Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
IRONWOOD — A sexual assault victim services federal grant has been awarded to DOVE, Inc., by the Victims of Crime Act to be used for services to sexual assault victims in Gogebic County.
According to Jeanine Winkowski, executive director of DOVE, “With this grant DOVE will be able to enhance the victim services in Gogebic County by hiring a full-time sexual assault victim advocate and a full-time sexual assault response team coordinator.”
She said $67,000 has been received in the grant for nine months. She said the grant will increase in October, but she’s not sure by how much.
“We want all victims to be aware that there are advocates who will assist them in all aspects of their cases, from reporting the crime, through the prosecution of the assailant, and beyond with after-care.”
Michigan has strengthened its fight against sexual assault with implementation of the grants to coincide with a statewide crisis line system.
“DOVE is a big part of the fight against sexual assault and human trafficking and now with the financial help through this grant, the services we can provide will enhance Gogebic County as a collaborative partner in fighting these crimes,” Winkowski said.
“DOVE has always assisted sexual assault victims in Gogebic County and Iron County, Wis., and now we have the opportunity to increase the coverage and build a team of partners working together in fighting these crimes. We want to be able to change the victim-blaming attitudes about sexual assault and human trafficking by educating the community, believing the victims, and holding assailants accountable.”
She said DOVE will contact local agencies and systems to begin the process of developing a Sexual Assault Response Team. “We are anxious to get started with this new project,” she said.
