The ACANA FGMC project will promote community involvement to address Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting through increase services, education and community partner engagement at the community level.

Proposal Abstract

Legal Name of Applicant: African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc. (ACANA)
 

Title of Project: BAOBAB ROOTS (ACANA FGMC Project)
 

Description of Population(s) to be served: New immigrant and refugee women and girls resettled from sub-Saharan Africa and now residing in Philadelphia, PA, who come from countries where FGM/C is a tradition strongly upheld for generations and therefore are under intense pressure to continue to uphold that tradition even in the U.S.
 

Size of population to be served: 450 women and girls during the three year program period.
 

List of Project Partners: Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s African Diaspora Health Initiative, Warren E. Smith Health System, and Liberian Women United in Progress.
 

High-level Overview of Project Activities: 

ACANA project staff and trained peer educators will lead 15 home-based informative small group meetings on FGM/C to at least 150 African refugee and immigrant women.
ACANA project staff and peer educators will facilitate clinic and mental health center appointments for victims/survivors of FGM/C to culturally competent and FGM/C informed health providers for a minimum of 50 women who present medical and emotional health issues due to FGM/C.
Five training sessions on the issue of FGM/C will be provided to at least 20 behavioral and medical health care providers serving the target area.

Federal Amount Requested for the 36-month project period: $292,712.52