Adams State awarded $500,000 grant to enhance campus safety

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded Adams State University $500,000 to develop a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) team to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. To be funded over four years, the campus-wide project is entitled “JUNTOS: Initiative for Campus Safety and Cultural Responsiveness,” according to Dr. Heidi Schneider, chair of the Sociology Department and Adams State’s Inclusive Excellence Liaison (IEL), principal investigator/grant administrator.

The OVW’s Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program support community-based organizations that address victims’ critical needs in a manner that affirms their culture. Adams State’s diverse student body includes those who are Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, Black, Asian and Pacific Islanders, immigrants, first-generation college students, and LGBTQ+, as well as athletes and students with disabilities.

“Because we are a diverse nation with numerous affinity groups and many cultures, sexual violence prevention programs that are monocultural ignore the different ways in which people might learn, communicate, and respond, specifically regarding issues like sexual assault,” Schneider explained. “The best way to address sexual violence is to create a program that reflects and is responsive to all cultures.” As Inclusive Excellence Liaison, Schneider will oversee the Project Director; a search is underway to fill that position.

“This grant will build ASU’s capacity to develop programming that fits our student demographic. We are collaborating with community organizations to address concerns of Native Americans and immigrants – two of Adams State’s most vulnerable groups,” Schneider added. “Technical advisors will come to campus to conduct training and outreach to help us find additional resources for other marginalized groups.”

Alamosa’s Tu Casa, Inc., which serves victims of domestic and sexual violence, is the overarching victim service and education provider. The grant award includes $10,000 each year for Tu Casa, Inc., consulting services, including a Peer-Educator/Student Outreach Coordinator. Tu Casa’s Chenoa Candy, an ASU nursing major, will be the on-campus peer educator for 10 hours a week. Adams State will also coordinate with the SLV Immigrant Resource Center (IRC) and the SLV Area Health Education Center (SLV AHEC)/SLV Indian Center.

The Project Director will work with the technical advisors, external agencies, and various campus offices to develop the Coordinated Community Response Team, which will create a mandatory prevention/education program for all students, tailored to culturally specific student needs.