Press Releases: 2003 Releases

UCP Affiliates Receive Free Training on Abuse Prevention Strategies

Washington, DC, January 29, 2003—The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded an $800,000 grant to SafePlace, a comprehensive domestic and sexual violence victims’ service agency in Austin, Texas. The grant will be used to support two important initiatives—stopping abuse and sexual assault of older individuals or individuals with disabilities, and to address additional obstacles women with disabilities face when they become victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

SafePlace is partnering with United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc. (UCP), American Council of the Blind (ACB) and The Arc of the United States (The Arc) for this national training grant. The organizational partners each will identify up to 15 local affiliates to participate in invitational Train-the-Trainer Institutes each project year (2003 and 2004). Training activities will focus on teaching affiliate staff to recognize and respond to abuse, develop safety plans with consumers experiencing abuse, and incorporate abuse prevention activities into services to consumers.

Since U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett’s (D-TX) announcement of this grant last summer, SafePlace has determined the training protocol and has hired trainers for the project's Training Institutes. The first Train-the-Trainer Institute is scheduled for April 24-25, 2003, in Austin, Texas; a second institute for additional affiliates tentatively is scheduled for early Spring, 2004. “SafePlace is committed to building a safer Central Texas and to ensuring that its fight to end violence against women includes all women,” Doggett said. “These funds will help SafePlace to enhance ‘community response to sexual and domestic violence against people with disabilities across Texas and the nation.’ ”

About SafePlace
Since 1996, SafePlace has targeted outreach to children and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. SafePlace’s mission is to end sexual and domestic violence and abuse. SafePlace helps those hurt by this type of violence to heal and empower themselves by providing prevention, intervention, education and advocacy so that women, children and men may lead safe and healthy lives.

About UCP
For more than 50 years, UCP has been committed to advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through its commitment to the principles of independence, inclusion and self-determination. As the premier disability charity in America, UCP is a nationwide organization with a network of 106 affiliates in 39 states that serves more than one million Americans a year through individualized programs and services.

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