State of Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will distribute Federal funding through statewide grant program for certified domestic violence shelter programs
Atlanta, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering new resources to increase support services for victims of domestic violence, stalking, and assault across Georgia.
Sen. Ossoff successfully secured bipartisan support in Congress to boost domestic violence prevention and support resources for communities across the state.
Sen. Ossoff is delivering $3 million to the State of Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which will then accept grant applications from certified domestic violence shelter programs statewide seeking funding.
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will soon send out announcements with further instructions and important dates to begin implementing the grant program, including a virtual workshop and Release for Applications (RFA).
“We have a domestic violence crisis in the State of Georgia with insufficient resources to address this crisis and to help victims and survivors of domestic violence,” Sen. Ossoff said. “I’ve made this a very high priority, and that’s why I’m delivering substantial new resources to the State of Georgia to strengthen programs that support victims and address domestic violence in our state.”
“The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council extends our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Senator Ossoff and his office for granting our CDS request for $3M to support critical domestic violence services in Georgia. This invaluable project will direct necessary grant funds to domestic violence victim-serving agencies to provide immediate shelter and related victim services such as therapy, counseling, and legal advocacy; and promote community awareness and education. This grant funding will also aid in building capacity around trauma-informed practices and engage victim service providers in training efforts to strengthen and improve the provision of services to victims of domestic violence,” said Jay Neal, Executive Director for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
“The 47 certified DV shelters that serve all 159 counties in Georgia have had to develop innovative strategies to meet the growing request for services such as emergency shelter/housing, counseling, emergency food, clothing needs, financial assistance, and legal advocacy. However, for many agencies, these efforts are not enough to meet all requests for services and to ensure that victims not only receive help for their basic human needs but are met with a continuum of care that addresses domestic violence trauma and other social determinants of health that impact safety and security. The grant award will support domestic violence victim-serving agencies in meeting the complex needs of victims of domestic violence and their dependents on their journey to seek safety, stability, and healing,” Neal continued.
According to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, there was a 13% increase in crisis calls to Georgia’s family violence and sexual assault agencies between 2021 and 2022. Across the state, 37.4% of women and 30.4% of men experience physical or sexual violence and stalking from their intimate partners.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to protect Georgians from abuse.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation.
As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, Sen. Ossoff launched a bipartisan inquiry into the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) following reports that children in the care of Georgia’s state government have been subjected to abuse and neglect.
Sen. Ossoff secured the $3 million for Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council with bipartisan support through last year’s government funding package.
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