WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $255,390 competitive grant to the Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa in Des Moines through the Grants to Enhance Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program.
"These funds will help provide assistance and support to sexual assault victims through specific cultural and linguistically specific services such as sign language," Grassley said.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Grants to Enhance Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program creates unique opportunities for targeted community-based organizations to address the critical needs of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking victims in a manner that affirms a victim's culture and effectively addresses language and communication barriers.
Each year, thousands of local Iowa organizations, colleges and universities, individuals and state agencies apply for competitive grants from the federal government. The funding is then awarded based on each local organization or individual's ability to meet criteria set by the federal entity.