New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault

THIS PROJECT AIMS TO EXPAND ACCESSIBILITY CAPABILITIES IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE SEXUAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS WITH MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES ACROSS NEW JERSEY (NJ), INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SURVIVORS OF COLOR, LGBTQ SURVIVORS, SURVIVORS WITH DISABILITIES, DEAF/HARD OF HEARING (DHH) SURVIVORS, AND SURVIVORS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.

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)).

FY 2019 NJ SA COALITION AWARD

NJCASA COALITIONS PROJECT

OVW STATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT COALITION PROGRAM PROJECT

RPE: ENHANCING CAPACITY FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION

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.

STATE SEXUAL ASSUALT COALITION PROGRAM

BUILDING CAPACITY AND PUBLIC POLICY

STATE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COALITIONS PROGRAM

FY 2021 OVW STATE AND TERRITORY COALITIONS GRANT PROGRAM

THE NEW JERSEY COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT NJCASA (NJCASA) IS ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE ANTI-SEXUAL VIOLENCE MOVEMENT IN NEW JERSEY AND THE CAPACITY BUILDING SPECIALIST WORKING WITH ALL 21 COUNTY-BASED RAPE CRISIS CENTERS AND THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE. THESE AGENCIES OFFER 24-HOUR HOTLINES AND CRISIS INTERVENTION, COUNSELING AND EDUCATION, AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMING. THIS FUNDING WILL ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND SERVICE PROVISION ACROSS NEW JERSEY AND TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES AND STRATEGIES TO MAKE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS MORE RESILIENT AND ADAPTIVE IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD. UNDER THIS PROJECT, NJCASA WILL COLLECT DATA AND EXAMINE (QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE) FROM VARIOUS PARTNERS, INCLUDING THEIR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS, MEMBERS OF A NEW COMMUNITY COUNCIL, AND EXISTING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICE PROVIDER PARTNERS THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. NJCASA WILL ALSO CONDUCT ROBUST COMMUNITY OUTREACH, COORDINATE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, AND HANDLE UPDATES AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION FROM/ABOUT THE GROUPS AND THEIR FINDINGS. ADDITIONALLY, NJCASA WILL RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF RESOURCES, WEBINARS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, AND PROVIDE TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS FOR PARTNERS AND ALLIES ACROSS THE STATE, SUCH AS COLLEAGUES IN THE AFOREMENTIONED GROUPS, AS WELL AS ALLIES IN RELATED FIELDS LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATION. NJCASA WILL ALSO WORK ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF A WEBSITE RESOURCE PAGE, PROVISION OF UPDATES ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND OTHER AVENUES AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND RELEASE OF A FINAL REPORT. COMBINED, THE PURPOSE OF THESE ACTIVITIES IS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN NJ POST-COVID, ESTABLISH PROGRAMMATIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR SUPPORTING THEM IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD, AND CREATE ADAPTABILITIES AND RESILIENCIES TO ADDRESS FUTURE PUBLIC CRISES AND POTENTIAL DISRUPTIONS IN SERVICES.

BUILDING CAPACITY AND PUBLIC POLICY

RPE - ASSESSING COALITION CAPACITY TO ADVANCE PRIMARY PREVENTION - SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ASSOCIATED WITH POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES (PHYSICAL AND MENTAL), AND THIS IS OFTEN EXACERBATED BY INEQUITIES THAT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES MOST OFTEN AFFECTED BY IT FACE. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, NJCASA WILL CONDUCT A PRIMARY PREVENTION CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF READINESS TO PLAN FOR AND IMPLEMENT A SERIES OF EQUITY-FOCUSED STRATEGIES; ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL DEVELOP AND SHARE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION STEPS TO PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT FINDINGS. THROUGHOUT, WE WILL USE A DATA-CENTERED APPROACH, AND PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE ASSESSING EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS TO DETERMINE GAPS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE HEALTH EQUITY ACROSS A NETWORK OF PARTNERS TO MAXIMIZE PROJECT IMPACT. THIS PROCESS WILL CULMINATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION STEPS TO ADVANCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE PRIMARY PREVENTION ACTIVITIES THAT ALSO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES, SPECIFICALLY ONES WHICH CAN BE CARRIED OUT IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO EXPAND OUR REACH. FURTHERMORE, THE PROJECT WILL DELVE INTO NUANCED ASPECTS OF NJCASA’S EXISTING WORK, SUCH AS EVALUATING THE ORGANIZATION’S POLICY CAPACITY AND RELATED AREAS THAT NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED, INCLUDING STAFF KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH LEGISLATURE TO INCREASE OUR IMPACT AROUND HEALTH EQUITY. IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE ASSESSING CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND CULTURAL HUMILITY, AS PER OUR CURRENT EVIDENCE-BASED OFFERINGS, TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE HAVING THE DESIRED EFFECT ON OUR COMMUNITIES AND IF THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE. FINALLY, IT WILL EXPLORE COLLABORATIONS WITH NON-TRADITIONAL PARTNERS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN MAINSTREAM SYSTEMS AND HYPER-LOCAL COMMUNITY-ROOTED SPACES OF INTERACTION WHERE IDEAS AND MESSAGES ARE REINFORCED, SUCH AS BARBERSHOPS AND HAIR SALONS.