Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program recently received a $60,000 grant from the Iowa West Foundation to support program needs and expand services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The program mainly serves 9 southwest Iowa counties including: Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby.
The Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program provides crisis intervention services to primary and secondary survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The program, based in Council Bluffs, IA, offers a 24-hour crisis phone line, emergency shelter, court and medical advocacy, in-depth case management and much more.
According to the Office of the Iowa Secretary of State, approximately one third of Iowans (35 percent women and 29 percent men) reported experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking from their partner. A report from the American Public Health Association cites that there has been a 14 percent increase in domestic violence incidents since the Covid-19 pandemic. The need for awareness, education and supportive services are greatly needed. Last year alone, the Catholic Charities’ program provided services to 1,356 survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking.
The Iowa West Foundation’s mission is to improve lives and communities for current and future generations. Along with providing the funding assistance, Iowa West Foundation is also invested in empowering the efforts of community collaboration, leadership development and people-focused outcome in the community.
This grant will enable the Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program to provide more comprehensive, one on one supportive services for survivors such as maintaining their safety, sustaining their housing, obtaining resources and referrals for other needed services in the community, and supplying informational, educational and emotional support.
Additionally, grant funding will be used to create trainings, informational materials and presentations to build awareness on the indicators of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in the community. There will also be an added focused programming component to raise awareness on these topics among the Hispanic community by providing culturally specific services through a team of bi-cultural advocates.
We are grateful to the Iowa West Foundation for their support of the Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program.