Durbin Announces Nearly $4 Million in Funding to Enhance Illinois Justice Programs Focused on Addressing Violence Against Women
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a total of $3,859,210 in grants through the Office of Violence Against Women to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. These programs provide support and services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in a number of Illinois communities through research and education initiatives, as well as legal assistance and support services.
“The funding announced today will help ensure that all victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Illinois have a voice in our justice system and access to high-quality support services,” Durbin said.
The following Illinois entities and programs will receive funding:
- Alliance of Local Service Organizations, Chicago, Illinois: $2,998,957 in funding has been awarded to the Alliance of Local Service Organizations (ALSO) through the Office of Violence Against Women. This grant will be used to support ALSO’s STAAR Project and will allow them to continue serving local organizations as a provider of comprehensive technical assistance. ALSO will use this funding to offer conferences, trainings, and other resources to support service providers and law enforcement officials in their efforts to address violence against women.
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Chicago, Illinois: $373,779 in funding through the Office of Violence Against Women’s Sexual Assault Services Program has been awarded to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to support rape crisis centers and other forms of direct intervention. ICJIA will use this grant to support programs that assist sexual assault victims navigate the medical and criminal justice systems.
- Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Springfield, Illinois: $117,344 in funding through the State Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program has been awarded to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault in order to support efforts to coordinate support services within Illinois for victims of sexual assault. This funding will be used to provide rape crisis centers with funding, training and technical assistance.
- Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Springfield, Illinois: $80,380 in funding through the State Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program has been awarded to the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence in order to support efforts to coordinate support services within Illinois for victims of domestic violence. This funding will be used to provide member shelters and victim service programs in Illinois with funding, training and technical assistance.
- City of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois: $650,000 in funding has been awarded to the City of Chicago through the Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program in order to increase supervised visitation and exchange options for families with a history of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault or stalking. Chicago will use this funding in collaboration with partner organizations Apna Ghar, Mujeres Latinas en Acción, Metropolitan Family Services, and the Cook County Circuit Court, in order to strengthen and enhance existing program services at its three supervised visitation sites.
- Korean American Women In Need (KAN-WIN), Chicago, Illinois: $288,750 in funding through the Office on Violence Against Women’s Sexual Assault Services Program has been awarded to provide culturally specific services to women and children in Chicago’s Korean-American community. Because survivors of sexual assault are more likely to seek assistance from organizations that are familiar with their culture, language, and background, KAN-WIN will use this grant to strengthen its direct services and outreach to the Asian immigrant community.