Congreso De Latinos Unidos Inc

PWIDS PREVENTING HIV - CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS, A NON-PROFIT, MULTISERVICE ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA, HAS MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AS AN HIV PREVENTION PROVIDER AND SERVES A LOW-INCOME, LATINO COMMUNITY THAT HAS EXPERIENCED RECENT INCREASES IN SUBSTANCE USE AND HIV TRANSMISSION. IF AWARDED, CONGRESO WILL EXPAND ITS HIV PREVENTION RESPONSE TO PERFORM OVER 2,000 ADDITIONAL HIV TESTS DURING THIS FIVE-YEAR PROJECT THAT WILL ADDRESS URGENT TRENDS IN HIV TRANSMISSION AMONG PERSONS WHO INJECT DRUGS (PWID). BECAUSE CONGRESO RECOGNIZES THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL COMPONENTS OF SUBSTANCE USE AND OTHER RISKY BEHAVIORS, THE PROJECT WILL LINK ALL PATIENTS TO ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES THAT LEAD TO LONG-TERM HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT AND SYRINGE SERVICES PROGRAMS. ADDICTION SUPPORT SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PWID REGARDLESS OF THEIR HIV STATUS, AND CONGRESO?S NEW ADDICTION SUPPORT SPECIALIST WILL FACILITATE WEEKLY SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS UTILIZING SHIELD. CLIENTS WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO A SAFE PLACE FOR ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS TO SUPPORT THEIR RISK/HARM REDUCTION PLANS. CONGRESO?S PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE FOUR STRATEGIES ESTABLISHED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION TO END THE HIV EPIDEMIC: DIAGNOSE, TREAT, PREVENT, AND RESPOND. DIAGNOSE: THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TESTING FOR HIV AND REFERRALS TO INTEGRATED SCREENINGS, SUCH AS SYPHILIS, GONORRHEA, CHLAMYDIA, VIRAL HEPATITIS, AND TUBERCULOSIS. THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKING STRATEGIES, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND MOBILE OUTREACH, THE PROJECT?S OUTCOMES WILL INCREASE PERSONS WHO ARE AWARE OF THEIR HIV STATUS AND INCREASE RECEIPT OF INTEGRATED SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE SCREENINGS. TREAT: THE PROJECT WILL LINK CLIENTS WHO ARE DIAGNOSED WITH HIV TO MEDICAL CARE, INCLUDING ANTIRETROVIRAL TREATMENT (ART), PROVIDE MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT, AND ENCOURAGE CONNECTIONS WITH RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, SUCH AS SOCIAL SERVICES AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. TREATMENT OUTCOMES ARE INCREASED RECEIPT OF HIV MEDICAL CARE AND ART AMONG PERSONS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV OR WITH PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED HIV WHO ARE NOT-IN-CARE, INCREASED ACCESS TO PARTNER SERVICES, AND INCREASED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES AMONG PERSONS WITH HIV. PREVENT: THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT HIV-NEGATIVE PERSONS FROM ACQUIRING HIV BY ASSIGNING THEM AN HIV NAVIGATOR TO CREATE AN INDIVIDUALIZED RISK REDUCTION PLAN, CONNECTING THEM WITH MEDICAL CARE THAT INCLUDES PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PREP), CONDUCTING MOBILE OUTREACH TO DISTRIBUTE RISK REDUCTION INFORMATION AND TOOLS (E.G. CONDOMS), PROVIDING THE EVIDENCE-BASED SHIELD INTERVENTION FOR INJECTION DRUG USERS, AND REFERRING CLIENTS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINATES OF HEALTH. PREVENTION OUTCOMES ARE INCREASED ACCESS TO PREP, INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF CONDOMS, INCREASED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR HIV-NEGATIVE PERSONS, AND INCREASED RECEIPT OF EVIDENCE-BASED RISK-REDUCTION BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS. RESPOND: THE PROJECT WILL CONTINUE CONGRESO?S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH DATA SHARING AND ONGOING PARTICIPATION IN THE PHILADELPHIA HIV PLANNING GROUP WHICH WILL RESULT IN INCREASED ENGAGEMENT FOR CLUSTER DETECTION AND RESPONSE. CONGRESO?S HOLISTIC, CULTURALLY APPRECIATIVE HIV SERVICES WILL REDUCE NEW HIV INFECTIONS, REDUCE HIV-RELATED HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PERSONS WITH DIAGNOSED HIV IN EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP CONGRESO STEM THE RISE OF HIV AMONG PWID AND INCREASE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CONGRESO?S COMMUNITY AND PHILADELPHIA AS A WHOLE.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS

LATINO PREVENTION NAVIGATION - CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS’ LATINO PREVENTION NAVIGATION PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE NEW HIV INFECTIONS AMONG HIGH-RISK LATINO AND BLACK ADULTS AGES 18-35 IN EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA, SUCH AS MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM). THIS PROJECT USES NAVIGATION AND PEER EDUCATION TO HELP PARTICIPANTS REDUCE THEIR RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV. PARTICIPANTS ARE ALSO SCREENED FOR SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND PROVIDED BRIEF INTERVENTION AND REFERRALS TO TREATMENT. CONGRESO HAS OVER FOUR DECADES OF EXPERIENCE SERVING PHILADELPHIA’S LATINO COMMUNITY, AND OUR ESFUERZO HIV PREVENTION AND CARE PROGRAM HAS OFFERED COMPREHENSIVE LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1985. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL PROVIDE HIV, STI, AND VIRAL HEPATITIS TESTING AND TREATMENT SERVICES THROUGH CONGRESO’S FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER, AND PARTICIPANTS WHO SCREEN POSITIVE FOR SUBSTANCE MISUSE RECEIVE AN IMMEDIATE REFERRAL FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT WITH ONE OF OUR PROJECT PARTNERS. CONGRESO WILL SERVE 1,200 PARTICIPANTS DURING THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT, INCREASING FROM 150 PARTICIPANTS IN YEAR 1 TO 300 PARTICIPANTS IN YEAR 5. THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO 1) REDUCE POTENTIAL HIV INFECTIONS THROUGH SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION EDUCATION AND HIV RISK REDUCTION EDUCATION, 2) INCREASE HIV AND STI STATUS AWARENESS BY TESTING PARTICIPANTS FOR HIV, STIS, AND VIRAL HEPATITIS, AND 3) PREVENT HIV INFECTION THROUGH LINKAGES TO RELEVANT SERVICES. MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE PROVIDING HIV AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION EDUCATION TO PROVIDE 150 PARTICIPANTS; PROVIDING HIV, STI, AND VIRAL HEPATITIS TESTING AND TREATMENT TO 150 PARTICIPANTS; AND ASSESSING 150 PARTICIPANTS FOR HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT NEEDS AND PROVIDING APPROPRIATE LINKAGES TO CARE. A HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST WILL APPLY THE EVIDENCE-BASED THINK TWICE CURRICULUM. THINK TWICE IS A SINGLE-SESSION INTERVENTION DESIGNED FOR MSM WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV AND WAS SHOWN TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE BEHAVIORS IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. THE LATINO PREVENTION NAVIGATION PROJECT COMPLEMENTS HIV SEXUAL BEHAVIOR PREVENTION SERVICES WITH THE SCREENING, BRIEF INTERVENTION, AND REFERRAL TO TREATMENT (SBIRT) INTERVENTION. SBIRT IS A SECONDARY PREVENTION STRATEGY THAT IDENTIFIES RISKY SUBSTANCE USE BEHAVIORS BEFORE ABUSE OR DEPENDENCE OCCURS AND PROVIDES EARLY INTERVENTION TO STOP THE ONSET OF MORE HAZARDOUS BEHAVIORS AND SYMPTOMS. PARTICIPANTS WHO SCREEN POSITIVE FOR SUBSTANCE MISUSE WILL RECEIVE A BRIEF INTERVENTION AND AN IMMEDIATE REFERRAL FOR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT WITH ONE OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS—PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT CORPORATION AND COMHAR. CONGRESO WILL UNIFY HIV AND SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION PRACTICES THROUGH PARTICIPANT NAVIGATION. THE LEAD NAVIGATOR WILL HELP PARTICIPANTS ACCESS HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, IDENTIFY AND REDUCE BARRIERS TO CARE, AND CUSTOMIZE HEALTH EDUCATION TO EACH PARTICIPANT’S NEEDS. NAVIGATION SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS WITH ACCESSING PREVENTATIVE SERVICES, SUCH AS PREP, NPEP, AND STI TESTING, WHICH WILL HELP PARTICIPANTS REMAIN HIV-NEGATIVE AND ENGAGED IN THEIR HEALTHCARE.

ALCANZA, TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION-A CLINICAL PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT

CIVIL LEGAL REPRESENTATION (CLR)

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. CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS, INC. (CONGRESO) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN PHILADELPHIA PA , AN URBAN REGION OF THE STATE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL PROVIDE SCATTERED SITE RESIDENCES FOR 45 SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PRIVATE LANDLORD HOUSING UNITS. CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS, INC. (CONGRESO) WILL COLLABORATE WITH ITS 2 PARTNERS WOMEN IN TRANSITION (WIT), AND LUTHERAN SETTLEMENT HOUSE (LSH), 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 24 MONTHS. 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, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, CAREER COUNSELING, FINANCIAL AND CREDIT COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION ATTAINMENT, PARENTING CLASSES, AND HOUSING ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO HIRE 1 ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED.

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 NEW CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES PROGRAM PROJECT, CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS, INCORPORATED WILL IMPLEMENT A PROJECT ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREAS: WORKING IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES HIGHLIGHTING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ISSUES AND RESOURCES REGARDING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; AND PROVIDING 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 FOR LATINO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: LIFE SKILLS, CAREER SKILLS, ADVOCACY, EVIDENCE-BASED DATING AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION, INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALING PROGRAMS, TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND HOUSING COUNSELING.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SERVICES TO CRIME VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS FROM COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED; MARGINALIZED; ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY INEQUALITY; AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY CRIME, VIOLENCE, AND VICTIMIZATION. WITH THIS FUNDING, CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS, INC., WILL PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, FURNITURE THAT MEETS CHILD SAFETY STANDARDS, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO 25 VICTIMS OF CRIME IN EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA, WHERE THE POPULATION IS LARGELY LATINO.

EARMARK

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

PURPOSE: THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE VITA GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS WHO 1) EXTEND SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN HARDEST TO REACH AREAS BOTH URBAN AND NON-URBAN; 2) INCREASE THE CAPACITY TO FILE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) HEIGHTEN QUALITY CONTROL; 4) ENHANCE TRAINING OF VOLUNTEERS; AND 5) SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ACCURACY RATE OF RETURNS PREPARED AT VITA SITES. END GOAL/EXPECTED OUTCOMES: VITA GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE EXPECTED TO 1) FOLLOW EXISTING GUIDANCE GOVERNING VITA SITE OPERATIONS; 2) ENSURE AT LEAST 90% OF RETURNS PREPARED ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) THRESHOLDS; 2) FILE ALL ELIGIBLE RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY; 3) ACHIEVE 100% OF THEIR RETURN PRODUCTION GOALS; 4) BECOME MORE EFFICIENT WITH GRANT FUNDS; AND 5) SHOW INCREMENTAL INCREASES IN RETURN PREPARATION EACH YEAR. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: TAXPAYERS WHO ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THOSE FOR WHOM ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE, NATIVE AMERICANS, INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN RURAL AREAS, MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ELDERLY. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENTS MAY BE UTILIZED BY GRANT RECIPIENTS TO HELP DELIVER KEY ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM AND MUST ADHERE TO GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES. BROADBAND: SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES RELATING TO BROADBAND USAGE ARE NOT KNOWN AT THE TIME OF AWARD.

CONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS, INC. (CONGRESO) REQUESTS THREE AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS TO SUPPORT WITH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR AGENCY'S MISSION TO IMPACT, A PROJECT THROUGH WHICH CONGRESO IS ENHANCING CURRENT SERVICES AND CREATING NEW PROGRAMMING TO MOST EFFECTIVELY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. CONGRESO'S MISSION TO IMPACT IS THE RESULT OF OUR RECENTLY REFRESHED THEORY OF CHANGE, WHICH IS BASED ON A "WOMB-TO-WORK" STRATEGY: WE BELIEVE THAT OFFERING QUALITY PROGRAMMING IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH, HOUSING, AND PARENTING WILL ENABLE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND WELL-BEING. ONE VISTA MEMBER WILL BE ASSIGNED TO ONE OF EACH OF CONGRESO'S THREE PROGRAMMATIC DIVISIONS: EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE SERVICES (EWS), FAMILY AND HOUSING SERVICES (FHS), AND HEALTH PROMOTION AND WELLNESS (HPW). EACH PROGRAMMATIC DIVISION CORRESPONDS WITH ONE OF AMERICORPS VISTA'S FOCUS AREAS: EWS CORRESPONDS WITH THE EDUCATION FOCUS, FHS CORRESPONDS WITH THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOCUS, AND HPW CORRESPONDS WITH THE HEALTHY FUTURES FOCUS. IN YEAR 1 OF THE PROPOSED MISSION TO IMPACT PROJECT, CONGRESO'S THREE VISTA MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT TO PROGRAM STAFF, LEADERSHIP, AND CONSULTANTS BY CONDUCTING LITERATURE REVIEWS OF BEST PRACTICES IN THE FIELD AND HELPING TO CREATE A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT THROUGH WHICH CONGRESO STAFF WILL IMPLEMENT CLIENT VOICE TO A HIGHER DEGREE IN PROGRAMMING IN ORDER TO MOST EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS CLIENTS' NEEDS. VISTAS WILL ALSO SUPPORT WITH "DESIGN LAB" WORKSHOPS, THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH CONGRESO IS IMPLEMENTING HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN (HCD), INTO ALL PROGRAMMING, BOTH NEW AND CURRENT. HCD IS A MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK THAT DEVELOPS SOLUTIONS BY INVOLVING THE HUMAN PERSPECTIVE IN ALL STEPS OF THE PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCESS, SIMULTANEOUSLY MATCHING CLIENTS' EXPECTATIONS, PERSONAL VALUES, AND BELIEF SYSTEMS TO PROGRAM DESIGN. TYPICALLY USED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HCD IS INCREASINGLY BECOMING RECOGNIZED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR ITS TRANSFERABILITY TO SOCIAL SERVICES. CONGRESO'S COMMUNITY IN EASTERN NORTH PHILADELPHIA FACES NUMEROUS BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND WELL-BEING, INCLUDING UNEMPLOYMENT, LOW EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, UNSAFE AND UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND VIOLENCE. OF THE 17,567 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS CONGRESO SERVED IN FY18, 73% WERE LATINO AND 58% SPOKE SPANISH AS A PRIMARY LANGUAGE, WHICH PRESENTS ADDITIONAL BARRIERS (I.E. DISCRIMINATION, LANGUAGE BARRIERS) ON THE JOURNEY OUT OF CHRONIC POVERTY. CONGRESO, AS A MULTISERVICE ORGANIZATION, OFFERS A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES THROUGH OUR THREE PROGRAMMATIC DIVISIONS TO SUPPORT CLIENTS AS THEY WORK TOWARDS ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND WELL-BEING. AS WE STRIVE TO FURTHER ENHANCE THESE SERVICES THROUGH MISSION TO IMPACT, VISTA MEMBERS' SUPPORT WILL ENABLE CONGRESO TO ACHIEVE A LEVEL OF SUSTAINABILITY THAT WILL POSITION THE AGENCY TO MOST EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT CLIENTS AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN THE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.