The program helps local communities in reducing the effects of domestic violence. By encouraging and strengthening the participation of community organizations and neighborhood groups, the program improves assistance to victims of domestic violence. The program is implemented by the Office of Criminal Justice Planning and has two major objectives. First, it provides funding to existing local providers to maintain and expand services available to victims of domestic violence based on demonstrated need and, second, it establishes a targeted or directed program to provide domestic violence services to areas currently underserved or unserved. Grantees funded under the program must maintain domestic violence assistance centers that comply with legislative requirements and must, for example, use State funds to provide the following services: 24-hour crisis hotlines, counseling for peers and children; business centers; emergency safe homes, food, clothing, and transportation; emergency assistance to law enforcement agencies and hospitals; court and social service advocacy; legal assistance with temporary restraining orders, devices, and custody disputes; community resource and referral, and assistance in establishing new households. Local centers must coordinate with other State and federally funded projects service victims, witnesses, and adult and child sexual abuse victims. Appendix.