Caring Unlimited Corp

LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROGRAM

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 BY ENCOURAGING COLLABORATION AMONG VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PROSECUTORS, COURTS, OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE PROVIDERS, HUMAN AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS; 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. THROUGH THIS CONTINUATION OVW RURAL PROGRAM PROJECT, CARING UNLIMITED, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YORK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE AND YORK COUNTYS DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, WILL IMPLEMENT THE RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESPONSE TEAM PROJECT. THIS VICTIM SERVICE PROJECT ADDRESSES THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREAS: 1, 2, AND 3 FOR 27 ELIGIBLE CENSUS TRACTS IN YORK COUNTY, MAINE. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) PROVIDING ADVOCACY, SAFETY PLANNING, AND SUPPORT GROUP SERVICES TO 150 RURAL VICTIMS PER YEAR; 2) PROVIDING CIVIL LEGAL ADVOCACY TO 100 SURVIVORS; 3) CONDUCTING A GENERAL SUPPORT GROUP AND A SUPPORT GROUP FOR INCARCERATED WOMEN AT THE YORK COUNTY JAIL; 4) PROVIDING LIBRIS PERSONAL SAFETY ALARMS TO HIGH RISK VICTIMS; 5) LEADING QUARTERLY COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE MEETINGS AND HIGH-RISK RESPONSE TEAM MEETINGS; 6) MAINTAINING A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INVESTIGATOR IN THE YORK COUNTY SHERRIFF OFFICE TO CONDUCT 48-HOUR FOLLOW-UPS ON APPROXIMATELY 50 CASES ANNUALLY, IDENTIFY HIGH RISK CASES, MONITOR DEFENDANTS BAIL CONDITIONS, JAIL CALLS, PROTECTION ORDERS, AND REFER CASES; AND 7) PROVIDING TRAINING TO RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER PARTNERS FROM THE YORK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE PROCEDURES. CARING UNLIMITED WILL WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WITH FEEDBACK FROM SURVIVORS TO DEVELOP WALLET CARDS OR SIMILAR RESOURCES LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN GIVE TO VICTIMS ABOUT VICTIM SERVICES, NON-FATAL STRANGULATION, AND THE PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER PROCESS. THE TIMING FOR PERFORMANCE OF THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.

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 VICTIMS (AGES 11 AND OLDER) OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING 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 INCLUDES ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN: A) FAMILY, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, HOUSING MATTERS, CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE, OR PROTECTION OR STAY AWAY ORDER PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS; B) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND POST-TRIAL MATTERS (INCLUDING SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION) THAT IMPACT THE VICTIMS SAFETY AND PRIVACY; C) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, OR OTHER PROCESSES INTENDED TO PROMOTE VICTIM SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND AUTONOMY; AND D) POST-CONVICTION RELIEF PROCEEDINGS IN STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, OR TERRITORIAL COURT WHERE THE CONVICTION OF A VICTIM IS RELATED TO OR ARISING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, OR SEX TRAFFICKING. 34 U.S.C. 12291(A)(24)(C) AND (D). THROUGH THIS CONTINUATION LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROJECT, CARING UNLIMITED, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT, WILL PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, LIMITED REPRESENTATION, BRIEF SERVICES, PRO SE ASSISTANCE, AND VICTIM ADVOCACY SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING IN PROTECTION FROM ABUSE CASES AND FAMILY MATTERS STEMMING FROM THEIR VICTIMIZATION IN YORK COUNTY, MAINE. THIS AWARD IS A CONTINUATION OF 15JOVW-21-GG-00377-LEGA

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 PROVIDE AID TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING 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 THEIR VICTIMIZATION, 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 THAT MOVE INDIVIDUALS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND HELP THEM SECURE EMPLOYMENT AND INTEGRATE INTO A COMMUNITY. CARING UNLIMITED IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN SANFORD, MAINE, A RURAL REGION OF THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE 11 CLUSTERED RESIDENCES, AND TWO SCATTERED SITE UNITS, FOR 30 SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH BOTH PROGRAM-OWNED AND PRIVATE LANDLORD HOUSING UNITS. CARING UNLIMITED WILL COLLABORATE WITH ITS TWO PARTNERS, NEW VENTURES MAINE AND SANFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE A HOLISTIC, VICTIM-CENTERED AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS CONTINUATION 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 24 MONTHS. SERVICES OFFERED WILL FOCUS ON EXPANDING ECONOMIC JUSTICE. 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, ADVOCACY AND SAFETY PLANNING, RENTERS EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL LITERACY AND HOUSING ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO RETAIN SIX STAFF MEMBERS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS

LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROGRAM

RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESPONSE TEAM

SAFE COMMUNITIES FOR YOUTH

HOUSING PROGRAM

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM

CARING UNLIMITED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM

CARING UNLIMITED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM