Lawrence’s GaDuGi SafeCenter and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office will receive federal grants to address sexual and domestic violence.

Nearly $1.2 million has been awarded to 25 organizations across the state from the 2015 Services Training Officers Prosecutors Violence Against Women Act (STOP VAWA), Gov. Sam Brownback’s office said. The District Attorney’s Office will receive $48,241 and the GaDuGi SafeCenter will receive $37,017.

Jess Harman, GaDuGi SafeCenter’s rural and underserved advocate, said the organization has used the money to create a position to help younger victims of sexual violence. GaDuGi provides round-the-clock services for anyone in Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson counties who has been a victim of sexual violence.

“We’ve been working with youth victims, but we really saw a need to have a specialized position,” Harman said. “Someone who has a working knowledge of the systems that youth have to encounter when they are survivors of sexual violence.”

The new hire will start in early April, Harman said.

The district attorney’s office has received STOP VAWA grant money since 2011, spokeswoman Cheryl Wright Kunard said. The office uses the grant money to fund Assistant District Attorney Alice Walker’s position, which is dedicated to domestic violence.

“The domestic violence unit is unique in its focus to be responsive and sensitive to the specialized needs of domestic violence survivors,” she said.