Ohio Hispanic Coalition

FY 2015 OVW SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM - OHIO HISPANIC COALITION SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAM

THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 12351. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IS TO AID MINORS, ADULTS, AND THEIR DEPENDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS, AS DEFINED BY 34 U.S.C. 12473(6), OR IN NEED OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR OTHER HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AS A RESULT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING, AND FOR WHOM EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES OR OTHER CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE UNAVAILABLE OR INSUFFICIENT. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS HOLISTIC, SURVIVOR-CENTERED APPROACHES TO PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES DESIGNED TO ENABLE A MINOR, AN ADULT, OR A DEPENDENT OF SUCH MINOR OR ADULT LOCATE AND SECURE PERMANENT HOUSING, SECURE EMPLOYMENT, AND INTEGRATE INTO A COMMUNITY. THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, AN URBAN REGION OF THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE 20 SCATTERED SITE RESIDENCES FOR 20 SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PRIVATE LANDLORD HOUSING UNITS. THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION WILL COLLABORATE WITH ITS PARTNER, CASA DE PAZ, TO PROVIDE A HOLISTIC, VICTIM-CENTERED, AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS NEW PROJECT WILL USE FUNDS TO PROVIDE BOTH HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO MOVE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING WHO ARE HOMELESS OR IN NEED OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE PROJECT WILL ASSIST CLIENTS FOR AN ANTICIPATED MINIMUM OF 6 MONTHS AND A MAXIMUM LENGTH OF 12 MONTHS. SERVICES OFFERED WILL FOCUS ON PRIMARILY SERVING UNDERSERVED HISPANIC/LATINO POPULATIONS IN THE REGION. THE GRANT ACTIVITIES WILL BE TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SURVIVORS. THE RANGE OF OPTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, SAFETY PLANNING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, ESL CLASSES, VICTIM SERVICES AND HOUSING ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO FUND 1 FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED.

THE RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (RURAL PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 12341. RURAL PROGRAM FUNDS ARE USED TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT: 1) IDENTIFY, ASSESS, AND APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; 2) ESTABLISH AND EXPAND VICTIM SERVICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO CHILD, YOUTH, AND ADULT VICTIMS; 3) INCREASE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, BY (A) DEALING DIRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DATING VIOLENCE, AND STALKING; AND (B) CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND PREVENT THESE CRIMES; AND 4) DEVELOP, EXPAND, IMPLEMENT, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION OR SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER PROGRAMS. GRANTEES MUST USE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR PROJECTS: 1) IMPLEMENT, EXPAND, AND ESTABLISH COOPERATIVE EFFORTS AND PROJECTS AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, PROSECUTORS, VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; 2) PROVIDE TREATMENT, COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM VICTIM AND POPULATION SPECIFIC SERVICES TO ADULT AND MINOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES; 3) WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES DIRECTED TOWARD SUCH ISSUES; 4) DEVELOP, ENLARGE, OR STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS ADDRESSING SEXUAL ASSAULT; AND 5) DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES THAT FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF WHO RESIDE IN REMOTE RURAL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AREAS. WITH THIS NEW RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING GRANT AWARD, THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OHIO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NETWORK, WILL IMPLEMENT A VICTIM SERVICES PROJECTFOR THE COUNTIES OF DEFIANCE, LORAIN, SANDUSKY, FULTON, HENRY, HURON, PUTNAM, AND WOOD IN OHIO. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES FOR LATINO/HISPANIC COMMUNITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) HIRING A LATINO/A, BILINGUAL, COMMUNITY MEMBER FROM THE SERVICE AREA TRAINED TO PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES AS PROMOTORA SPECIALIST (VICTIM ADVOCATE/CASE MANAGER); 2) PROVIDING CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC/LINGUISTICALLY-APPROPRIATE CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, COURT ACCOMPANIMENT, PERSONAL ADVOCACY, MEDICAL/LEGAL ADVOCACY, IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE, CLIENT TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER SHORT/LONG-TERM SERVICES RURAL, LATINO/HISPANIC VICTIMS MAY NEED; 3) DEVELOPING CULTURALLY-SPECIFIC/LINGUISTICALLY-APPROPRIATE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS IN COLLABORATION WITH RURAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LATINO/HISPANIC COMMUNITY LEADERS; AND 4) IMPLEMENTING CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE APPROACHES (DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASSING, PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS) TO FOCUS ON SPECIFIC NEEDS OF RURAL, LATINO/HISPANIC VICTIMS IN REMOTE RURAL AND GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AREAS DUE TO TRANSPORTATION, IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND TECHNOLOGY BARRIERS. THE TIMING FOR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.

THE GRANTS TO ENHANCE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 20124. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE MAINTENANCE AND REPLICATION OF EXISTING SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS PROVIDING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR VICTIMS WHO FACE OBSTACLES TO USING MORE TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS. CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES MEANS COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES THAT INCLUDE CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND LINGUISTICALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES WHICH ARE STATUTORILY DEFINED AS AMERICAN INDIANS (INCLUDING ALASKA NATIVES, ESKIMOS, AND ALEUTS); ASIAN AMERICANS; NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDERS; BLACKS; AND HISPANICS. PROJECTS MUST ADDRESS AT LEAST ONE OF THE PROGRAMS STATUTORY PURPOSE AREAS. THROUGH THIS CONTINUATION CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES PROGRAM PROJECT, THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION WILL IMPLEMENT A PROJECT ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREAS: INCREASE COMMUNITIES' CAPACITY TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING CRIMES AND THEIR FAMILIES; ENHANCE TRADITIONAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES HIGHLIGHTING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ISSUES AND RESOURCES; PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SAFETY, ECONOMIC, HOUSING, AND WORKPLACE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING, INCLUDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION WILL PROVIDE SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED, LOW-INCOME, IMMIGRANT, LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT, LATINO/HISPANIC COMMUNITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: CUYAHOGA, HAMILTON, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: SAFETY PLANNING, ECONOMIC SUPPORT, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVEPREVENTION STRATEGIES THROUGH COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT GROUPS AND/OR PRESENTATIONS, AND INFORMATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM (SAS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM) WAS CREATED BY THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005 (VAWA 2005), 34 U.S.C. 12511(C), AND IS PART OF THE FIRST FEDERAL FUNDING STREAM SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE PROVISION OF DIRECT INTERVENTION AND RELATED ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. INTERVENTION AND RELATED ASSISTANCE INCLUDE ADVOCACY, ACCOMPANIMENT (E.G., ACCOMPANYING VICTIMS TO COURT, MEDICAL FACILITIES, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, ETC.), CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES, AND REFERRALS, AMONG OTHER SERVICES. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, SUCH SERVICES MAY BE PROVIDED TO ADULT, YOUTH, AND CHILD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OF SUCH VICTIMS, AND THOSE COLLATERALLY AFFECTED BY THE VICTIMIZATION. SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FROM CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES FREQUENTLY CONFRONT UNIQUE CHALLENGES WHEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL BARRIERS. CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO UNDERSTAND THESE CHALLENGES BECAUSE THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND BACKGROUND OF VICTIMS FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHO IN TURN ARE MORE INCLINED TO SEEK SERVICES FROM SUCH ORGANIZATIONS. THE GOAL OF THE SAS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM IS TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND EXPAND CULTURALLY SPECIFIC INTERVENTION AND RELATED ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, WHICH SERVE A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING SERVICES THAT ARE RELEVANT FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM

ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS REFER TO THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR CASH GRANTS WHILE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF GRANTS EQUALS TOTAL OF ALL AMERICORPS VISTA PROJECTS, TH

ESTIMATED TOTAL FUNDS REFER TO THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR CASH GRANTS WHILE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF GRANTS EQUALS TOTAL OF ALL AMERICORPS VISTA PROJECTS, TH