Waycross Area Shelter For Abused Persons Inc

THE IMPROVING CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING GRANT PROGRAM IS AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 10461-10465 AND IMPLEMENTED THROUGH REGULATIONS AT 28 C.F.R. PART 90, SUBPART D. THE PROGRAM FOSTERS VICTIM SAFETY AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY IN CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING BY ENCOURAGING STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND COURTS TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS AND SHARE IDEAS THAT WILL RESULT IN EFFECTIVELY RESPONDING TO THESE CRIMES. AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF THIS PROGRAM IS THE DEVELOPMENT, REVITALIZATION, OR ENHANCEMENT OF A COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, VICTIM SERVICES PROVIDERS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING. THE GRANTEE, IN COLLABORATION WITH ITS PROJECT PARTNERS, WILL USE THIS ICJR AWARD TO IMPROVE THEIR JURISDICTIONS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING BY IMPLEMENTING ACTIVITIES THAT FOCUS ON VICTIM SAFETY AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE PROJECT ACTIVITIES. THE PROJECT WILL: 1) IDENTIFY A PROJECT COORDINATOR TO LEAD THE PROJECT AND ANY ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM; 2) COMPLETE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS TO INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC PLAN; 3) IDENTIFY EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICES OR TOOLS THAT MAY BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE AGENCY AND COMMUNITY LEVEL; 4) PARTICIPATE IN MANDATED OVW TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING UTILIZING OVW CULTURALLY SPECIFIC AND UNDERSERVED TTA PROVIDERS THROUGH THIS NEW GRANT TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE PROJECT, THE WAYCROSS AREA SHELTER FOR ABUSED PERSONS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WAYCROSS, GEORGIA, WILL IMPLEMENT A PROJECT ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREA: 10. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREA: 2. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1) PROVIDING A COORDINATED, COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO FAMILY VIOLENCE BY ENSURING VICTIMS' SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR CHILDREN; 2) ASSISTING FAMILIES IN ENDING THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE; AND 3) IMPROVING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE; AND 4) SUPPORTING TWO STAFF FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER A NAVIGATOR AND A TRANSPORT STAFF PERSON TO COORDINATE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS IN WARE, BACON, BRANTLEY, CHARLTON, COFFEE, AND PIERCE COUNTIES IN RURAL SOUTH GEORGIA.

WAYCROSS AREA SHELTER FOR ABUSED PERSONS/TRUST PARTNERSHIP - PROJECT ABSTRACT THE TRUST PARTNERSHIP (TRUST) IS A MULTI-SECTOR COALITION THAT SERVES WARE COUNTY, GA WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING RELATED TO YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION. TRUST WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2020 TO ADDRESS OPIOID AND OTHER SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS THAT WERE AFFLICTING WARE COUNTY AND TWO NEIGHBORING COUNTIES. MEMBERS SOON RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO INCLUDE YOUTH-FOCUSED PREVENTION EFFORTS IN THEIR CONTINUUM OF CARE TO PREVENT AND REDUCE YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE AND INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS. THIS LED TO THE FORMATION OF TRUST’S YOUTH PREVENTION COMMITTEE. A TRUST PARTNER, THE WAYCROSS AREA SHELTER FOR ABUSED PERSONS (D/B/A MAGNOLIA HOUSE) WILL SERVE AS THE COALITION’S FISCAL AGENT AND IS THE OFFICIAL GRANTEE FOR TRUST. WARE COUNTY IS A GEOGRAPHICALLY LARGE PREDOMINATELY RURAL COUNTY LOCATED IN EXTREME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA WITH A POPULATION OF 36,222. AS WITH MANY RURAL COUNTIES, WARE IS UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PREVENTION SERVICES. FORTUNATELY, THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION IS STRONG IN WARE AND IN ITS PRINCIPAL CITY, WAYCROSS. TRUST PARTNERS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE SUBSTANCE USE CONDITIONS IN THE COUNTY. TRUST’S STRATEGIC PREVENTION PLANNING IS DATA-DRIVEN, COMPREHENSIVE AND FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY-LEVEL CHANGE. THEY PLAN TO TARGET ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO IN YEAR ONE. ALCOHOL PREVENTION STRATEGIES WILL REDUCE COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL ACCESS AND CHANGE NORMS THAT ACCEPT IT AS A NORMAL PART OF ADOLESCENCE. TRUST PLANS TO CONDUCT COMPLIANCE CHECKS AND ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED PENALTIES FOR UNDERAGE SALES. THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM AND THE TALK. THEY HEAR YOU. PARENT CAMPAIGN WILL INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND PREPARE AND ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERAGE DRINKING AND GIVE CLEAR NO-USE EXPECTATIONS. RETAIL SIGNAGE WILL REMIND PATRONS OF SANCTIONS RELATED TO GIVING ALCOHOL TO ANYONE UNDER 21. TRUST PARTNERS WILL ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL HOST LIABILITY ORDINANCES IN WAYCROSS, WARE COUNTY AND GEORGIA. USING THE CDC’S CALL TO ACTION AS A GUIDE, TRUST PLANS TO REDUCE AND PREVENT YOUTH TOBACCO USE BY INCREASING YOUTH AWARENESS ABOUT THE HARMS/RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TOBACCO USE AND VAPING, CONDUCTING COMPLIANCE CHECKS TO RESTRICT YOUTH ACCESS, AND WIDELY PUBLICIZING TOBACCO CESSATION RESOURCES GEARED TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. THEY WILL EQUIP TOBACCO OUTLETS WITH RESOURCES FOR CHECKING IDS AND WARNING PATRONS THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO PURCHASE TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO PROVIDE TO OTHERS UNDER 21. TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND YOUTH PROTECTIVE FACTORS, TRUST WILL PROVIDE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS AND OTHERS WHO WORK WITH YOUTH IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS. YMHFA PREPARES YOUTH GATEKEEPERS TO RECOGNIZE SIGNS THAT A YOUNG PERSON MAY BE EXPERIENCING A SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL HEALTH OR OTHER CRISIS AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. THE EVIDENCE-BASED KEEPIN’ IT REAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM WILL REDUCE TOBACCO SMOKING, VAPING AND UNDERAGE DRINKING WHILE PROVIDING FUNDAMENTAL LIFE SKILLS NEEDED FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND HANDLING CHALLENGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. IN FUTURE YEARS, TRUST WILL EXPAND ITS FOCUS TO INCLUDE STRATEGIES TARGETING MARIJUANA AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. TRUST’S 30+ MEMBERS AND SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES ARE EXPERIENCED AND UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF IMPLEMENTING THEIR DFC WORK PLAN FOR 2026-2027.