Taller Salud Inc

TALLER SALUD (TS), INC. IS A FEMINIST, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1979 WITH A 42-YEAR TRAJECTORY OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION COMMUNITY WORK.  TS LAUNCHED PUERTO RICO’S FIRST COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM AND HOLDS A 10 YEAR TRACK RECORD OF IMPLEMENTING THE ISLAND’S ONLY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM: ACUERDO DE PAZ (PEACE ACCORDS). PEACE ACCORDS USES HIGHLY TRAINED VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS AND STREET OUTREACH WORKERS, PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS - SUCH AS THOSE ADDRESSING STRUCTURAL RACISM AND TOXIC MASCULINITIES - BEHAVIORAL AND WORKFORCE SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION TO PREVENT AND REDUCE VIOLENCE. WITH  OJP’S CVIPI FUNDING, THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE A MINIMUM OF 40 YOUNG MALES (AGES: 15-30) RESIDENTS OF THE REGION EVERY YEAR WITH VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION, CONFLICT MEDIATION, BEHAVIORAL, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. IT WILL CREATE THE CVIPI PLANNING TEAM, REASSESS ITS VIOLENCE REDUCTION PLAN WITH THE SUPPORT OF ITS RESEARCH PARTNER, AND LAUNCH IMPORTANT AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. INTERVENTIONS ARE MODELED AFTER THE CURE VIOLENCE PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL. PROVIDING VIOLENCE INTERVENTION SERVICES RELIES ON SKILL, KNOWLEDGE OF CRIME TRENDS AND GANG RELATED ACTIVITIES, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND STRONG COMMUNITY NETWORKS. THIS, TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND EFFICIENTLY AND SENSITIVELY, AND TO PENETRATE CULTURAL CODES THAT CAN BE CLOSED TO OUTSIDERS. TALLER SALUD IS SEEKING FUNDING CATEGORY 3 STATUS AND PRIORITY CONSIDERATION AS A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION.  THE THREE YEAR, $2,000,0000 AWARD WILL ALLOW TS TO CONTINUE PROVIDING A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM THAT WORKS AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL AND AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL SEEKING CRIME REDUCTION, IMPROVING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE TO CRIMES AND DENORMALIZING CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY OF LOÍZA AND THE NORTHEASTERN REGION OF PUERTO RICO.

TU PAZ CUENTA: CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SUPPORT GROUPS FOR AFRO PUERTO RICAN WOMEN.

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 ADULT AND YOUTH (AGES 11 TO 24) VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING, OR SEXUAL ASSAULT 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 IS ASSISTANCE IN: A) DIVORCE, PARENTAL RIGHTS, CHILD SUPPORT, TRIBAL, TERRITORIAL, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY, HOUSING, CAMPUS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, PRIVACY, CONTRACT, CONSUMER, CIVIL RIGHTS, PROTECTION OR OTHER INJUNCTIVE PROCEEDINGS, RELATED ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS, AND OTHER SIMILAR MATTERS; B) CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND POST-CONVICTION MATTERS (INCLUDING SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION) THAT IMPACT THE VICTIMS SAFETY, PRIVACY, OR OTHER INTERESTS AS A VICTIM; C) ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, OR OTHER PROCESSES INTENDED TO PROMOTE VICTIM SAFETY, PRIVACY, AND AUTONOMY, AND OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY, REGARDLESS OF COURT INVOLVEMENT; OR D) POST-CONVICTION RELIEF PROCEEDINGS IN STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, OR TERRITORIAL COURT WITH RESPECT TO A CONVICTION OF A VICTIM RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, OR SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMIZATION OF THE VICTIM. THROUGH THIS NEW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROJECT, TALLER SALUD, INC. WILL PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO SURVIVORS IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF PUERTO RICO AND IN THE LOIZA MUNICIPALITY, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE BLACK/AFRO-DESCENDED POPULATIONS. LEGAL SERVICES WILL INCLUDE ASSISTANCE OR REPRESENTATION IN MATTERS SUCH AS PROTECTION ORDERS, FAMILY LAW, CONSUMER PROTECTION, HOUSING, POST-CONVICTION SENTENCING, PAROLE, AND PROBATION HEARINGS. AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF AWARD FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREAS: 1) PRIORITY AREA 1: ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY AND 2) PRIORITY AREA 2: INCREASING LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS WILL BE DEVELOPED DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD: PREVENTION AND EDUCATION MATERIALS.

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, 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. A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL IS ONE WHO LACKS A FIXED, REGULAR, AND ADEQUATE NIGHTTIME RESIDENCE, AND INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SHARING THE HOUSING OF OTHER PERSONS DUE TO LOSS OF HOUSING, ECONOMIC HARDSHIP, OR A SIMILAR REASON. 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. PROJECTS MUST PROVIDE: 1) TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND 2) SUPPORT SERVICES (TO INCLUDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES) TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, OR STALKING. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING MODELS INCLUDE: COMMUNAL/SHARED FAMILY LIVING SPACES, CLUSTERED/INDIVIDUAL FAMILY CO-LOCATED SPACES AND SCATTERED SITE/INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SPACES INDEPENDENTLY LOCATED. PROJECTS MUST OFFER A MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS AND MAXIMUM 24 MONTHS OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE. SUPPORT SERVICES CAN BE A WIDE RANGE OF SURVIVOR-CENTERED VOLUNTARY SERVICES FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING SURVIVORS AND ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS BECAUSE OF GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, RACE, ETHNICITY AND SPECIAL NEEDS (SUCH AS LANGUAGE BARRIERS, DISABILITIES, ALIENAGE STATUS, OR AGE). EXAMPLES OF SURVIVOR-CENTERED VOLUNTARY SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE: RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, SAFETY PLANNING, CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, CAREER COUNSELING, FINANCIAL AND CREDIT COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION ATTAINMENT, LIMITED LEGAL ASSISTANCE (REGARDING HOUSING, PROTECTION ORDERS, AND LIMITED IMMIGRATION MATTERS THAT AFFECT A VICTIM’S ABILITY TO OBTAIN HOUSING), AND OTHER ASSISTANCE. PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A COMPENSATED PARTNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF SERVICE. ONCE PERMANENT HOUSING IS SECURED, SURVIVOR-CENTERED VOLUNTARY FOLLOW-UP SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO SURVIVORS FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE MONTHS AND A MAXIMUM OF 12 MONTHS.

THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING PROGRAM (TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY 34 U.S.C. 12351), HAS AS ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE THE PROVISION OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO AID MINORS, ADULTS, AND THEIR DEPENDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS (AS DEFINED IN 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. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS FOR WHOM EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES OR OTHER CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE UNAVAILABLE OR INSUFFICIENT. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS VICTIM-CENTERED APPROACHES TO PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, SHORT-TERM HOUSING ASSISTANCE, AND VOLUNTARY SUPPORT SERVICES TO ASSIST WITH LOCATING AND SECURING PERMANENT HOUSING, OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND INTEGRATING INTO A COMMUNITY. TALLER SALUD INC, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN LOIZA, PR, WILL IMPLEMENT THE TU PAZ CUENTA TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM THROUGH THE PROVISION OF VICTIM-CENTERED APPROACHES TO TRANSITIONAL HOUSING NEEDS, IN COLLABORATION WITH MUJERES EN LA BREGA, LLC. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE TEN PRIVATE LANDLORD, SCATTERED SITE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING RESIDENCES FOR TEN SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN A RURAL REGION OF PUERTO RICO. 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. THE SERVICES OFFERED WILL FOCUS ON PROVIDING VICTIM SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS AND WILL BE TAILORED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS WHO ARE SERVED. THE RANGE OF OPTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDES RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, SAFETY PLANNING, FINANCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, AND HOUSING ADVOCACY. THE PROJECT WILL RETAIN FOUR DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES FOR AT LEAST 3 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 CONTINUATION CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES PROGRAM PROJECT, TALLER SALUD INC. WILL IMPLEMENT A PROJECT ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE AREAS: WORK WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND ENHANCE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; INCREASE COMMUNITIES CAPACITY TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING CRIMES AND THEIR FAMILIES; ENHANCE TRADITIONAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP EDUCATION AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES HIGHLIGHTING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ISSUES AND RESOURCES; PROVIDE 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; AND EXAMINE THE DYNAMICS OF CULTURE AND ITS IMPACT ON VICTIMIZATION AND HEALING FOR HISPANIC/LATINO AND BLACK SURVIVORS IN THE COMMUNITY OF LOZA AND THE NORTHEASTERN REGION OF PUERTO RICO. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREAS: PRIORITY AREA 1 - ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY AND PRIORITY AREA 3 - UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE TU PAZ CUENTA (YOUR PEACE MATTERS) PROGRAM DEVELOPS INNOVATIVE CULTURALLY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR RACIAL AND ETHNIC AFRO-DESCENDANT WOMEN SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV). SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE: MUSIC, ART, FOOD, WRITING, SOMATIC APPROACHES, SELF-CONNECTION, AND COLLECTIVE INTEGRATION, AMONG OTHER CULTURAL ASPECTS, TO INTEGRATE THE CULTURE INTO THE HEALING PROCESS FOR THE SURVIVORS. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT, PSYCHOTHERAPY, SUPPORT GROUP AND A GBV HOTLINE.

YOUR PEACE MATTER

THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM (SAS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM) WAS CREATED BY THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005 (VAWA 2005), 34 U.S.C. § 12511(C), AND IS PART OF THE FIRST FEDERAL FUNDING STREAM SOLELY DEDICATED TO THE PROVISION OF DIRECT INTERVENTION AND RELATED ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. INTERVENTION AND RELATED ASSISTANCE INCLUDE ADVOCACY, ACCOMPANIMENT (E.G., ACCOMPANYING VICTIMS TO COURT, MEDICAL FACILITIES, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, ETC.), CRISIS INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES, AND REFERRALS, AMONG OTHER SERVICES. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, SUCH SERVICES MAY BE PROVIDED TO ADULT, YOUTH, AND CHILD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OF SUCH VICTIMS, AND THOSE COLLATERALLY AFFECTED BY THE VICTIMIZATION.    SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FROM CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES FREQUENTLY CONFRONT UNIQUE CHALLENGES WHEN SEEKING ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL BARRIERS. CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE MORE LIKELY TO UNDERSTAND THESE CHALLENGES BECAUSE THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND BACKGROUND OF VICTIMS FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHO IN TURN ARE MORE INCLINED TO SEEK SERVICES FROM SUCH ORGANIZATIONS. THE GOAL OF THE SAS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAM IS TO CREATE, MAINTAIN, AND EXPAND SUSTAINABLE SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES PROVIDED BY CULTURALLY SPECIFIC COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH SERVE A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING SERVICES THAT ARE RELEVANT FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. GRANTEES MUST EITHER DEMONSTRATE EXPERTISE IN SEXUAL ASSAULT OR PARTNER WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS SUCH EXPERTISE. CULTURALLY SPECIFIC IS STATUTORILY DEFINED AS ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMMUNITIES: 1) AMERICAN INDIANS (INCLUDING ALASKA NATIVES, ESKIMOS, AND ALEUTS); 2) ASIAN AMERICANS; 3) NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDERS; 4) BLACKS; AND 5) HISPANICS. SEE 34 U.S.C. §§ 12511(C)(2), 12291(A)(6), AND 42 U.S.C. § 300U-6(G)(1).