Namati Inc

INTEGRATED LEGAL EMPOWERMENT FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE PATIENT RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO QUALITY SERVICES FOR HIV AFFECTED POPULATIONS IN MOZAMBIQUE

INTEGRATED LEGAL EMPOWERMENT FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE PATIENT RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO QUALITY SERVICES FOR HIV AFFECTED POPULATIONS IN MOZAMBIQUE - RIGHT TO HEALTH PROGRAM

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO NAMATI. THIS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WILL WORK TO BOLSTER FRONTLINE COMMUNITY CAPACITY IN EPA REGION 3 TO EFFECTIVELY ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) USING TWO INNOVATIVE, COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACHES: COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND LEGAL EMPOWERMENT. NAMATI WILL CO-DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN EJ ACADEMY TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY LEADERS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS EJ ISSUES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION AS WELL AS ENABLE AND SUPPORT EJ ACADEMY GRADUATES TO CONDUCT 'EJ BOOTCAMPS,' TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC EJ ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES.ACTIVITIES: THE MYRIAD ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICES THROUGHOUT THE REGION ILLUSTRATE THE NEED FOR WIDESPREAD CAPACITY ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) ISSUES WITHIN COMMUNITIES. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM FEATURES: 1) A ROBUST CURRICULUM UTILIZING THE EPA'S CPS MODEL; 2) A TRAINING OF TRAINERS (TOT) APPROACH FOR INCREASING CAPACITY AND BROADENING PROGRAM IMPACTS; 3) CONDENSED 'BOOTCAMP' STYLE TRAININGS TO BE EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS; AND 4) PRACTICAL CAPSTONE PROJECTS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS COVERED TO ADDRESSING EJ ISSUES IN THEIR HOME COMMUNITIES. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:NAMATI WILL DEVELOP A PROJECT TEAM TO PUBLICIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACADEMY PROGRAM BROADLY TO ENSURE AN OPTIMAL POOL OF POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS VIA THEIR NETWORKS ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL ASSIST WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSLATION OF OUTREACH MATERIALS REGARDING THE ACADEMY AND BOOTCAMPS; AS WELL AS RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO LOCAL EJ AND HEALTH ISSUES . OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON FRONTLINE/ COMMUNITIES WITH EJ ISSUES IN THE REGION. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL MEET WITH RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THE PROJECT AND ADDRESS CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROGRAM. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH INCLUDE INCREASING AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES AND RESOURCES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, INCREASED CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES AND COMMUNITIES. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES, HBCUS AND UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY LEADERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.