Atlanta, GA – Today, the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) is thrilled to announce a $50M grant awarded by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget to support victim service providers. The grant award is supported from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund provided in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) legislation, in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. We are grateful for the commitment demonstrated by the Governor’s Office to the victim service provider community and Georgians who are victims of crime. 

In Georgia, victim services funding supports sexual assault centers, domestic violence shelters, child advocates, child advocacy centers, court appointed special advocates, anti-sex trafficking programs for child and adult victims, programs for homicide survivors, and other programs helping victims and survivors of crime. These services were already in high demand throughout the pandemic as rates of violence surged. The economic harms incurred by victim service providers as a result of COIVD-19 have only increased as crime rates in Georgia continue to rise, causing more victimized adults and children to seek services, and as courts open to address the backlog caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. These victim service providers have faced significant challenges due to the pandemic’s increased demand for their very important services and changing operational needs, as well as declines in revenue sources such as donations and fees. 

The CJCC Victim Assistance Division will administer the Victim Service Provider ARPA grant program intended to provide support in responding to the economic and public health impacts of COVID-19 and efforts to contain the effects on communities, residents, and businesses to reduce and respond to the increased violence due to the pandemic.  

The grant program will be eligible for programs that currently manage an active award administered by CJCC. CJCC will be sending out announcements with further instructions and important dates to begin implementing the grant program, including a virtual workshop and Release for Applications (RFA). 

Gov. Kemp Announces More Than $415M in Awards to Address Negative Economic Impact Caused by COVID-19 (madmimi.com)

 

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About the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)

Created by the Georgia General Assembly in 1981 as an Executive Branch agency, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) represents the culmination of many efforts to establish a statewide body that would build consensus and unity among the State's diverse and interdependent, criminal justice system components. For more information visit the CJCC website: https://cjcc.georgia.gov/.

CONTACT:
Dannielle Lewis – Communications Director
[email protected]

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