Grant will expand services to Latino survivors of sexual assault

Centro La Familia has been awarded a $327,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice on Violence Against Women to provide services to Latino survivors of sexual assault, announced Kristina Solberg, spokeswoman for Congressman Jim Costa.

The Sexual Assault Culturally Specific Program grant will create, maintain, and expand services in a culturally sensitive way for survivors by breaking down language barriers and providing a safe place to begin healing, said Costa.

Centro La Familia is a nonprofit organization in Fresno County that provides resources such as victim advocacy, food, housing and mental health and immigration services.

“We have learned that victims require a complex array of resources and support in order to gain control of their lives,” said Executive Director of Centro La Familia Advocacy Services Margarita Rocha. “We need to provide consistent, culturally sensitive support that will help empower them to overcome the trauma they’ve experienced and rebuild their lives.”

This story was originally published October 26, 2016 at 3:18 PM with the headline "Grant will expand services to Latino survivors of sexual assault."