September 07, 2016

Manchin and Capito Announce New Funding to Combat Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) announced that the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services will receive $147,891, and the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence will receive $91,641 respectively from the Grants to State Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program. This funding will help provide technical assistance and support infrastructure to assist victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

“Ensuring every woman and child is free from domestic violence must be one of our highest priorities,” Senator Manchin said. “And that begins with supporting programs like the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services that make a tremendous difference in the lives of victims across the state. As a staunch supporter of the Violence Against Women Act, I am proud that this funding will continue to support the life changing work that these programs conduct.”

“The West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services and the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence each play an important role in aiding the victims of abuse and helping to prevent future crimes. Anyone who has suffered from domestic violence or sexual assault deserves access to resources that will keep them safe and help them heal. This funding, which I supported as a member of the Appropriations Committee, will help ensure that these critical services are provided,” said Senator Capito.

The Grants to State Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women, provides funding to assist state coalitions with victim services. State coalitions have played a critical role in advancing the goals of the Violence Against Women Act of 2000, serving as a collective voice to end violence against women through collaboration with federal, state and local organizations.

State coalitions provide support to member rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and victim service programs, and conduct activities such as providing technical assistance to member agencies, expanding technological capacity, conducting community-based meetings and workshops, increasing the representation of underserved populations, and coordinating law enforcement agencies to develop or enhance strategies to address identified problems.

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