Program areas at SDNAFVSA
Training, prevention, and advocacy and Sexual Assault response/preventionthe rural grant provides victim services and outreach to the 60 rural counties in South Dakota. Through this grant 12 rural advocates provided victim services between july 2022-june 2023 to 454 victims (duplicated) and 486 victims (unduplicated). These services included crisis intervention, transportation, victim/survivor advocacy, court accompaniment, and many other support services in areas of the state that have little to no resources. The advocates provided 15 trainings on domestic Violence and Sexual Assault to professionals in the field and 83 education events to community members and students. Technical assistance is provided on a monthly basis to the advocates through webinars provided by the Network, information on webinars from ta providers, and opportunities for local and statewide training and conferences. All of the advocates have had the opportunity to hear national speakers on domestic Violence and Sexual Assault issues. All of the rural advocates participate in coordinated community response teams and many are currently active with a Sexual Assault response team. The advocates who do not have a sart team in their area are working to establish one in their service areas. Training for law enforcement is being completed by the advocates in some areas. This has included meeting with local officers to discuss Sexual Assault dynamics and work to have referrals sent to the victim advocate in other areas. This has included setting up opportunities for law enforcement to attend larger trainings.the saki team completed an inventory of Sexual Assault kits, working with all jurisdictions to ensure that all kits had been submitted for testing. This inventory showed marked improvement from a previous inventory due to legislation passed in 2016 for the process of collecting and testing kits. Technical assistance was provided to 11 prosecutors on Sexual Assault cases, and we are working on a research project with usd that will allow us to know more about Sexual Assault in South Dakota.
Transitional housing the ovw transitional housing grant provides rental assistance to victims/survivors who are homeless as a result of domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, dating Violence, or stalking. The funds in this grant program are also used to provide case management and occupational therapy to victims/survivors. The Network partners with Missouri shores domestic Violence center, working Against Violence incorporated, children's home shelter for Family safety, and call to freedom to provide these essential services statewide. During the fy22-23, transitional housing rental assistance was provided to 13 survivors. Case management and occupational therapy services were also provided during that time.
Criminal/civil justice and advocacyfrom july 1, 2022 to june 30, 2023, on the improving criminal justice response grant, 99 trainings were provided to 899 professionals on topics related to domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, stalking and human trafficking. 231 victims received direct advocacy services during this time. Law enforcement partners responded to calls for assistance in 2,472 domestic Violence cases, 326 Sexual Assault cases, and 223 stalking cases.
Civil legal assistancefrom july 1, 2022 to june 30, 2023, grant attorneys contracted for the legal assistance for victims project were able to provide civil legal service to 23 victims of domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and stalking. Funded through this grant are an attorney in rapid city who covers western South Dakota; an attorney in aberdeen, sd; two attorneys in sioux falls, sd who cover the eastern side of the state; and a newly added attorney in phillip who will begin working with survivors in central sd. Additionally, the Network contracts with an immigration attorney who assists victims with vawa self-petition, u visas, and other immigration matters related to domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and stalking. The Network contracts with an attorney and firm to provide civil legal services regarding immigration issues that are related to domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and stalking.