Amata Welcomes $617,640 for OVW Services
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming notice this week of $617,640 in federal funds for the STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program.
The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program (STOP Formula Grant Program) was authorized by the historic Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994, then reauthorized and funded currently by Congress through yearly appropriations.
“Thank you to our Criminal Justice Planning Agency for their important work in American Samoa and their efforts that go into obtaining grants to support these critical services, and thank you to Deputy Director Dr. Celestine Faumuina-Nix,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you also to the U.S. Department of Justice under Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the national OVW offices for this federal support to protect and provide resources in domestic violence cases.”
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women, administer justice, and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The STOP Formula Grant Program encourages partnerships between law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The goal of the grant program is to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services, including community based, culturally specific services, in these cases.
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