Amata Highlights $353,303 OVW Grant for Efforts in American Samoa

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is highlighting notice of $353,303 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Justice for the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sex Violence.

The one-year grant is from the DOJ's Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) for the State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions program.

"Thank you especially to Fuatino Jennifer Tofaeono for her dedicated work both with the Alliance and specifically to qualify for this grant for American Samoa. Congratulations to the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence," said Congresswoman Amata. "Next month is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we all have a role in helping anyone who might be vulnerable to prevent these crimes in American Samoa."

The OVW State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program, (Coalitions Program, CFDA 16.556) is authorized by Congress (34 U.S.C. § 10441(c) and 34 U.S.C. § 12511(d).

This program supports the critical work of state and territory domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions. It is a set-aside program under the OVW STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program statute and also includes a statutory set aside from the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) statute, specifically for state and territory sexual assault coalitions.

Grant funds authorized under the STOP set-aside may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

1. Coordinating state and territory victim services activities.

2. Collaborating and coordinating with federal, state, territory, and local entities engaged in violence against women activities.

Grant funds authorized under the SASP set-aside may be used for one or more of the following purposes:

a) Working with local sexual assault programs and other providers of direct services to encourage appropriate responses to sexual assault within the state or territory.

b) Working with judicial or law enforcement agencies to encourage appropriate responses to sexual assault cases.

c) Working with courts, child protective services agencies, and children's advocates to develop appropriate responses to child custody and visitation issues when sexual assault has been determined to be a factor.

d) Designing and conducting public education campaigns.

e) Planning and monitoring the distribution of grants and grant funds to their state or territory.

f) Collaborating with and informing federal, state, or local public officials and agencies to develop and implement policies to reduce or eliminate sexual assault.

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