Bucks County Domestic Violence Initiative

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

One of the largest community-based crime victim assistance programs in Pennsylvania, Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) supports, counsels, and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes and seeks to reduce violence in Bucks County, PA through advocacy, community education, and prevention programs. Through its work, NOVA helps to improve the capacity of the criminal justice system to effectively serve victims and supports schools and communities to reduce criminal victimization through its prevention activities. This proposal will assist young victims of crime and abuse in recovering from the trauma of violence, promote early intervention with young victims, and reduce cyber bullying and cyber crime by youth through skill building and victim empathy training. NOVA will use their 2009 Congressionally Selected Award to ensure timely and accessible counseling to help 105 child victims of crime and abuse recover from the trauma of victimization through its mobile school counseling program, and reduce perpetrating behaviors among youth utilizing technology through the provision of 250 skill building programs to 6,250 students.

NCA/NCF