Roca Inc

SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, ATTACHMENT 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D, STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACT

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR INSTITUTIONAL AID AT TROCAIRE COLLEGE

THE OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE TO OPTIMIZE AND SCALE NIHCF ELECTRODES FOR NH4¿ RECOVERY AND VALIDATE PERFORMANCE IN REAL WASTEWATER, DISCOVER AND FABRICATE MG-(ANTI)SELECTIVE ELECTRODES THROUGH COMPUTATIONAL SCREENING AND EXPERIMENTAL SYNTHESIS, CONDUCT TEA AND LCA IN PARALLEL WITH TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT TO BENCHMARK COSTS, ENERGY, AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND TO INTEGRATE BOTH RECOVERY MODULES INTO A DUAL-ION PROTOTYPE PRODUCING MARKET-READY PRODUCTS.

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS (HEERF) FOR STUDENT AID AT TROCAIRE COLLEGE

SELECTIVE ACTIN REMODELING OF SENSORY NEURONS FOR ACUTE PAIN MANAGEMENT - PROJECT SUMMARY THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR NEW APPROACHES TO TREAT ACUTE HUMAN PAIN WITHOUT THE RISK OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUDS). THE MOST EFFECTIVE APPROVED PAIN PHARMACEUTICALS, INCLUDING NARCOTICS AND ANESTHETICS, ARE NOT NEURON-SPECIFIC AND CONSEQUENTLY SUFFER FROM OFF-TARGET EFFECTS LIKE ADDICTION, INHIBITION OF MOTOR NEURONS, AND DESTRUCTION OF THE SURROUNDING TISSUES. WHEN INFLAMMATION OCCURS, ACTIN POLYMERIZATION OCCURS IN SENSORY NEURONS, LEADING TO THE SENSITIZATION OF PURINERGIC RECEPTORS AND ABNORMAL PAIN BEHAVIORS. TARGETED ACTIN REMODELING COULD BE AN EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO REDUCE ACUTE NOCICEPTIVE PAIN, BUT THERE ARE NO SMALL-MOLECULE INHIBITORS WITH ADEQUATE SPECIFICITY FOR SENSORY NEURONS THAT CORRECTLY MODULATE THE CYTOSKELETON. NEUROCARRUS PROPOSES A NEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR NOCICEPTIVE PAIN BASED ON AN INNOVATIVE ENGINEERED PROTEIN CALLED N- 001 THAT SELECTIVELY TARGETS SENSORY NEURONS AND ACTS ONLY AT THE INTRA-CELLULAR LEVEL INDUCING LIMITED AND REVERSIBLE DEPOLYMERIZATION OF THE AXON-ASSOCIATED ACTIN CYTOSKELETON. THIS INNOVATIVE BIOLOGIC DRUG WILL PROVIDE SPECIFICITY TOWARDS SENSORY NEURONS WHILE LEVERAGING THE FEATURES OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE PAIN LOCALLY WITHOUT INTERACTING WITH THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. NEUROCARRUS HAS COMPLETED AN SBIR PHASE I THAT HAS PROVEN THE FEASIBILITY OF N-001 AS A PAIN MANAGEMENT THERAPY. RESULTS SHOW THAT N-001 MANAGED NOCICEPTIVE POST OPERATIVE PAIN BY EFFICIENTLY REDUCING MECHANICAL ALLODYNIA AND GAIT DYSFUNCTION IN A MOUSE PAW INCISION MODEL RELATIVE TO BUPIVACAINE BUT WITH A SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER DURATION OF ACTIVITY. N-001 RETAINED EFFICACY FOR 3 DAYS RELATIVE TO ONLY 6 HOURS FOR BUPIVACAINE. N-001 WAS ALSO ASSESSED AS AN ANESTHETIC AGENT IN A NERVE BLOCK MODEL WHERE IT ALSO SHOWED A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED DURATION OF POST OPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT RELATIVE TO BUPIVACAINE. N-001’S MECHANISM OF ACTION WAS VALIDATED IN VIVO, SHOWING THAT IT CO-LOCALIZES WITH CGRP POSITIVE SENSORY NEURONS NOT MOTOR NEURONS, AND CAN BE QUANTITATIVELY MONITORED USING ADP-RIBOSYLATED ACTIN AS A MEASURE OF F TO G ACTIN NEURONAL CONTENT. PRELIMINARY ADME, TOXICOLOGY AND IMMUNOGENICITY ASSAYS SHOWED NO ADVERSE EFFECTS ON ORGAN FUNCTION, PROVIDED PHARMACOKINETIC INFORMATION, AND NON-NEUTRALIZING ANTIDRUG ANTIBODY FORMATION ONLY AFTER MULTIPLE DOSES. THESE DATA ESTABLISH SPECIFIC METRICS FOR THE USE OF N-001 AS A POST OPERATIVE PAIN THERAPEUTIC THEREBY STRENGTHENING THE POTENTIAL FOR USE OF N-001 IN CLINICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT. IN THIS SBIR PHASE II PROJECT, NEUROCARRUS WILL OPTIMIZE THE PRODUCTION AND FORMULATION OF N-001 AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANUFACTURING STANDARDS AND CONTROLS FOR OBTAINING GLP-GRADE (GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICE) N- 001. GLP-GRADE N-001 WILL BE USED TO PERFORM PIVOTAL PRE-CLINICAL STUDIES TO DEMONSTRATE ITS IN VIVO SAFETY USING TWO PRECLINICAL ANIMAL MODELS (C57BL/6 MICE AND BEAGLE DOGS). GLP DRUG WILL ALSO BE USED FOR EFFICACY STUDIES AS A TREATMENT FOR PAIN AFTER PERIPHERAL JOINT SURGERY USING A MOUSE DISTAL TIBIAL LIMB FRACTURE MODEL. THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT AN INVESTIGATIONAL NEW DRUG FILLING (IND) ENABLING FUTURE CLINICAL TRIALS.

RECOVERY ACT GREEN JOBS

TROCARES: TROCAIRE COLLEGE ACTIVE RESPONSE AND ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM

THE ROCA BOSTON COMMUNITY VIOLENCE RESPONSE PROJECT (CVRP) WILL EXPAND VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY THOSE MOST LIKELY TO SHOOT OR BE SHOT, INCLUDING NONFATAL SHOOTING VICTIMS OR WITNESSES KNOWN TO BE ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE IN THECOMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WILL SERVE 225 HIGHEST-RISK YOUNG PEOPLE EACH YEAR OF THE GRANT (100 YOUNG MEN AGED 1824, 50 YOUNGER TEENS AGED 1517, AND 75 YOUNG WOMEN AGED 1624.) ROCA WILL DELIVER ITS INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED, LONG-TERM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MODEL, ANCHORED IN ITS COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THEORY-BASED APPROACH TO YOUTH WORK, TO HELP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE CREATE LONG-TERM BEHAVIOR CHANGE AND STOP ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE. KEY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (1) COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DATA ANALYSIS AND VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PLANNING, (2) THE REPLICATION/APPLICATION OF KEY DATA DRIVEN TOOLS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING VIOLENCE, AND (3) EXPANDED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR BEING A VICTIM OR PERPETRATOR OF VIOLENCE. YOUNG PEOPLE SERVED BY CVRP WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING OUTCOMES: 80 PERCENT WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION, 80 PERCENT OF THOSE ENGAGED 1824 MONTHS WILL DEMONSTRATE A REDUCTION IN VIOLENT BEHAVIORS AND/OR CRIMINAL THINKING, 80 PERCENT WILL HAVE NO NEW INCARCERATIONS FOR NEW CHARGES, AND 80 PERCENT WILL SECURE AND RETAIN UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT. A RIGOROUS, INDEPENDENT, THIRD-PARTY EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT WILL BE CONDUCTED USING SEPARATE FUNDING.

ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT CITIES IN OUR NATION, IN 2021, THE CITY OF BALTIMORE EXPERIENCED 332 HOMICIDES AND 731 NONFATAL SHOOTINGS.  UNFORTUNATELY, THESE HIGH RATES OF SHOOTINGS HAVE REMAINED STABLE FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE. ONCE THOUGHT TO BE GANG AND/OR NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED, TODAY GUN VIOLENCE IN BALTIMORE OCCURS IS HIGHLY INTERPERSONAL, OCCURS IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY, AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE NOW MOVE THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EASE OFTEN ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES.   THROUGH THIS GRANT, ROCA WILL IMPLEMENT AND EXPAND A COMBINATION OF PLANNING, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVING VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND RESPONSE SERVICES IN BALTIMORE AND ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES CREATING SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE IN THOSE WE SERVE AND REDUCING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. THE PROJECT IS COMPOSED OF FOUR KEY ELEMENTS, EACH DESCRIBED BELOW:   THE PROJECT WILL RESTRUCTURE AND EXPAND ITS EXISTING BALTIMORE YOUNG ADULT VIOLENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND CREATE A SIMILAR COMMITTEE IN EACH COMMUNITY SERVED.  THESE COMMITTEES WILL USE LOCAL DATA TO PRODUCE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND A VIOLENCE REDUCTION PLAN AND REVIEW THE PLAN ANNUALLY.  THESE COMMITTEES WILL ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT DURING ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND/OR EXPANSION PHASES, INCLUDING PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OBTAIN NECESSARY DATA TO ADMINISTER THE AFTER SHOOTING PROTOCOL IN EACH COMMUNITY.   ROCA WILL EXPAND THE USE OF OUR AFTER SHOOTING PROTOCOL A DATA-DRIVEN OUTREACH APPROACH THAT IN PILOTS HAS PROVEN EXCEPTIONALLY IMPACTFUL IN ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE, THROUGHOUT BALTIMORE AND IN EACH OF OUR EXPANSION COMMUNITIES. BY USING THIS PROTOCOL, ALL NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS WILL BE REVIEWED DAILY AND EACH IDENTIFIED YOUNG PERSON WILL RECEIVE A DOOR KNOCK WITHIN 24-48 HOURS TO CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES.   THE EXPANSION OF ROCA’S INTERVENTION AND RESPONSE SERVICES TO THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR BEING A VICTIM OR PERPETRATOR OF VIOLENCE, USING ROCA’S NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED INTERVENTION MODEL, SERVING MORE THAN 850 OF THE AREA’S HIGHEST RISK YOUNG MEN OVER THE GRANT PERIOD.  OF THOSE TARGETED, 80% OF YOUNG PEOPLE TARGETED WILL BE ENGAGED IN SERVICES AND 80% OF YOUNG PEOPLE SERVED 18 MONTHS OR LONGER WILL: DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND IMPROVED ABILITY TO MANAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES (I.E. DEPRESSION, PTSD, TRAUMA); WILL HAVE NO NEW INCARCERATIONS; OBTAIN AND RETAIN UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT BY ROCA, INC. WILL USE THE OJP COMMUNITY BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION INITIATIVE GRANT TO EXPAND VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT FEMALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 24 WHO ARE THE MOST LIKELY TO SHOOT OR BE SHOT IN THE MASSACHUSETTS CITIES OF SPRINGFIELD, HOLYOKE, AND CHICOPEE AND THE CONNECTICUT CITIES OF HARTFORD, EAST HARTFORD, MANCHESTER, AND NEW BRITAIN. ROCA WILL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PLAN THAT ADDRESSES THE UNIQUE AND COMPLEX ISSUES THAT IMPACT YOUNG WOMENS INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENCE. ROCA WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT ITS PROVEN FOUR-YEAR, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL TO ADDRESS THE EXTREME LEVELS OF TRAUMA AND VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCED BY THESE YOUNG WOMEN, HELP THEM CREATE LONG TERM BEHAVIOR CHANGE, STOP ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE, AND ACHIEVE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. THROUGH GRIP, ROCA WILL COLLABORATE WITH RELEVANT PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE REDUCTION PLAN. GRIP HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED EMOTIONAL REGULATION, IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH, REDUCED LEVELS OF DISTRESS, REDUCED DRUG/ALCOHOL USE, COGNITIVE/BEHAVIORAL GAINS, EMPLOYMENT RETENTION, NO NEW ARRESTS, AND NO NEW INCARCERATIONS. KEY OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO: 1) IDENTIFY THE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO YOUNG WOMENS INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENCE AND HOW TO MITIGATE THEM THROUGH ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES; 2) PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED, INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM SERVICES, INCLUDING AND RELENTLESS OUTREACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT, TO 275 HIGH-RISK YOUNG WOMEN; 3) UTILIZE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS, HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMMING, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES TO ENSURE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL, AND RELATIONSHIP HEALTH; AND 4) PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT TO INCREASE ECONOMIC STABILITY. THROUGH THIS WORK, ROCA WILL HELP THESE YOUNG WOMEN MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE COMBINATION OF INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, REWIRE CBT, SERVICE REFERRAL, TRAUMA-INFORMED TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION OF POLITICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE THROUGH THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE PEACEBUILDING APPROACHES IN WESTERN AREA RURAL, KAMBIA, BOMBALI, KARENE AND KONO DISTRICTS. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND YOUTH TO HAVE INCREASED VOICE AND LEADERSHIP AS PEACEBUILDERS AND ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRENGTHENING OF “PEACE INFRASTRUCTURE” AT LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

ROCA SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HIV INTERVENTION PROJECT (R-SHIP)

HIGHER EDUCATION - INSTITUTIONAL AID - STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

IN 2022, THE CITY OF BALTIMORE EXPERIENCED 333 HOMICIDES AND 688 NONFATAL SHOOTINGS, MAKING IT THE NATIONS 5TH MOST VIOLENT SYSTEM. TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE, ROCA BALTIMORE IS SEEKING SUPPORT TO OPERATE A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO UTILIZE A DATA DRIVEN APPROACH TO REDUCE SHOOTINGS AND SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY WORK TO CREATE LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE. ROCA IS SEEKING $1,455,000 OVER THREE YEARS TO SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION PROJECT THROUGH THIS REQUEST. THIS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT WILL BUILD OFF OF ROCAS RECENT PILOT PROJECT FOR AN AFTER SHOOTING PROTOCOL THAT RESULTED IN A REDUCTION OF 31 SHOOTINGS (OUT OF 86 PARTICIPANTS) AND A COST SAVINGS OF $25,060,894 TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND AN ADDITIONAL COST SAVINGS OF $1,299,662 TO MARYLAND TAXPAYERS, FOR A TOTAL COST SAVINGS OF $26,360,556. USING THE LEARNINGS FROM THE PILOT PROJECT, ROCAS AFTER SHOOTING PROTOCOL EXPANSION PROJECT WILL COMBINE THE BEST ASPECTS OF OUR PILOT WITH THE STRENGTHS OF HOSPITAL BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS AND LONG-TERM VIOLENCE INTERVENTION WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. SPECIFICALLY, USING THIS GRANT FUNDING, ROCA WILL ASSESS AN ESTIMATED 150-200 NON-FATAL SHOOTING VICTIMS EACH YEAR AND SERVE UP TO 100 OF THEM INTENSIVELY EACH YEAR THROUGH THE ASP, PROVIDING THEM WITH THE CRITICAL SUPPORTS AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO LEARN TO MANAGE THEIR OWN TRAUMA IN A POSITIVE WAY AND TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN LONG-TERM BEHAVIOR CHANGE. THIS WILL RESULT IN 160-180 YOUNG PEOPLE BEING SERVED ACROSS THE GRANT CYCLE. WE WILL ALSO WORK WITH AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THIS WORK OVER TIME.

TROCAIRE COLLEGE'S TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES (SSS) PROGRAM

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

SBIR PHASE II: ADDRESSING FRESHWATER SALINIZATION AND FRESHWATER SCARCITY WITH A CHLORIDE SELECTIVE REMOVAL AND RECOVERY SYSTEM -THE BROADER/COMMERCIAL IMPACT OF THIS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE II PROJECT IS TO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO WATER TREATMENT, ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION, AND RESOURCE RECOVERY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY CALLED A DESALINATION BATTERY. STEADY GROWTH IN HUMAN POPULATION AND RAPID INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT HAVE LED TO GREATER DEMANDS FOR WATER PRODUCTION. AT THE SAME TIME, ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, AND THE DISPOSAL OF WASTEWATER HAVE LED TO SALINIZATION OF NATURAL FRESHWATER RESOURCES. THE DESALINATION BATTERY COMBINES THE FUNCTIONS OF DESALINATION AND ENERGY GENERATION TO REDUCE THE ENERGY AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DESALINATION, ADDRESSING CHALLENGES AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE WATER-ENERGY NEXUS. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO ACCELERATE THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE DESALINATION BATTERY BY EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS SOLUTION COMPONENTS PRESENT IN REAL FEEDWATER TYPES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DESALINATION BATTERY. SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DESALINATION BATTERY WILL HELP TO SAFEGUARD ACCESS TO FRESHWATER RESOURCES AND ENSURE AN ADEQUATE FRESHWATER SUPPLY, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO ADVANCE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO COMMERCIALIZE A NEW DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY, A DESALINATION BATTERY, WHICH IS BASED ON THE PATENTED USE OF BI AS A CL-STORAGE ELECTRODE IN COMBINATION WITH A NA-STORAGE ELECTRODE. LIKE CONVENTIONAL BATTERIES, THE DESALINATION BATTERY STORES AND RELEASES ENERGY DURING THE CHARGING AND DISCHARGING PROCESSES, BUT THEY ARE ALSO COUPLED WITH THE STORAGE AND RELEASE OF NA+ AND CL-. AS THE ENERGY CONSUMED DURING CHARGING IS RECOVERED DURING DISCHARGING, THE NET ENERGY REQUIRED FOR DESALINATION IS DRASTICALLY REDUCED. FURTHERMORE, SINCE NA+ AND CL- ARE REMOVED VIA ION-SPECIFIC ELECTRODE REACTIONS, THE DESALINATION BATTERY ENABLES MEMBRANE-FREE DESALINATION. WHILE EFFICIENT REMOVAL OF NACL HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED, THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS OTHER SOLUTION COMPONENTS PRESENT IN REAL WASTEWATER AND SEAWATER ARE STILL UNKNOWN. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED WORK IS TO ACCURATELY EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SALINITIES, PH CONDITIONS, AND VARIOUS INORGANIC AND ORGANIC SPECIES PRESENT IN REAL FEEDWATER ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DESALINATION BATTERY AND DEVELOP MITIGATION PLANS FOR ANY PROBLEMATIC COMPONENTS. THE SUCCESS OF THE PROPOSED WORK IS CRITICAL TO PERFORM ACCURATE TECHNOECONOMIC CALCULATIONS TO PRIORITIZE THE MOST PROMISING FEEDWATER TYPES TO TARGET AND DEVELOP A TAILORED COMMERCIALIZATION PLAN FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

THROUGH THIS GRANT, ROCAS CENTRAL AMERICAN YOUTH PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WILL ENGAGE OVER 100 YOUNG PEOPLE PER YEAR THROUGH PREVENTION SERVICES AND PROVIDE INTENSIVE INTERVENTION TO 50 OF LYNNS HIGHEST RISK 15-18-YEAR-OLD YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE CENTER OF YOUTH VIOLENCE AND GANG ACTIVITY. ROCAS MODEL FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE CENTERS ON DELIVERING TARGETED SERVICES GROUNDED IN COGNITIVE-BASED THERAPY WHICH IS KEY TO ADDRESSING TRAUMA, AND INCLUDES A COMBINATION OF TOOLS DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND DEVELOP THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR OWN TRAUMA AND MAKE MORE POSITIVE DECISIONS. ROCA WILL USE THESE TOOLS TO NOT ONLY TO DIRECTLY SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT WILL ALSO WORK TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE STUDENT AND TEACHER TRAUMA AND REDUCE VIOLENCE WITHIN ITS SCHOOLS. SPECIFICALLY, THROUGH THIS PROJECT, ROCA AND LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL FORM AND REGULARLY CONVENE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE; WORK WITH LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO CREATE AND ANNUALLY UPDATE A SCHOOL SAFETY STRATEGIC PLAN; PROVIDE LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS STAFF AND OTHER PARTNERS WITH TRAINING ON BRAIN SCIENCE, COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND PEACEMAKING CIRCLES AND PROVIDE COACHING TO HELP INTEGRATE THESE TOOLS INTO THE SCHOOL SETTING; PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY DRIVEN SERVICE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH YOUNG PERSON THAT WILL INCLUDE ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE IN IN-SCHOOL VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES, UTILIZING PEACEMAKING CIRCLES AND OTHER RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TOOLS TO HELP BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND POLICE; AND ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORTS THAT WILL PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE STRUCTURE THEY NEED TO AVOID VIOLENCE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

IN CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE ARE DRIVEN BY A HIGHLY TRAUMATIZED GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE, MANY RECENT IMMIGRANTS FROM CENTRAL AMERICA.  ROCA HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY OVER THE PAST 34 YEARS TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION THAT HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE ADDRESS THEIR OWN TRAUMA AND BUILD THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE.   THROUGH THIS GRANT, ROCA’S CENTRAL AMERICAN YOUTH (CAY) PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHELSEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CPS), WILL ENGAGE OVER 100 YOUNG PEOPLE PER YEAR THROUGH PREVENTION SERVICES AND PROVIDE INTENSIVE INTERVENTION TO 50 OF CHELSEA’S HIGHEST RISK 15–18-YEAR-OLD YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE CENTER OF YOUTH VIOLENCE AND GANG ACTIVITY. ROCA’S MODEL FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE AMONG CAY AND OTHER EXTREMELY HIGH-RISK YOUTH CENTERS ON DELIVERING TARGETED SERVICES GROUNDED IN CBT, BECAUSE IT IS KEY TO ADDRESSING TRAUMA, AND INCLUDES A COMBINATION OF TOOLS DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL SAFE AND DEVELOP THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO MANAGE THEIR OWN TRAUMA AND MAKE MORE POSITIVE DECISIONS.  ROCA WILL USE THESE TOOLS TO NOT ONLY TO DIRECTLY SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT WE WILL ALSO WORK TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF CPS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE STUDENT AND TEACHER TRAUMA AND REDUCE VIOLENCE WITHIN ITS SCHOOLS. SPECIFICALLY, THROUGH THIS PROJECT, ROCA AND CPS SEEK TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: PLANNING AND PARTNERSHIP FORM AND REGULARLY CONVENE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORK WITH CPS TO CREATE AND ANNUALLY UPDATE A SCHOOL SAFETY STRATEGIC PLAN. BUILD CPS CAPACITY PROVIDE CPS STAFF AND OTHER PARTNERS WITH TRAINING ON BRAIN SCIENCE, CBT AND PEACEMAKING CIRCLES AND PROVIDE COACHING TO HELP INTEGRATE THESE TOOLS INTO THE SCHOOL SETTING. PROVIDE A CBT DRIVEN SERVICE “BACKPACK” CUSTOMIZED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH YOUNG PERSON THAT WILL INCLUDE, MINIMALLY: ENGAGING 100 YOUNG PEOPLE A YEAR IN IN-SCHOOL VIOLENCE PREVENTION SERVICES ENGAGING 50 OF THE HIGHEST RISK YOUNG PEOPLE EACH YEAR IN ROCA’S INTERVENTION MODEL ENSURING THAT 70% OF YOUNG PEOPLE DEMONSTRATE EDUCATIONAL AND/OR VOCATIONAL GAINS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN CRIMINAL THINKING AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS. UTILIZING PEACEMAKING CIRCLES AND OTHER RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TOOLS TO HELP BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE AND POLICE AND AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES AND PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORTS THAT WILL PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH THE STRUCTURE THEY NEED TO AVOID VIOLENCE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

SUFFOLK COUNTY REENTRY INITIATIVE

THE COGNITIVE APPROACH TO REDUCE TRAFFICKING (CART) PROJECT BY ROCA, INC. WILL WORK INTENSIVELY WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT FEMALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 24 WHO ARE CONFIRMED AND SUSPECTED VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING IN THE CONNECTICUT CITIES OF HARTFORD, EAST HARTFORD, MANCHESTER, AND NEW BRITAIN. ROCA WILL IMPLEMENT ITS TRAUMA-INFORMED BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL TO ADDRESS THE EXTREME LEVELS OF TRAUMA AND VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCED BY VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. THE PROJECT WILL COMPLEMENT EXISTING EFFORTS TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE TARGET GEOGRAPHY AND ADDRESS A GAP IN COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR WOMEN IN THE TARGETED AGE GROUP. ROCA IS AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN THE REGIONALIZED HUMAN TRAFFICKING RECOVERY TASKFORCE AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH A RANGE OF PARTNERS TO FACILITATE VICTIMS ACCESS TO A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES. THROUGH CART, ROCA WILL COLLABORATE WITH RELEVANT PARTNERS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO VICTIMS AND SUPPORT EFFORTS TO REDUCE HUMAN TRAFFICKING. CART HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS WILL: 1) DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIP OUTCOMES; 2) EXTRICATE THEMSELVES FROM CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AVAILABLE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY; AND 3) DEVELOP NEW TOOLS TO ADDRESS TRAUMA, IMPROVE THEIR OWN COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND IMPROVE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS BY ENGAGING IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES. KEY OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO: 1) PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED, INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM SERVICES, INCLUDING OUTREACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT, TO VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING; 2) PROVIDE ADVOCACY, SUPPORT WITH BASIC NEEDS, ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, AND ASSISTANCE WITH NAVIGATING SYSTEMS; 3) UTILIZE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS, HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMMING, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES TO ENSURE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL, AND RELATIONSHIP HEALTH; AND 4) PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT TO INCREASE ECONOMIC STABILITY. THROUGH THIS WORK, ROCA WILL HELP YOUNG WOMEN MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE COMBINATION OF INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, VICTIM ADVOCACY, REWIRE CBT, SERVICE REFERRAL, TRAUMA-INFORMED TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

NURSING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

NURSING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

MANAGING TRAUMA IN CORRECTIONS (MTC) IS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT DESIGNED TO ADDRESS BOTH THE TRAUMA FACED BY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND THE STAFF WHO ARE HIRED TO WORK WITH THEM, HELPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION FOR OUR MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED RESIDENTS. MTC WILL ADDRESS A GROWING NEED ACROSS MA AND NATIONALLY, ADDRESSING HIGH RATES OF RECIDIVISM AMONG EMERGING ADULTS BY ADDRESSING NOT ONLY SENTENCED, BUT ALSO THE GROWING PRE-TRIAL POPULATIONS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, POPULATIONS TYPICALLY EXTREMELY CHALLENGING TO SERVE. MTC WILL WORK TO ALLEVIATE NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN STAFF AND INMATES IN OUR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. MTC WILL SERVE ALL EMERGING ADULTS WITH CUSTOMIZED SERVICES DESIGNED TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND SKILLS CRITICAL TO BEHAVIOR CHANGE, REGARDLESS OF THE LENGTH OF TIME THEY ARE BEHIND BARS. CENTERED AROUND THE DELIVERY OF REWIRE CBT, ROCAS WORK WILL BUILD ON KEY EVIDENCE-BASED AND, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, ROCA WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE IN ITS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED INTERVENTION MODEL, AFTER RELEASE, FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE YEARS. ROCA WILL SERVE AN ESTIMATED 400 TO 500 YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH WHO ARE REENTERING THE COMMUNITY FROM INCARCERATION, AND, AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL PROVIDE REWIRE4 TRAINING TO AN ESTIMATED 2,500 TO 3,000 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, REDUCTIONS IN CRIMINAL THINKING, REDUCTIONS IN RISKY BEHAVIORS AND REDUCED RATES OF RECIDIVISM. WE ALSO EXPECT TO SEE WIDESPREAD USE OF REWIRE4 AMONG THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WE ARE TRAINING.

DESPITE STRONG EXISTING REENTRY EFFORTS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN HAMPDEN COUNTY, MA, A GROUP OF HIGH-RISK, VIOLENT YOUNG OFFENDERS CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE EXTREMELY VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN THE COMMUNITY, ACCOMPANIED BY DISTURBINGLY HIGH RECIDIVISM RATES.  MANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENSIVE TRAUMA—TRAUMA THAT IS LEFT UNADDRESSED BY THE SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO SERVE THEM AND IS REPEATED ACROSS GENERATIONS. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE OFTEN RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION ARE RETURNING TO COMMUNITIES WITHOUT RESOURCES DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS, AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY CAN SEE NO CLEAR PATH TO SUCCESSFUL REINTEGRATION. THEIR CHRONIC AND ONGOING TRAUMA OFTEN RESULTS IN THEIR BECOMING TRAPPED IN THEIR OWN FEAR, STUCK IN A STATE OF “FIGHT OR FLIGHT” THAT CANNOT BE BROKEN.   THROUGH THE HAMPDEN COUNTY TRAUMA STABILIZATION PROJECT (HCTSP), ROCA, THE HAMPDEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT (HCSD) AND CLINICAL SUPPORT OPTIONS (CSO) WILL WORK TO HELP THIS YOUNG PEOPLE ADDRESS THIS TRAUMA AND ACCESS THE CRITICAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES THEY DESPERATELY NEED.  HCTSP WILL SERVE 150 YOUNG MEN RETURNING TO SPRINGFIELD, HOLYOKE, CHICOPEE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES FROM THE HAMPDEN COUNTY HOUSES OF CORRECTION.  HCTSP WILL WORK BOTH DURING INCARCERATION AND AFTER RELEASE TO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINED, LONG TERM BEHAVIOR CHANGE THAT WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN CRIMINAL THINKING, CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS AND RECIDIVISM AND AN INCREASE IN SUSTAINED EMPLOYMENT.    HCTSP WILL OFFER A REENTRY SOLUTION THAT IS BUILT AROUND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IN ORDER TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE WE MUST PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE THE LEAST READY TO ENGAGE IN CLINICAL CARE.   HCTSP WILL PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH LONG-TERM INTERVENTION SERVICES ACCOMPANIED BY COMMUNITY BASED AND MORE TRADITIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE AND CRISIS SUPPORT -INCLUDING THE EXPANSION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE MAGIC POD; ENHANCED, COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR-CHANGE PROGRAMMING WHILE INCARCERATED; AND, THE DELIVERY OF A LONG TERM, COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION COUPLED WITH INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, AS APPROPRIATE, IN THE COMMUNITY.    HCTSP WILL ALSO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS IN REWIRE CBT (ROCA’S UNIQUE APPROACH TO THE DELIVERY OF CBT) AND REWIRE4 (AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF CBT DESIGNED FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS).  IN ADDITION, ROCA AND ITS PARTNERS WILL CREATE A DATA DRIVEN ACTION PLAN WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF FINAL BUDGET APPROVAL AS WELL AS A FINAL REPORT AT THE END OF THE PROJECT.

INTERMEDIARY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (ISOS) ACTIVITY

ENHANCING PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

2005 ADOLESCENT FAMILY LIFE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

ROCA’S GOAL IS TO HELP CREATE A PATHWAY THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE KEY BARRIERS TO CARE AND BRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST.   IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19, URBAN VIOLENCE HAS SPIKED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, DRIVEN, IN LARGE PART, BY HIGHLY TRAUMATIZED YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TRADITIONAL COUNSELING, PROGRAMMING, SCHOOL, OR WORK.  THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND, SETTING OUR COMMUNITIES UP FOR CONTINUING CYCLES OF VIOLENCE AND POVERTY.    MEANWHILE, ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH, VIOLENCE, POVERTY, SYSTEMIC RACISM AND DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO CRITICAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED.  WHILE THESE CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE HAVE ONLY GROWN ALONGSIDE RISING VIOLENCE – AND THE IMPLICATION IS CLEAR: UNLESS WE REACH THE COMMUNITIES MOST DEVASTATED BY THE PANDEMIC WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE, WE CANNOT REDUCE URBAN VIOLENCE, WE WILL NOT REDUCE POVERTY AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BRING JUSTICE TO OUR INHERENTLY INEQUITABLE COMMUNITIES.   TO ADDRESS THIS SPIKING VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN URBAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS, ROCA WILL DELIVER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO 1,000 OF OUR MOST DISENGAGED YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG PARENTS, THOSE MOST LIKELY TO SHOOT OR BE SHOT.  THE PROJECT WILL FUND FIVE HIGHLY TRAINED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CASE MANAGERS AND ONE COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THEORY (CBT) COACH TO TRAIN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS.  THIS WILL FURTHER ENHANCE ROCA’S EFFECTIVE WORK TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AND SYSTEM LEADERS ADDRESS THE TRAUMA THAT DRIVES VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.   ROCA IS SEEKING $677,589 TO SUPPORT THIS PILOT PROJECT AND DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITY VIOLENCE THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY CONNECTING THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DRIVE URBAN VIOLENCE WITH APPROPRIATE CLINICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE.  THE PROJECT WILL DELIVER A COMBINATION OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, BROUGHT TO THEM IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH MORE TRADITIONAL, INTENSIVE CLINICAL CARE.    ROCA USES CBT, THE MOST EVIDENCE-BASED FORM OF PSYCHOTHERAPY, IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. UNLIKE THE MORE TRADITIONAL VERSIONS OF CBT, REWIRE – ROCA’S CBT APPROACH – IS RADICAL IN THAT IT DRAWS ON UNDERSTANDING OF BRAIN SCIENCE AND THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, AND DISMANTLES EXISTING HIERARCHIES BY TRUSTING AND EMPOWERING OUTREACH WORKERS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH INDIVIDUALS TO DELIVER A BEHAVIOR CHANGE INTERVENTION THAT IS MOST IMPACTFUL WHEN PRACTICED AND USED IN REAL LIFE AND IN REAL TIME.

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

A GROWING GROUP OF YOUNG MOTHERS ACROSS CONNECTICUT IS EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF VICTIMIZATION, INCLUSIVE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ABUSE, TRAFFICKING, AND EXPLOITATION. OFTEN OVERLOOKED, THEY ARE AT RISK OF PERMANENT SEPARATION FROM THEIR CHILDREN, INCARCERATION, DEPORTATION, OR, IN THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO, LOSING THEIR LIVES. TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS THIS GROWING NEED, IN OCTOBER 2021ROCA OPENED ITS HIGH-RISK YOUNG MOTHERS PROGRAM IN HARTFORD, CT, RECOGNIZING THAT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF YOUNG WOMEN WERE IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE, EXPERIENCING VICTIMIZATION, AND AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR CHILDREN. IN FY23 ALONE, ROCA HARTFORD SERVED 100 OF THE HIGHEST RISK YOUNG WOMEN IN CONNECTICUT AND RETAINED 80% OF THEM IN PROGRAMMING. ON AVERAGE, 90% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE ENGAGED EACH MONTH, AND 89% OF PARTICIPANTS WERE ENGAGED IN REWIRE CBT. OF THE 100 SERVED, 79% HAD NO NEW ARREST AND 100% HAD NO NEW INCARCERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, OF THOSE ENROLLED 18 MONTHS OR LONGER, 97% DEMONSTRATED IMPROVED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND 89% HAD IMPROVED EMOTIONAL REGULATION. WHILE THESE SUCCESSES SHOW OUR MODEL WORKS, ROCA HARTFORD HAS MAINTAINED A WAITING LIST SINCE WE LAUNCHED IN CT. ROCA IS SEEKING $577,000 TO BE SPENT OVER TWO YEARS TO EXPAND THIS WORK IN HARTFORD. TO SERVE HARTFORD'S YOUNG MOTHERS ON A LEVEL MORE COMMENSURATE WITH ACTUAL NEED, ROCA WILL:1)REACH AND SERVE ANOTHER 50 OF THE HIGHEST-RISK YOUNG WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN EACH YEAR (AND REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE WAITLIST THAT SOMETIMES REQUIRES NEW REFERRALS TO WAIT 2-3 MONTHS OR MORE FOR ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM); 2)EXPANDPARTICIPATION IN THE TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT THAT PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN CRITICAL JOB SKILLS BY WORKING, WHILE ALSOSERVING AS A BEHAVIOR CHANGE ACCELERATOR; 3)EVALUATE CRITICAL PROGRAM ELEMENTS THAT LEAD TO EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND CHILDREN; AND4)WORK WITH KEY PARTNERS ACROSS ORGANIZATIONS AND SYSTEMS TO CREATE A STATEWIDE WORKING GROUP TO IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST RISK YOUNG MOTHERS AND CHILDREN, DOCUMENT THEIR CHALLENGES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT ROBUST EDUCATION FOR STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO BETTER REACH AND SERVE THEM.

ROCA GANG PREVENTION PROJECT (RGPP)

WITH FUNDING THROUGH THE OVC 2024 PREVENTING TRAFFICKING OF GIRLS PROGRAM, ROCA, INC. PROPOSES A PROJECT TITLED, COGNITIVE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION FOR TRAFFICKING. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROVEN 4-YEAR, TRAUMA-INFORMED BEHAVIOR CHANGE MODEL TO ADDRESS EXTREME LEVELS OF TRAUMA AND VICTIMIZATION EXPERIENCED BY THESE YOUNG WOMEN AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY AND ECONOMIC STABILITY. THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE (1) PROVIDING CURSORY TRAFFICKING INFORMATION TO 700 HIGH-RISK YOUNG WOMEN; (2) PROVIDING TRAUMA-INFORMED, INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM SERVICES, INCLUDING RELENTLESS OUTREACH AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO 150 WOMEN AT THE HIGHEST RISK (3) PROVIDING ADVOCACY, SUPPORT WITH BASIC NEEDS, ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, AND ASSISTANCE WITH NAVIGATING SYSTEMS; (4) UTILIZING COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS, HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMMING, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES TO ENSURE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN BEHAVIORAL, MENTAL, AND RELATIONSHIP HEALTH; AND (5) PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EMPLOYMENT TO INCREASE ECONOMIC STABILITY. THROUGH THIS WORK, ROCA WILL HELP THESE YOUNG WOMEN MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND PROVIDE A COMBINATION OF INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, VICTIM ADVOCACY, CBT, SERVICE REFERRAL, TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE IMPROVED EMOTIONAL REGULATION, IMPROVED MENTAL HEALTH, REDUCED LEVELS OF DISTRESS, REDUCED DRUG/ALCOHOL USE, COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL GAINS, EMPLOYMENT RETENTION, NO NEW ARRESTS, AND NO NEW INCARCERATIONS. THE GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA INCLUDES THE MASSACHUSETTS CITIES AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES OF BOSTON, CHELSEA, SPRINGFIELD, HOLYOKE, AND LYNN WITH A TARGET AUDIENCE OF WITH YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT FEMALES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 24 WHO ARE AT EXTREMELY HIGH RISK OF TRAFFICKING. THERE IS ONE SUBRECIPIENT FOR THIS AWARD: PROCUREMENT LEGAL SERVICES (CHELSEA, MA).

ROCA B-3 INITIATIVE: INTERVENING WITH BOSTON'S HIGHEST RISK YOUNG GANG MEMBERS

JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS (JOLI) PROGRAM

ROCA IS REQUESTING $400,000 OVER TWO YEARS IN SUPPORT TO PILOT ROCA BALTIMORE IS PROPOSING THE SOUTH BALTIMORE PEACEMAKING PROJECT (SBPP) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BPD AND SAGAMORE DEVELOPMENT. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF VIOLENCE INTERVENTION WORK WITH HIGH-RISK YOUNG PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS CHANGE WORK WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS, THIS PROJECT WILL SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CREATE AN ONRAMP TO EMPLOYMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY’S HIGHEST RISK YOUNG MEN, WHO ARE EXPERIENCING INCREASED LEVELS OF VIOLENCE, TRAUMA, AND UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. ROCA BALTIMORE WILL EXPAND OUR AFTER SHOOTING PROTOCOL, WHICH WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PILOTED IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF BALTIMORE. THIS PROTOCOL INCLUDES A DAILY REVIEW OF THE HOMICIDE AND NON-FATAL SHOOTING LIST FROM THE BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE; COMMUNICATION WITH APPROPRIATE MAJORS, DJS AND P&P; COMMUNICATION WITH JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL TEAM; COMMUNICATION WITH SAFE STREETS WHEN APPROPRIATE;  A DOOR KNOCK WITH AN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE TO THE YOUNG PERSON AND/OR HIS FAMILY; ENROLLMENT IN ROCA BALTIMORE OR REFERRAL TO OTHER PROGRAM DEPENDING ON RISK LEVEL; FOLLOW-UP WITH ASSISTANCE; AND DOCUMENTATION OF ALL EFFORTS, CONTACTS AND FOLLOW-UP. IN ADDITION TO MAKING 24–48-HOUR DOOR KNOCKS FOR ANY NON-FATAL SHOOTING VICTIM IN THE DISTRICT, AND ANY FOLLOW-UP RELATED TO A HOMICIDE, WE WILL ENGAGE WITH ANY YOUNG MEN 16-TO-24 YEARS OLD WHO MAY BE OF CONCERN TO THE BPD SOUTHERN DISTRICT AS WELL AS ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BEING RELEASED FROM DETENTION AND LIVING IN THE DISTRICT.  THROUGH THIS WORK, ROCA WILL IDENTIFY AND INTENSIVELY SERVE 35-50 YOUNG MEN IN ROCA’S INTERVENTION MODEL AND WILL ENGAGE AT LEAST 30 OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IN TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT THEM AS THEY WORK TOWARDS UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT.  TO SUPPORT OUR SYSTEMIC CHANGE GOALS, ROCA WILL TRAIN POLICE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON TRAUMA, BRAIN SCIENCE AND TWO METHODOLOGIES FOR HEALING AND COMMUNICATION—CBT AND PEACEMAKING CIRCLES. ROCA WILL ALSO BUILD POLICE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND IMPLEMENT A HUB THAT WILL COORDINATE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PROVIDE OUR FAMILIES AT THE MOST ELEVATED LEVELS OF RISK WITH THE SUPPORT THEY NEED (BOTH IN SERVICES AND RESOURCES) TO MAKE AND SUSTAIN REAL CHANGE, SUPPORTING A MINIMUM OF 100 FAMILIES EACH YEAR.  ADDITIONALLY, ROCA WILL OFFER TRAINING IN CBT, PEACEMAKING CIRCLES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC SAFETY PLANNING GROUP WITH THE COMMAND STAFF AND OFFICERS AT THE BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT SOUTHERN DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE SAGAMORE.

A CYBERSECURITY PREPARATION ACADEMY (C-PREP) FOR BUFFALO STUDENTS AND TEACHERS -COMPANIES IN THE BUFFALO METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOY MORE THAN 37,000 WORKERS IN THE SOFTWARE, IT, CYBERSECURITY, NETWORKING, AND DATA ANALYTICS FIELDS. THESE COMPANIES RELY ON CYBERSECURITY TECHNICIANS TO PROTECT COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS FROM THEFT AND DAMAGE. THERE IS AN ACUTE NEED IN THE REGION FOR CYBERSECURITY TECHNICIANS SINCE SUPPLY HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE RAPIDLY GROWING DEMAND. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY, IN A HIGH-POVERTY REGION, TO PRODUCE CYBERSECURITY TECHNICIANS WHO CAN HELP ADDRESS THIS WORKFORCE NEED. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES IN TWO PARTNERING HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WILL LEAD TO MATRICULATION IN A POSTSECONDARY CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM. UPON GRADUATION STUDENTS WILL HAVE EARNED EITHER A POSTSECONDARY CERTIFICATE OR AN AAS DEGREE IN CYBERSECURITY QUALIFYING THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT AS TECHNICIANS IN THE CYBERSECURITY FIELD. THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE (1) IMPLEMENTING DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES WITH HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERS, (2) PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE FACULTY TO IMPROVE TECHNICIAN EDUCATION, (3) MARKETING THE PROGRAM, (4) ENROLLING STUDENTS IN A PATHWAY OF STACKABLE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS, (5) FOSTERING STUDENT SUCCESS THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT AND MENTORING, AND (6) STRENGTHENING STUDENT CONNECTIONS TO THE WORKFORCE THROUGH WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. A QUALITATIVE STUDY WILL EXAMINE STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE BENEFITS OF THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM TO ACCELERATE ENTRY INTO THE WORKFORCE AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PEER SUPPORTS TARGETED TO UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. THIS PROJECT WAS DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH NCYTE, AN ATE CENTER FOR CYBERSECURITY, WHOSE BROAD REACH WILL BE LEVERAGED TO DISSEMINATE PROJECT MATERIALS AND FINDINGS. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON THE EDUCATION OF TECHNICIANS FOR THE ADVANCED-TECHNOLOGY FIELDS THAT DRIVE THE NATION'S ECONOMY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM FOR TROCAIRE COLLEGE

PURPOSE: TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFIS) AND EMERGING CDFIS. PLANNED ACTIVITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE USED FOR THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS COMPENSATION PERSONAL SERVICES, COMPENSATION FRINGE BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE COSTS, TRAVEL COSTS, TRAINING AND EDUCATION COSTS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, AND INCORPORATION COSTS (SPONSORING ENTITIES ONLY). END GOALS: THE GOAL OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS TO BUILD CERTIFIED AND EMERGING CDFI’S ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO SERVE ELIGIBLE MARKETS AND/OR THEIR TARGET MARKETS, IN ORDER TO SERVE LOW INCOME PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT LACK ADEQUATE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. BENEFICIARIES: PROFIT ORGANIZATION, PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION, OTHER PRIVATE INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION INVESTMENT AREAS AND TARGETED POPULATIONS, AS DEFINED IN 12 C.F.R. 1805. SUBRECIPIENTS: THERE ARE NO SUBRECIPIENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM. BROADBAND: NOT APPLICABLE. REASON/PURPOSE OF MODIFICATION: NOT APPLICABLE.

TROCAIRE COLLEGE'S PROGRAM TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DATING VIOLENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND STALKING

SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY MENTORING PROJECT

ROCA S INTERVENTION MODEL: ENHANCING LOCAL INTERVENTION AND RE-ENTRY EFFORTS FOR HIGH RISK YOUNG PEOPLE

TRIO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

SELECTIVE ACTIN REMODELING OF SENSORY NEURONS FOR ACUTE PAIN MANAGEMENT

CHELSEA/REVERE GANG INTERVENTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

ROCA'S PHASE I USDA NIFA SBIR PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A TARGETED SALINITY REDUCTION SYSTEM THAT ADDRESSES A CRITICAL PROBLEM IN AGRICULTURE: THE SCARCITY OF HIGH-QUALITY IRRIGATION WATER CAUSED BY THE COMPOUNDING EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, INCREASING GROUNDWATER SALINITY, AND STRICTER WATER MANAGEMENT POLICIES. EXISTING DESALINATION SOLUTIONS, LIKE REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO), ARE NOT WELL-SUITED FOR AGRICULTURE BECAUSE OF HIGH ENERGY CONSUMPTION, MEMBRANE FOULING, AND THE PRODUCTION OF BRINE WASTE THAT IS EXPENSIVE TO DISPOSE OF. ROCA HAS DEVELOPED A MEMBRANE-FREE ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE SALINITY OF COMPLEX WATER SOURCES WITHOUT THE PRODUCTION OF BRINE WASTE; THE BY-PRODUCT OF ROCA'S TECHNOLOGY IS CAUSTIC SODA, A COMMON INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDE OPTIMIZING THE SYSTEM'S PERFORMANCE IN REAL WATER, IDENTIFYING THE IMPACT OF VARIOUS INORGANIC IONS AND ORGANIC MATTER, AND CONSTRUCTING A PROTOTYPE CELL CAPABLE OF TREATING 1 L OF WATER. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL BE USED TO EVALUATE THE SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO OPERATE WITH MINIMAL FOULING AND DEGRADATION AND ITS ABILITY TO PRODUCE INDUSTRIAL-GRADE CAUSTIC SODA. THE ANTICIPATED RESULTS INCLUDE A FULLY OPERATIONAL PROTOTYPE CELL WITH A PROJECTED WATER TREATMENT COST OF $450 PER ACRE-FOOT, WELL BELOW THE PRICE OF RO AND THE TARGET WATER PRICE FOR HIGH-VALUE CROPS. THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY IS SUBSTANTIAL, WITH APPLICATIONS NOT ONLY IN CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR BUT ALSO IN OTHER WATER-SCARCE REGIONS, POTENTIALLY GENERATING SIGNIFICANT REVENUE AS TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION EXPANDS. ROCA'SPHASE I PROJECT PROVIDES A SCALABLE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE COMMERCIALIZATION AND BROADER MARKET APPLICATIONS IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.

SBIR PHASE I: A MINIATURIZED SPECTRAL IMAGING SENSOR FOR BIOMEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS

EARMARK

PURPOSE: TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INVESTMENT IN AND ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (CDFIS) AND EMERGING CDFIS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE USED FOR THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS: COMPENSATION ? PERSONAL SERVICES, COMPENSATION ? FRINGE BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE COSTS, TRAVEL COSTS, TRAINING AND EDUCATION COSTS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, AND INCORPORATION COSTS (SPONSORING ENTITIES ONLY). END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE GOAL OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS TO BUILD CERTIFIED AND EMERGING CDFI?S ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO SERVE ELIGIBLE MARKETS AND/OR THEIR TARGET MARKETS, IN ORDER TO SERVE RURAL AND URBAN LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION THAT LACK ADEQUATE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: PROFIT ORGANIZATION, PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION, OTHER PRIVATE INSTITUTION/ORGANIZATION INVESTMENT AREAS AND TARGETED POPULATIONS, AS DEFINED IN 12 C.F.R. 1805. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: ONLY IN THE CASE WHERE A CDFI DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION HOLDING COMPANY APPLICANT INTENDS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITIES OF AN AWARD THROUGH ITS SUBSIDIARY CDFI INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION, AS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE CDFI FUND.

THE PROJECT AIMS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN THE REDUCTION OF THE IMPACT OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE IN MOROCCO.AMPD WILL TRAIN 25 YOUTH TO BECOME CLIMATE AMBASSAD

COMMUNITY AND MISSION: BUILDING A NEW APPLIED ETHICS MINOR AT TROCAIRE COLLEGE

CRRSAA: HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND (HEERF II) IS AUTHORIZED BY THE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE AND RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2021 (CRRSAA), PUBLIC LAW 116-260.

THE GRANTS TO REDUCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUS PROGRAM (CAMPUS PROGRAM) IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. § 20125. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING ON CAMPUSES. THESE COMPREHENSIVE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE VICTIM SERVICES, IMPLEMENT PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AND DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION STRATEGIES IN ORDER TO PREVENT, PROSECUTE, AND RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING. THE CAMPUS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ACTIVITIES THAT DEVELOP CAMPUS-BASED COORDINATED RESPONSES THAT INCLUDE CAMPUS VICTIM SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, HOUSING OFFICIALS, ADMINISTRATORS, STUDENT LEADERS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND DISCIPLINARY BOARDS, AND THAT ENHANCE VICTIM SAFETY AND ASSISTANCE AND HOLD OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE. TO BE EFFECTIVE, THESE RESPONSES MUST BE LINKED TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PROSECUTORS’ OFFICES, COURTS, AND NONPROFIT, NONGOVERNMENTAL VICTIM ADVOCACY AND VICTIM SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS.    THE FUNDED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PROJECT’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND VICTIM SERVICE PARTNERS, WILL IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PROJECT ON CAMPUS.  THROUGH THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AWARD, THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE TO MEET THE STATUTORY AND PROGRAMMATIC REQUIREMENTS.  IN ADDITION, THE PROJECT WILL: 1) IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM; 2) EXPAND OR STRENGTHEN EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE PREVENTION PLAN; AND 3) ENHANCE CAMPUS RESPONSES AND DIRECT SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND STALKING.

INDIGENOUS AND AFRICAN DESCENDENT WOMEN ON NICARAGUA’S AUTONOMOUS CARIBBEAN COAST REGION HAVE LITTLE ACCESS TO HEALTH AND EDUCATION SERVICES OR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE IAF SUPPORTS COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT EMPOWER WOMEN-LED ORGANIZATIONS AND NETWORKS TO BECOME ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT AND SOCIALLY ENGAGED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ASOCIACIÓN RED DE MUJERES AFROLATINOAMERICANAS, AFROCARIBEÑAS Y DE LA DIÁSPORA (ARMAAD - VOCES CARIBEÑAS) WORKS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PUERTO CABEZAS IN THE AUTONOMOUS CARIBBEAN COAST REGION TO PRIORITIZE, PROPOSE, AND PLAN COMMUNITY-DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN A REGION BATTERED BY COVID-19 AND HURRICANES ETA AND IOTA. ARMAAD - VOCES CARIBEÑAS WILL CONDUCT PARTICIPATORY SOCIOECONOMIC ASSESSMENTS TO BUILD RESILIENCE TO NATURAL DISASTERS AND ACCELERATE RECOVERY. THE GRANT IS PART OF THE IAF’S SOCIAL INCLUSION INITIATIVE AND THE IAF’S BROADER COVID-19 RESPONSE STRATEGY AND ETA/IOTA RESPONSE STRATEGY.

TO EMPOWER AND ENCOURAGE STRATEGIC EMERGING VOICES AUDIENCES THROUGH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN STEM, ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, EMPLOYABILITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, TO ADDRESS BOTH IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND LONG-TERM SOCIAL CHALLENGE

CARES ACT: EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUNDS- HIGHER EDUCATION RELIEF FUNDS

CARES ACT: EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUNDS- HIGHER EDUCATION RELIEF FUNDS

TO BRING TOGETHER FAVELA AND PERIPHERIES JOURNALISTS AND COMMUNICATORS FROM RIO, BAHIA AND ES TO DISCUSS THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION POLICIES, STRENGTHEN THOSE MEDIA NETWORKS, AND DISCUSS SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES FOR THESE BUSINESSES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO PARTIALLY FUND TWO SEMESTER VIRTUAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM THAT WILL BENEFIT 100 TO 120 STUDENTS AT FACENS.

TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

TO INCREASE STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING, MAKERSPACE ACTIVITIES, AND IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE BASED ON THE AMERICAN LOOK AND FEEL GUIDELINES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN SPACES PARTNER TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING PROJECTS RELATED TO CLIMATE JUSTICE AND STEM EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, FOCUSING ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING.

TO SUPPORT THE CCBEU SOROCABA STRATEGIC PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES AND TO UNDERTAKE TECHNOLOGICAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE RENOVATIONS.

TO BRING TOGETHER 15 COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS FROM RJ, BA & ES TO TAKE PART IN A CONFERENCE AIMED AT PROMOTING EXCHANGE OF BEST PRACTICES, DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG PROFESSIONAL NETWORK, & TRAINING IN JOURNALISTIC TECHNIQUES TARGETING THEIR SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC

THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT ENTITLED "THE DECIDING VOTE IS YOURS!".

TO ADDRESS ISSUES CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNICATORS WORKING IN HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS, AS WELL AS STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND THE NETWORK CREATED IN THE FIRST EDITION OF THE PROGRAM.

12 MONTH EFFORT ENTITILED "REDUCTION OF NOX VIA COAL COMBUSTION CATALYSIS"