Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly welcomed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health announcement that it has awarded a federal grant to the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault (ICESA). The College Sexual Assault Policy and Prevention Initiative grant will help ICESA fund their “Ending College Campus Sexual Assault” plan and coordinate with other Indiana partners. Indiana has been without a statewide prevention education program or coordinated effort to address sexual assault on college campuses for nearly two years.
Donnelly, who wrote a letter of support for ICESA’s application, said, “I’m deeply concerned about incidence of sexual assault on college and university campuses, particularly in Indiana. All Hoosier students deserve to get an education without fearing for their personal safety, and this grant will give the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault important resources to help college campuses in Indiana better address this serious issue.”
Tracey Horth Krueger, Interim Director, Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault, said, “The Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault is honored to receive this grant to work collaboratively with 9 colleges and universities throughout Indiana to address the crime of rape on campus. With our partners, we are committed to building coordinated and effective polices, trauma informed victim centered services and primary prevention strategies that will ensure victims will have the services and response they deserve, perpetrators are held accountable, and a culture is created where rape will not be tolerated. We are grateful for the continued support of Senator Donnelly as he continues to be an ally in the work to end sexual violence.”
ICESA will use the federal grant to partner with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, IUPUI, Marian University, University of Indianapolis, Franklin College, DePauw University, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IUPUC, Butler University, Purdue University, and St. Mary’s College, and several domestic and sexual violence nonprofit organizations to develop a comprehensive training and communications program.
Donnelly also worked with ICESA to help the organization expedite the process to get their nonprofit status approved so that they could be eligible to apply for federal funds.
For more information on how Senator Donnelly’s office can assist cities, municipalities, and groups applying for federal grants, please visit http://www.donnelly.senate.gov/help/grants.