Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault

MAINE RURAL SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES EXPANSION PROJECT

THE RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (RURAL PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. § 12341. RURAL PROGRAM FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT: A) IDENTIFY, ASSESS, AND APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; B) ESTABLISH AND EXPAND VICTIM SERVICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES FOR CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS; AND/OR C) INCREASE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES BY DEALING DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING, AND CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND PREVENT THESE CRIMES. GRANTEES MUST USE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR PROJECTS: A) IMPLEMENT, EXPAND, AND ESTABLISH COOPERATIVE EFFORTS AND PROJECTS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; B) PROVIDE TREATMENT, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER LONG- AND SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE TO ADULT AND MINOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; C) WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES DIRECTED TOWARD SUCH ISSUES; D) DEVELOP, ENLARGE, OR STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS ADDRESSING SEXUAL ASSAULT; AND E) DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF VICTIMS WHO RESIDE IN REMOTE RURAL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AREAS.    THE TIMING FOR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.

THE OVW STATE AND TERRITORY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. § 10441(C), SUPPORTS THE CRITICAL WORK OF STATE AND TERRITORY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS AND IS A SET-ASIDE PROGRAM UNDER THE OVW STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FORMULA GRANT PROGRAM STATUTE. THESE ORGANIZATIONS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ADVANCING THE GOAL OF ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING. GRANT FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, EXPANDING THE TECHNOLOGICAL CAPACITY OF COALITIONS AND/OR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, DEVELOPING OR ENHANCING APPROPRIATE STANDARDS OF SERVICES FOR MEMBER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, CONDUCTING STATEWIDE, REGIONAL AND/OR COMMUNITY-BASED MEETINGS OR WORKSHOPS FOR VICTIM ADVOCATES, SURVIVORS, LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPRESENTATIVES, BRINGING LOCAL PROGRAMS TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN SERVICES AND TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES, INCREASING THE REPRESENTATION OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN COORDINATION ACTIVITIES, ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE COALITION-BUILDING AT THE LOCAL AND/OR STATE LEVEL, OR COORDINATING AT THE FEDERAL, STATE AND TERRITORY LEVEL WITH JUDICIAL OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP OR ENHANCE STRATEGIES. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES A STATUTORY SET ASIDE FROM THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES PROGRAM (SASP) STATUTE, SPECIFICALLY FOR STATE AND TERRITORY SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS (34 U.S.C. § 12511(D)).

SUPPORTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS THROUGH THE STATEWIDE MAINE COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT

SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITION BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR MAINE

COALITION BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

COALITION BUILDING AND INCREASING CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

THE MAINE COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT'S PLAN TO ENHANCE CAPACITY FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN MAINE

THE OVW STATE AND TERRITORY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS PROGRAM, (COALITIONS PROGRAM, CFDA 16.556) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 10441(C) AND 34 U.S.C. 12511(D). THIS GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE CRITICAL WORK OF STATE AND TERRITORY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS. IT IS A SET-ASIDE PROGRAM UNDER THE OVW STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FORMULA GRANT PROGRAM STATUTE AND ALSO INCLUDES A STATUTORY SET ASIDE FROM THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES PROGRAM (SASP) STATUTE, SPECIFICALLY FOR STATE AND TERRITORY SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS. GRANT FUNDS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE STOP SET-ASIDE MAY BE USED FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: 1. COORDINATING STATE AND TERRITORY VICTIM SERVICES ACTIVITIES. 2. COLLABORATING AND COORDINATING WITH FEDERAL, STATE, TERRITORY, AND LOCAL ENTITIES ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACTIVITIES. GRANT FUNDS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE SASP SET-ASIDE MAY BE USED FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: A) WORKING WITH LOCAL SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROVIDERS OF DIRECT SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE STATE OR TERRITORY. B) WORKING WITH JUDICIAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. C) WORKING WITH COURTS, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AGENCIES, AND CHILDRENS ADVOCATES TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO CHILD CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES WHEN SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A FACTOR. D) DESIGNING AND CONDUCTING PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. E) PLANNING AND MONITORING THE DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS AND GRANT FUNDS TO THEIR STATE OR TERRITORY. F) COLLABORATING WITH AND INFORMING FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE SEXUAL ASSAULT.

THE OVW STATE AND TERRITORY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS PROGRAM, (COALITIONS PROGRAM, CFDA 16.556) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 10441(C) AND 34 U.S.C. 12511(D). THIS GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE CRITICAL WORK OF STATE AND TERRITORY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS. IT IS A SET-ASIDE PROGRAM UNDER THE OVW STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FORMULA GRANT PROGRAM STATUTE AND ALSO INCLUDES A STATUTORY SET ASIDE FROM THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES PROGRAM (SASP) STATUTE, SPECIFICALLY FOR STATE AND TERRITORY SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITIONS. GRANT FUNDS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE STOP SET-ASIDE MAY BE USED FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: 1. COORDINATING STATE AND TERRITORY VICTIM SERVICES ACTIVITIES. 2. COLLABORATING AND COORDINATING WITH FEDERAL, STATE, TERRITORY, AND LOCAL ENTITIES ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACTIVITIES. GRANT FUNDS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE SASP SET-ASIDE MAY BE USED FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES: A) WORKING WITH LOCAL SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROVIDERS OF DIRECT SERVICES TO ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHIN THE STATE OR TERRITORY. B) WORKING WITH JUDICIAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. C) WORKING WITH COURTS, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AGENCIES, AND CHILDRENS ADVOCATES TO DEVELOP APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO CHILD CUSTODY AND VISITATION ISSUES WHEN SEXUAL ASSAULT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A FACTOR. D) DESIGNING AND CONDUCTING PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS. E) PLANNING AND MONITORING THE DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS AND GRANT FUNDS TO THEIR STATE OR TERRITORY. F) COLLABORATING WITH AND INFORMING FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE SEXUAL ASSAULT.

COALITION AND CAPACITY BUILDING

SEXUAL VIOLENCE COALITION BUILDING AND INTERVENTION IN MAINE

FY 2021 OVW STATE AND TERRITORY COALITIONS GRANT PROGRAM

THE ELDER JUSTICE TRAINING PARTNERSHIP

SEXUAL ASSAULT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INTERVENTION

THE SEXUAL ASSAULT EXPERT WITNESS PROSECUTORS TRAINING (PROSECUTORS TRAINING) IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN MAINE. THE PROSECUTORS TRAINING WILL (1) ADDRESS A CURRENT GAP IN PROSECUTOR TRAINING, (2) BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PROSECUTORS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT EXPERTS, AND (3) ALLOW INCREASED COMFORT AND EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH PROSECUTORS AND EXPERTS IN PROVIDING EXPERT TESTIMONY IN CONTESTED SEXUAL ASSAULT PROCEEDINGS. THIS FUNDING WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE A TWO-DAY INTENSIVE MOCK TRIAL TRAINING TO PROSECUTORS FROM ACROSS THE STATE WITH ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP REMOTE TRAINING AND SUPPORT. THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRAINING WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE USE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMINERS AS EXPERT WITNESSES TO EXPLAIN DYNAMICS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND RESPOND TO DEFENSE EXPERTS. THE SECOND DAY OF THE TRAINING WILL FOCUS ON USING THE TESTIMONY OF FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS TO ADMIT FORENSIC INTERVIEW RECORDINGS INTO EVIDENCE IN CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. THERE WILL ALSO BE REMOTE FOLLOW-UP TRAININGS/PEER CALLS. THE SERVICE AREA WILL BE STATEWIDE ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF MAINE. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE PRIMARILY PROSECUTORS, ESPECIALLY THE NEARLY HALF OF PROSECUTORS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE FEWER THAN FIVE YEARS EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE NO SUBRECIPIENTS OF THIS PROJECT.

ASSESSING THE CAPACITY OF THE MAINE COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT TO ADVANCE PRIMARY PREVENTION AND HEALTH EQUITY. - THE PROPOSED PROJECT SEEKS TO ASSESS AND BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THE MAINE COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT (MECASA) AND ITS PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY AND ADVANCE PRIMARY PREVENTION IN MAINE, ESPECIALLY IN COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY OPPRESSED BY HIGHER RATES OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE. MECASA PLANS TO CONTRACT WITH A CONSULTANT WITH A BACKGROUND IN SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND/OR HEALTH EQUITY TO PERFORM A CAPACITY ASSESSMENT USING THE TOOL AND GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY THE CDC. THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED, MECASA EXPECTS TO ACHIEVE ALL THE SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES IDENTIFIED IN THE LOGIC MODEL INCLUDED IN THE APPROACH SECTION OF THE CDC PROJECT DESCRIPTION. THESE OUTCOMES INCLUDE: - INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF STAFF EXPERTISE AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES - INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF AVAILABLE DATA SOURCES USED TO IDENTIFY POPULATION(S) AND COMMUNITIES OF FOCUS - INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT PARTNERSHIPS, AND HOW THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE/ARE NOT MEETING THE CURRENT AND FUTURE PRIMARY PREVENTION AND HEALTH EQUITY WORK NEEDS - INCREASED UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVISION AND HOW WELL IT INCORPORATES HEALTH EQUITY

PROGRAM RECOVERY AND EXPANSION

THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES PILOT SITES PROGRAM SUPPORTS, STRENGTHENS, ENHANCES, AND EXPANDS EXISTING RESTORATIVE PRACTICE PROGRAMS THAT PREVENT OR ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES DEFINITION WITHIN 34 U.S.C. 12514(A)(3), AND BUILDS EVIDENCE FOR VICTIM-CENTERED, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ADDRESSING THESE HARMS.THE MAINE COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT WILL IMPLEMENT THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES PILOT SITES PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITHPENQUIS.UNDER THIS PROGRAM, THE MAINE COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ITS PARTNERS WILL RECEIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE DURATION OF THE AWARD THAT IS TAILORED TO THEIR DISTINCT APPROACH TO RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING CASES. THE MAINE COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE OVW-FUNDED EVALUATOR(S) TO HELP DEVELOP THE EVIDENCE BASE FOR RESTORATIVE PRACTICES TO PREVENT OR ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING.