Mosaic Georgia Inc

LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS

STRIVE-COPE [STRENGTHEN TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSE TO INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE: CARE, OUTREACH, PREVENTION AND EDUCATION] - PEOPLE HARMED BY INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, AND POLY-VICTIMIZATION. TO MITIGATE THESE ADDITIONAL HARMS, CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSES TO DISCLOSURES ARE CRITICAL. STRIVE-COPE IMPROVES CRISIS RESPONSE (FORENSIC INTERVIEWS, FORENSIC MEDICAL EXAMS, ADVOCACY) AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE (ACUTE SUPPORT AND HEALING CARE) TO SURVIVORS OF INTERPERSONAL AND SEXUALIZED VIOLENCE. THIS PROJECT ALSO SUPPORTS OUTREACH, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION. STAFF: THIS GRANT SUPPORTS 15 SPECIALTY STAFF POSITIONS IN THREE AREAS OF CARE: SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION. SEVERAL OF THESE POSITIONS REQUIRE BILINGUAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NAVIGATING SYSTEMS WITH A MULTI-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE. POPULATION & PRIMARY SERVICE AREA: WHILE MOSAIC GEORGIA SERVES ALL WHO REQUEST CARE, STRIVE-COPE FOCUSES ON YOUTH AND ADULTS, LARGELY FEMALE, LGBTQ, AND/OR BIPOC, WHO EXPERIENCE DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT/ ABUSE, STALKING, SEX TRAFFICKING OR OTHER COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. IN 2022, 45% CLIENTS WERE BETWEEN AGES 13-24; 37% WERE 12 AND UNDER; AND 18% WERE 25-90 YEARS. 77% WERE BIPOC. THE PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY/CATCHMENT AREA IS GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA. WITH ALMOST 1,000,000 PEOPLE, 26% OF RESIDENTS WERE BORN OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND 1/3 HOUSEHOLDS SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME. THERE ARE OVER 180,000 K-12 STUDENTS IN IN 141 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE NEED FOR CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE OUTREACH AND CARE CONTINUES TO GROW. SERVICES: STRIVE-COPE IMPROVES CARE WITH PRACTITIONERS IN ACUTE RESPONSE ROLES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & WELLNESS CARE. SERVICES INCLUDE FORENSIC INTERVIEW AND MEDICAL SERVICES WITH ACUTE TRIAGE AND INTERVENTIONS; INDIVIDUAL TRAUMA-FOCUSED THERAPY PLANS, THERAPEUTIC AND PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL SUPPORT GROUPS, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED HEALING AND WELLNESS MODALITIES WITH CULTURALLY BASED APPROACHES. OUTREACH TO DELIVER RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND PREVENTION INITIATIVES FOR YOUTH, ADULTS, AND PARENTS TO REDUCE STIGMA AND ENCOURAGE ENGAGEMENT IN CARE. EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONALS IN PUBLIC SAFETY WILL HELP IMPROVE TRAUMA-INFORMED RESPONSES TO VICTIMS. ALL EDUCATION/TRAINING IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND ENHANCE PRACTICAL SKILLS. PROJECT GOALS & MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES: STRIVE-COPE INCREASES ACCESS AND IMPROVES THE LEVEL OF CARE FOR BIPOC AND OTHER VICTIMS OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE: 150 CLIENTS SERVED WITH ACUTE RESPONSE (FORENSIC INTERVIEW & FORENSIC MEDICAL) CARE. 180 CLIENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THERAPEUTIC CARE RESULTING IN DECREASED TRAUMA SYMPTOMS AND INCREASED RESILIENCE COPING SKILLS. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION WILL IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND TRAUMA-INFORMED SKILLS OF 80% OF 100+ PARTICIPATING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS. CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE PREVENTION INITIATIVES WILL STRENGTHEN PROTECTIVE FACTORS FOR 60% OF 160+ PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION WITH BIPOC PROFESSIONALS WILL CREATE 2-4 NEW COLLABORATIONS FOR UNDER-SERVED, AT-RISK YOUTH AND ADULTS.

LEGAL SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS (LAV) GRANT PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 20121, IS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO EFFECTIVELY AID ADULT AND YOUTH (AGES 11 TO 24) VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING, OR SEXUAL ASSAULT BY PROVIDING FUNDS FOR COMPREHENSIVE DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS IN LEGAL MATTERS RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THAT ABUSE OR VIOLENCE. LEGAL ASSISTANCE IS ASSISTANCE IN: A) DIVORCE, PARENTAL RIGHTS, CHILD SUPPORT, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, HOUSING, CAMPUS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, PRIVACY, CONTRACT, CONSUMER, CIVIL RIGHTS, PROTECTION OR OTHER INJUNCTIVE PROCEEDINGS, RELATED ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS; B) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND POST-CONVICTION MATTERS (INCLUDING SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION) THAT IMPACT THE VICTIMS SAFETY, PRIVACY, OR OTHER INTERESTS AS A VICTIM; C) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, OR OTHER PROCESSES INTENDED TO PROMOTE VICTIM SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND AUTONOMY, AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY, REGARDLESS OF COURT INVOLVEMENT; OR D) POST-CONVICTION RELIEF PROCEEDINGS IN STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, OR TERRITORIAL COURT WITH RESPECT TO A CONVICTION OF A VICTIM RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, OR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMIZATION OF THE VICTIM. THROUGH THIS CONTINUATION LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROJECT, MOSAIC GEORGIA WILL PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN FAMILY LAW, HOUSING, RELOCATION, PUBLIC BENEFITS, VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCACY, EDUCATION LAW, AND TITLE IX MATTERS TO SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS ACROSS GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA. AT LEAST EIGHTY PERCENT OF AWARD FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF NON-INTIMATE PARTNER SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS PRIORITY AREA 2: INCREASING LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS WILL BE DEVELOPED DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD: LEGAL TRAINING MODULES FOR LAW STUDENTS AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS AND FAQ TIP SHEETS FOR LEGAL REMEDIES INCLUDING PROTECTION ORDERS AND THE ROLE OF THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL COURTS.