of sexual assault," said Attorney General DeWine.  "The funds will help strengthen and expand upon the services and support these agencies currently provide, which are essential in the recovery process after a traumatic assault."

The following 23 agencies, which meet all core services as defined by the Core Standards for Rape Crisis Programs in Ohio, will each receive a grant $36,789 to be used to help sexual assault survivors: 

• Women Helping Women, Cincinnati       
• Ohio University, Athens
• Appleseed Community Mental Health Center, Ashland
• YWCA of Northwest Ohio, Toledo
• Liberty Center Connections/Every Woman's House, Wooster
• Tri-County Help Center, St. Clairsville
• The SAAFE Center/Behavioral Connections, Bowling Green
• Council on Domestic Violence/Open Arms, Findlay
• The Rape Crisis Center of Medina & Summit Counties, Akron
• Crime Victim Services, Lima
• Townhall II, Kent
• Project Woman, Springfield
• OhioHealth Research Institute/SARNCO, Columbus
• The Nord Center/Lorain County Rape Crisis Center, Lorain
• Lake County Prosecutor, Painesville
• HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow Counties, Delaware
• Haven of Hope, Cambridge
• EVE Incorporated, Marietta
• The Domestic Violence Shelter, Mansfield
• COMPASS, New Philadelphia
• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Cleveland
• American Red Cross, Canton
• Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County, Lebanon

One program, which meets some, but not all of the core services, will receive an expansion grant in the amount of $8,842 to assist with implementing new services:

• Erie County Prosecutor, Sandusky

In addition, one statewide training grant, which is available only to agencies that are federally-recognized statewide sexual assault coalitions, was awarded in the amount of $95,000:

• Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Cleveland 

Ohio's Rape Crisis Program Trust Fund was established as part of House Bill 108, which was sponsored by state representatives Nan Baker (R-Westlake) and Kirk Schuring (R-Canton).  The bill was amended into Ohio's 2014-2015 operating budget.  The Ohio Attorney General's Office administers the fund. 

Febraury 14 is V-Day: A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls Worldwide

Join the V-Day movement on February 14 to end violence against women and girls worldwide.  For more information visit http://www.vday.org or http://onebillionrising.org

February: Teen Dating Violence & Prevention Month

During the month of February, the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, is recognizing National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.  

 

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month brings national focus to the issue of teen dating violence, highlights the need to educate youth about healthy relationships, raises awareness among those who care for them and provides communities with a critical opportunity to work together to prevent this devastating cycle of abuse.

The Ohio Family Violence Prevention Center (FVPC), housed at OCJS, serves as an information clearinghouse for public and private organizations as they provide assistance to victims and offers a variety of services such as providing victim advocacy/assistance, organizing workshops, giving presentations and conducting research on family violence and its impact on communities.  The Ohio Family Violence Prevention Advisory Council, a part of the Center, is where Ohio’s top experts in domestic and family violence prevention come together to consider and recommend improvements in the state.  Most recently, the Council, along with other lead agencies in the state, provided guidance and assistance for HB 19, the Tina Croucher Act, which requires schools to adopt policies to prevent and address abusive relationships.

               
The Purpose
The repercussions of teen dating violence are impossible to ignore - the issue affects not just youth but their families, schools and communities as well. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) brings national focus to the issue of teen dating violence, highlights the need to educate our youth about healthy relationships, raises awareness among those who care for them and provides communities with a critical opportunity to work together to prevent this devastating cycle of abuse.

 

The History of TDVAM
The Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiative was spearheaded by teenagers across the nation who chose to take a stand and put a stop to teen dating violence. In 2005, the importance of addressing teen dating violence was highlighted by its inclusion in the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Now supported by dozens of national, state and local organizations, the call to end teen dating violence was formally recognized by Congress in 2006. At that time, both Houses of Congress declared the first full week in February "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week."

For the third consecutive year, our leaders in Congress are dedicating an entire month to teen dating violence awareness and prevention. To celebrate, we are calling upon government representatives and agencies, public officials, advocates, service providers, schools, parents and youth to take part in programs and activities that promote awareness and prevention of teen dating violence.