Federal grants will address local Opioid abuse and domestic and sexual violence

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — American Samoa is receiving funding for substance abuse, sexual and domestic violence prevention and also a small Dept. of Justice grant for much needed staff retention in the prosecutor and public defender offices.

OPIOID ABUSE

This $500,000 award is from the local application efforts of Fiso Talalupelele and the American Samoa Department of Health, led by Director Motusa Nua. The grant is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as directed by Congress in authorizing and appropriating health funds, through the HHS Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

“Thank you especially to Fiso Talalupelele for the effort to secure a new grant, so these much-needed funds can be put to good work,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to HHS leadership for this support, and congratulations to Director Motusa Nua.”

DOJ GRANTS

Two more grants come from the U.S. Department of Justice for American Samoa. The grants, from different programs, include a grant for the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence of $367,379 for the next year of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program.

“Thank you to the American Samoa Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and Fuatino Jennifer Tofaeono for her dedication,” said Aumua Amata. “Next month, October, is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we all can help support these efforts for prevention, safety, and our awareness to recognize those vulnerable to mistreatment.”

The other grant, from the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs, is for the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency in the amount of $20,074 toward retention in the prosecutor and public defender offices.

“Congratulations once again to the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency and Director Mariana Timu-Faiai, as they’ve had a series of grant announcements in recent weeks,” continued Congresswoman Amata. “These grants, through the Department’s efforts, support various programs in the Territory. I appreciate these recognitions of American Samoa’s needs from the DOJ.