Next Step Domestic Violence Project

NEXTSTEP LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

NEXT STEP LEGAL ASSISTANCE 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: 1) IDENTIFY, ASSESS, AND APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; 2) ESTABLISH AND EXPAND VICTIM SERVICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS; 3) INCREASE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, BY (A) DEALING DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING; AND (B) CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND PREVENT THESE CRIMES; AND 4) DEVELOP, EXPAND, IMPLEMENT, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION OR SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER PROGRAMS. GRANTEES MUST USE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR PROJECTS: 1) 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; 2) PROVIDE TREATMENT, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM VICTIM AND POPULATION SPECIFIC SERVICES TO ADULT AND MINOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; 3) WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES DIRECTED TOWARD SUCH ISSUES; 4) DEVELOP, ENLARGE, OR STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS ADDRESSING SEXUAL ASSAULT; AND 5) DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF WHO RESIDE IN REMOTE RURAL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AREAS. THROUGH THIS NEW OVW RURAL PROGRAM PROJECT, NEXT STEP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANCOCK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE, NORTHERN LIGHT HOSPITAL, AND MACHIAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, WILL IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT COLLABORATION FOR SURVIVOR SAFETY IN RURAL DOWN-EAST MAINE PROGRAM. THIS VICTIM SERVICE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREAS: 1, 2, AND 3 FOR WASHINGTON AND HANCOCK COUNTIES IN MAINE. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) EXPANDING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM TO INCLUDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, JAIL ADMINISTRATION, HOSPITAL PERSONNEL, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS; 2) ADDING TWO NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE POSITIONS TO LIAISE WITH VICTIMS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL; SUPPORT SURVIVORS DURING FORENSIC EXAMS AND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS; AND PROVIDE IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UP AND CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SERVICES; AND 3) PROVIDING TRAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY IN CASES OF NON-FATAL STRANGULATION.

THE IMPROVING CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING GRANT PROGRAM IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 10461-10465 AND IMPLEMENTED THROUGH REGULATIONS AT 28 C.F.R. PART 90, SUBPART D. THE PROGRAM FOSTERS VICTIM SAFETY AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY IN CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING BY ENCOURAGING STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND COURTS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND SHARE IDEAS THAT WILL RESULT IN EFFECTIVELY RESPONDING TO THESE CRIMES. AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE DEVELOPMENT, REVITALIZATION, OR ENHANCEMENT OF A COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, VICTIM SERVICES PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING. THE GRANTEE, IN COLLABORATION WITH ITS PROJECT PARTNERS, WILL USE THIS ICJR AWARD TO IMPROVE THEIR JURISDICTIONS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING BY IMPLEMENTING ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON VICTIM SAFETY AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE PROJECT ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT WILL: 1) IDENTIFY A PROJECT COORDINATOR TO LEAD THE PROJECT AND ANY ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM; 2) COMPLETE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS TO INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN; 3) IDENTIFY EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICES OR TOOLS THAT MAY BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE AGENCY AND COMMUNITY LEVEL; 4) PARTICIPATE IN MANDATED OVW TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING UTILIZING OVW CULTURALLY SPECIFIC AND UNDERSERVED TTA PROVIDERS THROUGH THIS NEW GRANTS TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE PROJECT, THE NEXT STEP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROJECT INC., IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WASHINGTON COUNTY, ME WILL IMPLEMENT A PROJECT ADDRESSING PURPOSE AREA 5 FOR WASHINGTON AND HANCOCK COUNTIES, ME. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS PRIORITY AREAS 1, 2, AND 4. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) PARTICIPATE IN AN ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY NEEDS, OBTAIN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING IDENTIFIED IN THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AND IDENTIFY EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES AND TOOLS THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE AGENCY AND COMMUNITY LEVEL; 2) HIRE AND TRAIN A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE 3) INCREASE ADVOCATE/LAW ENFORCEMENT COLLABORATION THROUGH WEEKLY MEETINGS; 4) PROVIDE TRAINING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE ODARA RISK ASSESSMENT AND OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO STRANGULATION, SEX TRAFFICKING, AND STALKING; 5) PRODUCE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC OUTREACH MATERIALS TO ENGAGE SURVIVORS FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES; AND 6) DESIGN AND CONDUCT AND INSTITUTIONAL AUDIT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND SHARE FINDINGS WITH AFFECTED PARTIES.

ENHANCING THE SAFETY OF RURAL VICTIMS IN DOWNEAST MAINE

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SERVICES IN WASHINGTON COUNTY MAINE