DEARBORN, Mich. -- The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) has been awarded a three-year grant by the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, in support of building a domestic violence prevention partnership.

ACCESS was one of four organizations in Michigan selected for funding from among 22 applicants, to develop and implement domestic violence prevention programs. These initiatives are funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Domestic Violence Prevention Enhancement Leadership Through Alliances (DELTA) project.

According to the CDC, one out of four women report physical or sexual assault by a current or former partner during their lifetime. In Michigan, 102,943 women, 434 men, and 124,264 children received services from state-funded family crisis shelters between Oct. 1, and Sept. 30, .

The Arab American population in Michigan is approximately 300,000, with more than 80 percent residing in Metropolitan Detroit. A study on domestic violence by ACCESS Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Project demonstrated that, as in other communities, violence against women and children in the Arab American community exists, but there is a need for culturally sensitive services and programs targeting this community.

ACCESS will develop a domestic violence prevention partnership focused on the Arab American community in Southeast Michigan with efforts to expand to Arab American entities statewide. The goals of the Prevention Partnership are to change social attitudes toward domestic violence, to empower individuals at risk of domestic violence, and to decrease the incidence of domestic violence in the Arab American community. The partnership will seek to raise both the community awareness of domestic violence issues and provide understanding of the special needs of the Arab American population.

Source: Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services