The Department of Justice will provide $35.7 million in grants to help states provide support to victims of sexual assault. The Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program (SASP), run by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), will include 56 awards, one for each state plus five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, reports The Hill. “SASP funding helps sexual assault survivors from every walk of life access medical care, crisis intervention, advocacy and counseling, among other services,” said OVW Acting Director Allison Randall.
SASP grants are distributed to states and territories based on population, and funds are provided to nonprofits that provide direct aid to victims of sexual assault, including both adults and children. Sates often give funds to rape crisis centers, and those with larger Native American populations often give money to Tribal agencies that deal with the aftermath of sexual assault. The new SASP grants were announced in conjunction with the National Sexual Assault Conference, an annual meeting beginning this week.