U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced $1,398,310 in federal funding for Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. Specifically, $700,000 will be used towards Oswego County Opportunities’ Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Assistance Program and $698,310 will be used for the Consolidated and Technical Assistance Grant Program to Address Children and Youth Experiencing Domestic and Sexual Violence and Engage Men and Boys as Allies. The funding was allocated through the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women.
“Domestic and dating violence is never acceptable and we must do all we can to prevent it in the first place, and to take care of those who are victimized by it, as well. Fortunately, there are organizations like Oswego County Opportunities dedicated to providing outreach and counselling to victims and educating the public on how they can help stop these terrible attacks on women and girls,” said Senator Schumer. “Eliminating domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking starts with educating residents and this investment will do just that. I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure organizations like Oswego County Opportunities have the resources they need to combat these horrible crimes.”
“This critical federal funding will help the Oswego County Opportunities develop and facilitate a wide range of programs to better assist domestic violence survivors,”said Senator Gillibrand. “Domestic violence is a serious problem and we need to work towards creating a safe environment for families. By increasing access to prevention programs we can help provide New York families and survivors with the support they need to be protected and put their lives back together.”
The Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Assistance Program implements provisions of the Violence Against Women Act and provides grant funding to establish victim services in rural communities to child, youth, and adult victims, increase safety awareness programs, and work with law enforcement to reduce cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking assistance. The Consolidated Youth Program supports child, youth, and young adult centered prevention, intervention, and treatment services. The program also seeks to engage men through community organizing and outreach to train them as allies against domestic violence.
Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. is a private non-profit organization dedicated to increase awareness about domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking through educative and outreach initiatives, building community partnerships, and engaging with local leaders.