PAINTSVILLE, Ky. -- Congressman Hal Rogers applauds the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women for awarding a $500,000 grant to the Johnson County Fiscal Court to improve criminal justice response and boost protections for local victims of violence. The county will work in collaboration with the Mountain Comprehensive Care Center and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department to implement the program. 

"Each year, greater awareness and new services are being added to magnify the voices of women across the country who are victims of violence. This grant will go a long way to ensure women in Johnson County have access to necessary resources and community support," said Congressman Rogers. "As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have been a long-time advocate for federal funding that works to uphold justice and protects those most in need." 

The federal program, created through the Violence Against Women Act, aims to enhance victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, by promoting a coordinated community response to these crimes. 

"We are very happy to be the recipient of funds from the Office on Violence Against Women that we will pass through to our community partner, Mountain Comprehensive Care Center," said Mark McKenzie, Johnson County Judge Executive. "The Improving Criminal Justice Response grant will fund the Johnson County Advocacy Program which provides a dedicated law enforcement officer to serve protection orders and two dedicated advocates to assist victims as they navigate the court system as well as provide emotional support. The funding for the Advocacy Program in Johnson County will allow Mountain Comp to continue to provide a valuable service, while sustaining good jobs in our community."

The funding will be used to target four areas to support the Johnson County Advocacy Program, including: 1.) a dedicated deputy to serve protection orders, provide court testimony, and coordinate services with advocates; 2.) support a nongovernmental victim advocate to serve victims of intimate partner violence; 3.) revise the Johnson County Sheriff's Department's policies, procedures and protocols to reflect best practices in addressing intimate partner violence; 4.) and conduct quarterly trainings for advocates, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and community partners on evidence-based practices, including trauma-informed care, for addressing the needs of rural victims with behavioral health disabilities and victims of human trafficking.

To learn more about Congressman Rogers' work in Washington, DC and across Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District, visit Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and halrogers.house.gov.