State University, Channel Islands, has received a grant of $596,500 from the state Department of Health Services for 21/2 years to implement the Faith Leaders and Domestic Violence Project.

The statewide training project is designed to educate faith leaders from all denominations on the importance of their role in preventing domestic violence. The project also hopes to enhance the involvement of faith leaders in family violence prevention activities in their communities.

Faith leaders play a key role in a coordinated community response to domestic violence and are in an ideal position to identify and intervene with families that may be at risk.

"CSUCI is very excited about developing the Faith Leaders Project because we recognize the important role the university can play in addressing the pervasive problem of family violence," said Barbara Thorpe, CSUCI associate vice president of academic programs.

"Working with the faith community aids in the overall development of healthy communities. Family violence is one of the most critical public health issues of our time, and the university is developing ways to reach out to faith leaders to tackle the issue."

The Faith Leaders and Domestic Violence project has established an Inter-Faith Advisory Council to ensure representation from all faith denominations in California. Workshops for faith community leaders are being developed and tested this fall.