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.