Enhancing Language Access and Services for Austin Crime Victims

The FY 19 Enhancing Language and Other Access to Services Program seeks to enrich language access services for crime victims to break down barriers that prevent many individuals from reporting crimes and accessing the services they need after crime victimization. Funding will support the provision of direct services, the development of language access plans, and will expand the capacity of community-based organizations to address the needs of victims of crime who are blind, visually impaired, limted English proficient (LEP), Deaf or hard-of hearing.

The SAFE Alliance (SAFE), in Austin, Texas, will implement the Enhancing Language Access and Services for Austin Crime Victims project. The target population of this project is crime victims who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, Blind, or limited English proficient, in the service area of the City of Austin, and Travis County, in Texas. The primary crimes that SAFE’s project will address include domestic, family, and dating violence; sexual violence and assault; child abuse; sexual exploitation and trafficking; sexual harassment; stalking; and elder abuse. The goal of the project is to improve the capacity for SAFE and their collaborative partner, the Austin Police Department (APD), to provide accessible and inclusive services to Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, Blind, and LEP crime victims in Travis County. In addition to providing direct services to crime victims, SAFE will work with APD to improve and implement language access plans, and provide Language Access trainings for SAFE direct service staff and volunteers, APD Victim Services staff, and sworn and civilian personnel.

CA/NCF