STAR® Awarded $1.2 Million Federal Grant to Improve Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, LA (May 7, 2026): SEXUAL TRAUMA AWARENESS AND RESPONSE® (STAR®), a leading nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual trauma, improving systems response, and creating social change to end sexual violence, has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) through the Improving Criminal Justice Response Grant Program.

The award represents the largest federal grant received in STAR’s history and is believed to be one of the largest awards received by a Louisiana nonprofit organization from OVW. The funding will support STAR’s efforts to improve the criminal justice system’s response to sexual assault and expand access to survivor-centered advocacy and services across 15 Louisiana parishes, particularly for survivors of nonintimate partner sexual assault. 

STAR’s award-winning advocacy, therapy, and legal programs work together to support survivors throughout the healing and justice process. The grant will also strengthen Louisiana’s response to sexual violence by supporting the training  and development of new Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) through didactic and clinical training opportunities, preceptorship, consultation, peer review, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

“At a time when funding cuts and financial uncertainty threaten critical services for survivors across the country, we are incredibly honored to receive this investment from OVW,” said Morgan Lamandre, CEO of STAR. “This award recognizes the importance of survivor-centered advocacy and the urgent need to strengthen systems responses to sexual assault in Louisiana.” 

Lamandre emphasized that survivors of nonintimate partner sexual assault are often overlooked within broader conversations about violence and victim services funding.

“Too often, survivors assaulted by acquaintances, coworkers, strangers, authority figures, or others outside intimate partner relationships struggle to find services designed specifically for their experiences,” Lamandre said. “This funding allows us to continue building programs that center these survivors while also improving how healthcare systems, law enforcement, advocates, and legal systems respond to sexual violence.”

Interested parties and members of the press should direct inquiries to Morgan Lamandre at (225) 615-7093 or morgan.lamandre@star.ngo.