Contacts:
Emily Lundgard, elundgard@cuyahogacounty.us
Christopher Harris, cbharris@cuyahogacounty.us

CLEVELAND - Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish today announced that the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Safety and Justice Services awarded close to half a million dollars in Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant funds to community organizations, subject to approval of County Council.

“Working to prevent domestic violence is, and will continue to be, an important priority of our administration,” said Budish. “I’m grateful the Department of Justice, along with the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice, awarded our county with these funds, so that our various agencies may support vital community services for those affected by domestic violence.”

VAWA grant funds were awarded to the following programs:

• Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center in the amount of $125,340.15 for the Latina Domestic Violence Project.
• City of Cleveland, Law Department in the amount of $125,079.21 for the Cleveland Domestic Violence Project.
• City of Cleveland, Public Safety Department in the amount of $76,909.13 for the Cleveland Domestic Violence Project.
• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in the amount of $65,790.84 for direct services for survivors of sexual assault.
• City of Cleveland, Public Safety Department in the amount of $29,998.80 for the Sexual Assault Advocate Project.
• Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland in the amount of $27,167.04 for the Family Violence Victims Assistance and Legal Advocacy Project.
• City of Bedford, Municipal Court in the amount of $25,015.84 for the Domestic Violence Victim’s Program.

Funds awarded through VAWA will be used to provide a variety of services to victims of domestic violence and intimate partner violence, which include prosecution, investigation of crimes, court advocacy for victims, crisis intervention, safety planning, and victim services to underserved populations.

“Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center is grateful for the VAWA STOP funds we receive which allow our agency to serve Latina victims of domestic violence providing crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, trauma counseling and a support group,” said Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center CEO Linda Johanek. “The funds offer the opportunity for survivors to be self-sufficient and begin the healing process toward health and wellness.”

Both the Domestic Violence Center and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center are onsite partners located within the newly-opened Cuyahoga County Family Justice Center.

“Our neighbors who are survivors of rape and sexual abuse deserve help. This funding makes it easier for survivors to get immediately connected to supportive, healing services such as counseling,” said Cleveland Rape Crisis Center President & CEO Sondra Miller. “This grant also allows Cleveland Rape Crisis Center to hire a Victim Specialist and Advocate to work alongside detectives in the Cleveland Division of Police, Sex Crimes & Child Abuse Unit. Having an independent advocate working directly with our criminal justice partners increases the chances that a victim of rape can recover, heal and thrive.”

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women awarded Cuyahoga County with $475,301.01 in VAWA funds. The VAWA was first enacted in 1994, and Cuyahoga County has administered the grant locally since fiscal year 1996. This federally mandated act has created positive change through an emphasized coordinated community approach to reduce violence against women and to create mutually respectful partnerships between the justice system and victim services.