Recognizing that abused women¹ and children living in rural West Virginia are faced with unique barriers to receiving assistance, the Division of Criminal Justice Services applied for and received funding from Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program through the Violence Against Women Grants Office.

Since Fiscal Year 1998, the Division of Criminal Justice Services has provided financial assistance to the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence to better research and serve diverse and traditionally underserved populations in rural communities statewide. Project activities focus on four underserved populations that exist in rural communities throughout West Virginia. These underserved populations include:

the elderly, aged 55 and above, where the perpetrators may be spouses, other family members, or other caretaker in non-institutional settings;

the disabled, in particular, physical disabilities including the loss or impairment of physical mobility, sight, hearing, and speech;

communities of color as an inclusive identification of Hispanics, Asians, African-Americans, Native Americans, and other non-Caucasian groups;

gay and lesbian communities.

1. Implement recommendations developed by the Advisor Committees in 1998 and 1999
2. Expand the training program for domestic violence services providers and community responders focusing on the particular situations and specialized need of the four traditionally underserved communities to enhance the delivery of services.
3. Develop and distribute domestic violence public information and education materials directed specifically at the four traditionally underseved groups.
4. To research, educate, and train on the co-existence of child victimization and domestic violence.

• FY 2006 Rural Program Monthly Statistical Report - To be used by grantees to meet Federal reporting guidelines.

Web sites and online services

Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community