Tester secures nearly $1 million to stop domestic abuse in Carbon County

(Billings, Mont.) – Senator Jon Tester today helped secure a $953,748 three year grant for the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Carbon County (DSVS) to reduce and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.

This U.S. Department of Justice grant is authorized through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which Tester voted for in 2013 and helped secure funding for in 2014.

“Domestic violence and sexual assault are never acceptable and these additional resources will help put an end to these atrocious acts,” said Tester, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “As folks on the ground work to prevent and stop these crimes, I will continue to ensure they have the resources they need to keep families and communities safe.”

“Thanks to the efforts of Senator Tester and our dedicated staff and volunteers, DSVS can continue to provide life changing services to survivors of violence. Over the next three years, we will be focusing on strengthening services to sexual assault victims and the elderly and continuing to build upon relationships with our medical and judicial systems,” said Kelly Heaton, Executive Director of DSVS.

DSVS is a community-based nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services program located in Red Lodge, Montana. Through this grant, DSVS will continue to strengthen services in Carbon and Stillwater Counties. This funding also allows DSVS to establish a new partnership with a neighboring organization to expand services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking in Meagher, Park and Sweet Grass Counties.