The Family Refuge Center was recently awarded $73,145 through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) STOP grant funds.
The VAWA STOP funds were awarded by DJCS as authorized by Gov. Jim Justice. AWA STOP funds are made available to states from the federal funding with the goal of developing and strengthening effective responses to sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking.
Family Refuge Center is the lead applicant on the grant, and through a partnership with a law enforcement agency and the county’s prosecutor’s office, Family Refuge Center creates a STOP team. The role of the STOP team is to develop and review protocols to respond to the above listed crimes. This is the 30th year that FRC has been successful in obtaining VAWA STOP funds.
Kenosha Davenport, executive director for FRC, states that this is one of the most rewarding grant opportunities to write for because FRC can give back to the community through funding. While the grant award for Greenbrier County is $48,450, the funds are allocated to the core members of the STOP team.
The allocations are as follows: $16,838 goes to the Greenbrier County Prosecutor’s Office and $12,047 is allocated for Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department to fund a portion of a deputy’s salary and $19,565 is allocated to Family Refuge Center to help fund a portion of an advocate’s salary to provide supportive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The Family Refuge Center was awarded a second grant for Monroe County in the amount of $24,695. These funds were awarded to continue the work of the STOP team in Monroe County. The Monroe County Prosecutor’s office was allocated $5,281 to fund a portion of a salary for an assistant prosecutor; and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department was allocated $2,620 to cover the overtime for deputies that is related to the investigation of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases. $16,794 is allocated to Family Refuge Center to help fund a portion of an advocate’s salary to provide supportive services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
During a time when county funds in Greenbrier and Monroe Counties are tight, Davenport states she is honored to be able to partner with prosecutor’s offices and law enforcement agencies. “Not only are we working to improve services for victims and survivors, but we are working to help our communities. Most people see nonprofits as groups that are ‘asking for funds,’ but in many cases, we are long-term economic drivers in our communities.”
If you or someone that you know is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, please know you do not have to face it alone, there are advocates at Family Refuge Center that can assist you. Those interested in services, can call 304-645-6334. Family Refuge Center is a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and supportive services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or elder abuse in Greenbrier, Monroe, and Pocahontas Counties. While FRC provides services in Mercer County, it is limited to survivors of sexual assault.
