OVW FY 2009 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Assistance Program

The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005) expanded the scope of the Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Assistance Program (Rural Program) to include sexual assault and stalking, and modified the eligibility criteria as well as the statutory purpose areas under which projects must be implemented. The Rural Program recognizes that child, youth and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking living in rural jurisdictions face unique barriers to receiving assistance and additional challenges rarely encountered in urban areas. The geographic isolation, economic structure, particularly strong social and cultural pressures, and lack of available services in rural jurisdictions significantly compound the problems confronted by those seeking support and services to end the violence in their lives and complicate the ability of the criminal justice system to investigate and prosecute domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking cases. In addition, socio-cultural, economic, and geographic barriers create difficulties for victim service providers and other social services professionals to identify and assist victims of these crimes. The primary purpose of the Rural Program is to enhance the safety of child, youth and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by supporting projects uniquely designed to address and prevent these crimes in rural jurisdictions. OVW welcomes applications that propose innovative solutions for achieving this goal. The Rural Program challenges victim advocates, law enforcement officers, pre-trial service personnel, prosecutors, judges and other court personnel, probation and parole officers, and leaders of faith-based and community organizations to collaborate to overcome the problem of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to ensure that victim safety is paramount in providing services to victims and their children.