FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 14, 2015
Contact: Marisa Kaufman (Schumer), 646-438-0113
Rowhan Baptiste (Gillibrand), 202-224-3873
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $425,000 TO SUPPORT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN SUFFOLK COUNTY
Funding for Long Island Against Domestic Violence Will be used to Increase Accessibility and Support Services
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $425,000 in federal funding to the Long Island Against Domestic Violence in Suffolk County. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women and will be used to bolster assistance programs for survivors of domestic violence.
“Long Island Against Domestic Violence provides invaluable services to countless Long Islanders who have been victims of domestic violence and abuse. This federal investment will help send an unequivocal message that violence against women will not be tolerated. I am pleased that the Department of Justice has provided this funding and I will continue to fight to ensure that victims of domestic violence have the services they need,” said Senator Schumer.
“This federal funding will help Long Island Against Domestic Violence advance its wide range of support services to better protect and assist survivors,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help facilitate programs to increase accessibility and identify a plan to advance future services to help victims of domestic violence.”
The Long Island Against Domestic Violence will collaborate with the Head Injury Association to establish and strengthen organizational relationships to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities who are victims of violence and abuse.
“L.I. Against Domestic Violence is very excited to be given an opportunity to work with our partner, the Head Injury Association,” said Colleen Merlo Executive Director of LI Against Domestic Violence. “It has been our experience that there has been limited communication, cross-referrals and trainings taking place for victims of domestic violence where brain injury is a factor. We know that this is a contradiction to the evidence that both disciplinary teams are interacting with the same individuals. Through this grant our communities will be better severed by a holistic and coordinated system of care that is responsive to the needs of a person as viewed from both the perspective of a victim of domestic violence and a person with disability.”
The project is separated into two phases: the planning and development phase and the implementation phase. The planning and development phase will be completed by December 30, 2016. The implementation phase will be completed by September 30, 2018.
The Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grants Program was statutorily created in the Violence Against Women Act of 2000 and reauthorized by subsequent legislation. The goal of the Disability Grant Program is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that results in accessible, safe and effective services for individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and accountability for perpetrators of such crimes.
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