WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) announced that the Legal Aid Society based in Louisville has been awarded $496,430 in federal funding to expand efforts to provide legal advocacy and representation for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. The grant was provided under the Violence Against Women Act.

“Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence should have every resource at their disposal to get the support they need and the justice they deserve,” Yarmuth said. “I’m proud to support strong federal investments in Legal Aid and their partners, who are working in the courtroom and on campus to counter the trauma and intimidation of abuse.”

The grant supports the Collaboration and Advocacy to provide Safety and Empowerment (CASE) Project, a partnership between the Legal Aid Society, the University of Louisville Law Clinic, the Center for Women and Families, and the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs. The CASE Project provides aid to domestic violence and sexual assault victims in Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham, and Shelby counties. The project also seeks to address sexual assault on campus by providing support for students at the University of Louisville, Spalding University, Sullivan University, Bellarmine University, and Jefferson Community and Technical College who are victims of sexual assault.

“The Legal Aid Society is grateful to receive funding for a fifth consecutive year for this important program, and we’re particularly appreciative of Congressman Yarmuth’s continued support for this project,” said Jeffrey A. Been, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society. “Over the past four years, Legal Aid and our grant partners have implemented a seamless process that provides holistic advocacy to sexual assault and domestic violence victims who face legal problems as a consequence of their abusive partners. This grant award allows us to expand our work to three additional Kentucky counties and to provide important outreach to victims of sexual assault on Kentucky college campuses.”

The Violence Against Women Act strengthens the ability of the federal government, states, law enforcement, and service providers to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Congress reauthorized the law in February 2013; Yarmuth was a cosponsor of that legislation. In 2012, 45 organizations in Kentucky received funding under the law.