Center For Community Solutions

TITLE X, FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES PROGRAM

LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROJECT

VICTIM RIGHTS LEGAL SERVICES: COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING DIRECT REPRESENTATION, FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING

RURAL VICTIM SERVICES FOR MOUNTAIN EMPIRE REGION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

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 CONTINUATION LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS PROJECT, CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CASA CORNELIA LAW CENTER AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WILL PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES IN NINE AREAS OF LAW (SAFETY, IMMIGRATION, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, EDUCATION, PRIVACY, CHILD CUSTODY AND SUPPORT, CONSUMER FINANCE/CREDIT RESTORATION, AND VICTIMS' BILL OF RIGHTS/MARSYS LAW) TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND DATING VIOLENCE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS PRIORITY AREA 2: INCREASING LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, WITH LEGAL SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF NON-INTIMATE PARTNER SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPRISING AT LEAST 80% OF FUNDED ACTIVITIES. THE FOLLOWING PRODUCT WILL BE DEVELOPED DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD: A SEXUAL ASSAULT-SPECIFIC PUBLICATION (ENGLISH/SPANISH) ADDRESSING IDENTIFIED LEGAL NEEDS BASED ON VICTIM AND COMMUNITY INPUT.

TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE CHANGE WITHIN AND BETWEEN CCS SDRC AND DCS RESULTING IN INCREASED CAPACITY TO RESPOND TO SURVIVORS WITH DISABILITIES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE GRANTS TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, AND SEX TRAFFICKING AGAINST CHILDREN AND YOUTH PROGRAM SUPPORTS COMPREHENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS THAT DEVELOP OR EXPAND PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RESPONSE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, AND SEX TRAFFICKING, INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR THEIR NON-ABUSING PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND LEGAL GUARDIANS. WITH THIS FUNDING, THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (THE CENTER), A VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER, WILL IMPLEMENT THE HIGH TECH HEALTHY TODAYS HEALTHY TOMORROWS (HT3) PROJECT, TO ADDRESS PURPOSE AREA 3, SERVING YOUTH AGES 10-19 IN THE HT HIGH POINT LOMA VILLAGE SCHOOLS IN SAN DIEGO. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HIGH TECH (HT) HIGH INTERNATIONAL, HT HIGH MEDIA ARTS, HT HIGH SCHOOL, HT MIDDLE, HT MIDDLE MEDIA ARTS, AND THE SAN DIEGO LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER, THE CENTER AIMS TO: 1) INTEGRATELOCAL COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTS IN THE HT HIGH POINT LOMA VILLAGE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS WITH LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE, COMMUNITY-RESPONSIVE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND RESPONSE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND STALKING; 2) CONDUCT PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAMMING THAT TEACHES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, BUILDS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CAPACITY AND EMPATHY, AND DEVELOPS COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO CREATE CONDITIONS WHERE SAFETY AND EQUALITY EXIST; AND 3) EMBED LGBTQ EQUITY EFFORTS INTO PROJECT AND PARTNER STRUCTURES, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS DISCRIMINATORY AND PHOBIC ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES AND INCREASE SAFETY. THE PROJECT PERIOD FOR THIS AWARD IS 36 MONTHS.

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 HOPE TEAM: ENHANCED TRAINING AND SERVICES TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST AND ABUSE OF WOMEN LATER IN LIFE

CONNECTIONS INITIATIVE: COLLABORATIVE MODEL BETWEEN CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS (CCS) AND SAN DIEGO YOUTH & COMMUNITY