Women's Shelter Serving Wallingford, Meriden to get $350,000 Grant

A women’s shelter that services both Meriden and Wallingford was awarded a $349,997 grant from the federal government toward reducing dating violence.

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis Inc., which assists women in domestic violence situations, was the only organization in Connecticut to be awarded funding for this program through the U.S. Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

The funding was part of a total $12.6 million package of grants awarded to 20 community organizations across the country. Justice department Spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle said grants were competitive, meaning the organizations had to apply for them, and that OVW received 198 applications.

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Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West made the announcement before a group of students at the White House on Thursday in commemoration of Teen Dating Violence Awarness and Prevention Month, the justice department said.

“For the first time, grantees can implement a comprehensive approach to dating violence that includes services for victims, prevention programs, partnering with schools and engaging men and boys in ending violence against women,” the justice department said. “OVW combined four separate grant programs into one, enabling more efficient, effective work and responding to the call for bold new initiatives from the Attorney General’s Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence.”

Addressing the crowd on Thursday, West said that teen dating violence is “about community, our schools and our relationships.”

“And that means it’s about us,” West said. “Each one of us, as well as, importantly, those of us who are men. As fathers, brothers, coaches, teachers and classmates – men’s voices must be part of this conversation – as men, both young and old, this is our individual and collective responsibility.”

Read the full news release here.