Assistant U. S. Attorney KimThoa Hoang (619) 546-9397
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - Oct. 2, 2020
SAN DIEGO - U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded more than $5.8 million in grants to Native American tribes based in San Diego County to provide resources to crime victims, particularly victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Recipients include the Intertribal Court of Southern California, $1,428,927; the Pauma Band of Mission Indians, $900,000; San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians $900,000; Southern Indian Health Council, $614,433; and La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, $836,856 and $417,000. Additionally, this office previously announced that Valley Center-based Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition received a DOJ grant for $353,615 and the Pauma Band received $363,223.
“Violence against women has increased during the pandemic, making these funds more important than ever," said U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer. “This is one way for the Department of Justice to make sure that Indian women are protected and their attackers brought to justice. The grants announced today will also significantly expand the Intertribal Court’s capacity to provide victim services to all tribal members."
The Tribal Governments Program, Purpose Area 5 of the 2019 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, was created in Title IX of the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 and amended by 34 U.S.C. 10452. The Tribal Governments Program is designed to fulfill the following goals of Title IX: (1) decreasing the incidence of violent crime against Indian women; (2) strengthening the capacity of Indian tribes to exercise their sovereign authority to respond to violent crimes committed against Indian women; and (3) ensuring that perpetrators of violent crimes committed against Indian women are held accountable for their criminal behavior.
The Pauma Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized Tribe located in in San Diego County, California. With this funding, the Pauma Sexual Assault Response Team will: (1) increase tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking crimes; (2) strengthen the tribal justice interventions, including tribal law enforcement and prosecution; (3) enhance services to victims; (4) work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies; (5) provide legal assistance to victims in legal matters arising as a consequence of abuse or violence; (6) provide services to address the needs of youth who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking and the needs of youth and children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and (7) develop and promote legislation and policies. The Pauma Band of Mission Indians has partnered with Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition to plan and implement this project.
The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe located in San Diego County, California. With this funding, the San Pasqual Native Women’s Resource Center (NWRC) and the San Pasqual Public Safety Department will: (1) increase and improve tribal law enforcement response and follow-up to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking by hiring a dedicated officer; (2) expand the capacity of the Native Women’s Resource Center to provide timely intervention and supportive services; and (3) provide community education and outreach regarding prevention and intervention resources for domestic violence and other crimes of violence against Indian women. The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians has partnered with a community advisory committee and the Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition to plan and implement this project.
Southern Indian Health Council, Inc. (SIHC) is a tribal non-profit located in San Diego County, California. SIHC is a duly authorized designee of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the Campo Band of Mission Indians, the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the Jamul Indian Village of California, the La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians, the Manzanita Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, and the Viejas Band of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Viejas Reservation, all federally recognized tribes. The tribes individually have (1) authorized SIHC to submit an application on behalf of the tribe; and (2) stated its support for the project and its commitment to participate in the project upon receiving this funding. In general, SIHC provides medical, dental, and mental health care at four clinic locations in rural southeast San Diego County. SIHC has partnered with Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition to plan and implement this project. With this funding, SIHC will: (1) provide transitional housing assistance for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, or sex trafficking; (2) provide supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange; (3) increase tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking, by providing training to tribal staff and partners; (4) provide civil legal assistance to victims with legal issues arising out of the violence they experienced; and (5) provide services to youth that are victims or exposed to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
The La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians is a federally recognized tribe located in San Diego County, California. The La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians’ Avellaka Program works to address violence against Indian women by providing 24/7 crisis intervention services, court advocacy and accompaniment, transitional housing assistance, and community awareness and education. With this funding, the Avellaka Program will: (1) increase and enhance tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking crimes against Indian women; (2) work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies; and (3) provide transitional housing for victims. The Avellaka Program has partnered with the La Jolla Native Women’s Advisory Committee to plan and implement this project.
Further, the Tribal Victim Services grant award will enable La Jolla to (1) hire a 1.0 FTE Advocate for Youth; 2) retain the services of a consultant to help develop a strategic plan and conduct evaluation activities for the project; 3) retain the services of a videographer to help youth document digital stories and create PSAs targeting youth victims of crime; and 4) support the development of a Native Children's Advocacy Committee.
Under its award, Intertribal Court of Southern California (ICSC), located in Valley Center, will expand victim services for member tribes of their consortium. ICSC will hire four victim services program staff (Family Services Manager, Youth Services Advocate, Adult Services Manager, and an Administrative Assistant) to expand services to child, adolescent, and adult victims of crime; renovate a portion of the ICSC building to serve as a private waiting area for victims awaiting court proceedings; purchase a mobile office to house the four victim services staff; and contract with American Indian Development Associates LLC to conduct a needs assessment, create a Victim Services Program strategic plan, and assist with a two-year formative program performance plan in Year 1 and 2.
For information of the Valley Center-based Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition grant please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/department-justice-awards-1-million-grants-san-diego-county-organizations. For information on the first Pauma grant, please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/us-doj-office-violence-against-women-awards-363223-pauma-band-mission-indians-support.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
