Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs and the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence will receive a combined $211,181 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice.

"This funding represents a significant commitment to assisting the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and an effort to strengthen the abilities of our communities to respond to it," Bingaman said.

The Department of Justice today awarded the following grants:

New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs - $117,621:  The New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs will help to ensure that sexual violence is appropriately addressed in rural, reservation, border and urban areas of New Mexico by coordinating victim services among the state's 7 rape crisis centers and 32 mental health facilities providing rape crisis services, as well as other federal, state, and local entities.  The funding will assist in providing intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and those collaterally affected by the sexual assault.

New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence - $93,560:  The New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence will be able to strengthen the capacity of communities and service providers in assisting victims of domestic violence, especially those from underserved populations, by advocating for positive social change, providing training, building alliances, securing resources and developing public policy to eliminate domestic violence.