Survivor Advocacy Initiative

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.

Through this award, CasaLuz will implement the Survivor Advocacy Initiative (SAI), a collaboration between three Memphis-based organizations: CasaLuz, Mid-South Immigration Advocates (MIA), and Kaufman Monroe Law, LLC. The project will expand legal services that are currently available to Spanish-speaking Latinx and Hispanic victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. SAI also will serve Spanish-speaking victims of other crimes within the community, such as victims of human trafficking, robbery, burglary, assault, elder abuse, DUI/DWI crashes, hate crimes, and family members of homicide victims. Through the SAI, CasaLuz and project partners will provide intake and analysis of clients’ needs for legal services, inform victims about their rights, collaborate with local law enforcement to improve services to victims, and provide referrals as needed. A minimum of 100 new, unduplicated survivors will be served during the 2-year project period.

CA/NCF