Sexual Violence Direct Services and Primary Prevention in Passaic County Grant

The New Jersey Department of Children and Families' Division on Women is set to award funding for Sexual Violence Direct Services and Primary Prevention in Passaic County. This initiative aims to provide essential services such as crisis intervention, counseling, and victim advocacy to survivors of sexual violence. The program will also focus on the primary prevention of such violence by addressing its root causes through a public health approach, utilizing the Socio-Ecological Model.

The State of New Jersey Department of Childeren and Families (DCF) is a family and child serving agency, working to assist New Jersey residents in being or becoming safe, healthy, and connected. In 1974, the Division on Women (DOW) was established as a pioneering state agency to create, promote, and expand the rights and opportunities for all women throughout the state. DOW is housed within DCF and administers state and federal domestic violence and sexual violence contracts with agencies in every county in New Jersey. DOW collaborates with government and non-government agencies on federal, state and county levels to ensure the compassionate treatment of all survivors, and provides resources, support and technical assistance to agencies carrying out the work.
Sexual Violence Direct Services and Primary Prevention in Passaic County
Summary Program Description
The New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Division on Women (DOW) announces its intent to issue one award for the provision of Sexual Violence Core Services (hereafter Sexual Violence) in Passaic County, which shall consist of two contracted programs: 1) Sexual Violence Direct Service; and 2) Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence (PPSV).
Sexual Violence funding shall support direct services, crisis intervention, counseling, victim advocacy, prevention, and related assistance to victims/survivors of sexual assault in Passaic County.  Sexual Violence Direct Service (SVDS) includes but is not limited to the following:
24-hour/ 7-day Hotline and Information/ReferralCrisis InterventionCounselingVictim AdvocacyLegal AdvocacyMedical Accompaniment TransportationServices for ChildrenPrevention ActivitiesCommunity Education and Partnerships
Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence (PPSV) focuses on preventing acts of sexual violence before they occur. This involves addressing the root causes and social norms that contribute to perpetration of sexual violence. DCF-DOW employs a public health approach utilizing the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) championed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a prevention framework. The SEM identifies four levels that influence sexual violence: (1) individual – attitudes beliefs and behaviors of individuals; (2) relationship – dynamics with friendships, intimate partners, and peers; (3) community – social norms, community resources and access to services; and (4) society – local norms, policies and laws.