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HomeMy WebLinkAboutProject Narrative - City of Bozeman - Gallatin Project - January 2014 1 | Page PROJECT NARRATIVE Purpose of Application: The “Gallatin Project” is a group of criminal justice agencies, local victim advocacy organizations and community partners that serve to provide and enhance services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking throughout the 2,600 square miles encompassed by Gallatin County. 92,614 people live in the County (2012), 37,280 of who live in Bozeman. Since the 2000 Census, Bozeman’s population increased 35.5% and Gallatin County’s population increased 32%. Other population centers within Gallatin County include Belgrade (pop. 8,485; 8 miles west of Bozeman), Manhattan (pop. 1,649; 20 miles west of Bozeman) Three Forks (pop. 1,951; 30 miles west of Bozeman) and West Yellowstone (pop. 1,554; 91 miles south of Bozeman). Services will be provided to these communities, Bozeman and the 15,300 students of Montana State University. Through the past 15 years we have benefited from OVW funding to help provide a means to enhance our services and fill identified gaps. We are a current OVW funded grantee and have found the funding truly life-saving in terms of providing financial support where otherwise we would have gaps in our services. With continued support from OVW, our goal is to continue to build upon and expand our programs. Every year we’ve added partners to our program, expanded services to victims and introduced new ideas or concepts to better train, educate and provide comprehensive protection. We have formal, monthly Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) meetings attended by members of this project that include other organizations and justice agencies in our community. We have established formal protocols, but more importantly, built trusting relationships that allow us daily interaction, midnight phone calls and sharing of services to always find the best 2 | Page available support for our survivors. The Gallatin Project has a mix of multi-disciplinary partners that help us identify and fill voids that cannot be handled with a single dimensional approach. We have partners in the government arena that include prosecution, law enforcement and victim advocates. We have community partners in the form of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Human Resource Development Council (low income housing assistance), Guardian Ad Litem children advocacy, and Domestic Violence Advocacy and Sexual Assault Advocacy groups. Additional partnership with our local university police and university victim advocacy group helps address our campus population. Our victims have varied from the single mother, to the homeless to non- US citizens. Students account for a high percentage of our survivors, with their victimization occurring both on and away from campus. Our advocacy services help whether a victim is seeking criminal prosecution or just needs an attentive ear. Gaps: Our Gallatin Project has helped build solid working relationships with all partners to help address specific needs of each survivor. Each partner brings matching financial contributions beyond any funding by OVW. Volunteerism, other funding sources and local budgets support and fill 90% of the means to address victims. However, that last 10% can be difficult to find and often is the extra piece that helps us keep a victim safe. In our current OVW funding, and continued in this request, is funding for some of these ‘fill the gap’ areas. Identified gaps in services to victims: Obtaining appropriate housing to protect victims in crisis is a struggle. Our shelter only has 4 rooms and can accommodate 15 victims, but is often full to capacity. Since 2008, the shelter has increased from providing 421 bed nights to 65 survivors, to providing 2,511 bed nights for 129 survivors in 2013. Additionally, we have had male victims or mothers with older male children, where shelter is not appropriate. OVW funds have given us the ability to provide a safe haven to over 50 victims in hotel rooms when our 3 | Page shelter was not an option. A night or two in a hotel not only physically protects victim’s safety planning with advocates, but also givens then overall support in knowing someone cares. Transitional housing is another place we see a gap in our services. While we have funded emergency lodging at hotel rooms, we have found it difficult to provide housing beyond 48 hours. Transportation for victims is another gap where OVW funds have allowed us to provide much needed assistance. We have used funds to assist in getting victims to court and even to assist in relocating survivors safely away from their offender. In our rural and expansive county, public transportation is very limited. Transportation funds have been used for taxis and gas cards to assist victims in meeting with advocates and prosecutors or seeking other services. Additionally, having the ability to cover the travel costs of a victim living out of state to be present for trial allows us the opportunity to fully prosecute offenders, even in misdemeanor cases. In one case, having the funds and committing to bring a victim, her child who witnessed the assault, and the child’s guardian back to Montana for a trial, resulted in the Defendant changing his plea. Without access to funds for transportation, we would have been hamstrung to hold this abuser accountable. OVW provides for language interpretation services. Interpreters have been used during conversations with advocates, investigations by law enforcement and in court to provide testimony. Through the Gallatin Project, relationships have been formed with Montana State University to help assist with interpretation needs. We also access ‘language Line”, which provides three way interpreting services over the phone. Gallatin County is 97.3% Caucasian and for the majority of our population, English is spoken. To ensure we can serve all potential victims in our community, continued funding for language interpretation is essential. 4 | Page In the last two years we have developed an interdisciplinary response to Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault. Identifying this issue, training related to DFSA, and implementing a protocol was a great success for the Gallatin Project, costs related to expedite testing are high. OVW funding to assist with this essential testing is crucial for providing timely answers to victims and direction for investigators and prosecution and limited funding continues to be a gap. Identified gaps in personnel and staffing: OVW funding has allowed us to hire a prosecutor, victim advocate and legal advocate that we otherwise may not have been able to provide. Each of these positions provides a “fill in the gap”, allowing focused prosecution, direct advocacy for victims and assistance applying for and obtaining protection orders. These positions have proven invaluable to our successes thus far. In the current grant cycle we have identified additional areas where OVW funding can assist us in closing additional gaps in personnel. The Bozeman Deaconess Hospital is the only hospital in Gallatin County, and as such is an important partner in our response to victims of domestic and sexual violence. We have previously used a mix of hospital funds and OVW funds to train six Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs). However, SANEs complete their duties as an ancillary assignment and are not always available for immediate response to complete a forensic examination. Our request includes funding for on-call pay to allow a response plan that helps ensure a SANE is available for quick response. We have further identified the need for a part time Coordinated Community Response Associate to help ensure our team communication and liaison efforts are fulfilled and support our overall goals and objectives. In our busy worlds of serving survivors within our individual organizations, we want and need someone to help provide a unified focus and keep all of us working in the same direction of victim care. This position is not a coordinator or director, but 5 | Page rather someone who can help provide communication and liaison to all partners of the grant, ensure resources can be shared and serve as a central pivot point or hub for all services. Expansion of Services: In our most recent report to the Department of Justice, Office of Violence against Women, we provided a wide range of services in just one 6 month period. 290 victims were fully (283) or partially (7) served, with 264 female victims served. 224 of these were domestic violence related. We served 133 secondary victims and answered 537 hotline calls. Our legal advocate assisted with 99 temporary or permanent orders of protection, with 79 granted. Our prosecutor received 33 cases for prosecution and accepted 32 of them. Only 3 of these resulted in acquittal or dismissal by the courts. A total of 320 professionals were trained and we provided community education to another 561 persons. This is just a 6 month period of the grant and represents only a portion of the victims served over the entire 3 year period, not to mention the 15 years previous. Emergency lodging, training and education programs are often viewed by local government or funding sources as “luxury” items and tends to be underfunded. We have found these to be essential for the safety of our victims and vital to the effectiveness of our professionals. Without OVW funding, much of the above described services would be diminished or not provided at all. Our goal is to effectively expand our efforts and services in order to support segments of our population that w have identified as underserved. Populations we see as underserved in Gallatin County include lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, queer or questioning (LGTBQ) population, particularly those attending Montana State University, and a growing population of immigrant victims. There is a need for multi-lingual education materials, direct outreach and advocacy efforts to assist these populations. 6 | Page We also have a need to provide more services to other municipal locations within Gallatin County, ranging as far away as 90 miles from Bozeman. Each of these locations has a need for training of local law enforcement, prosecutors, direct services for victims, and education to community members and volunteers. Continued gaps exist in finding and providing quality training for our professionals and generally require travel to a larger community in another state to receive this training. Within Bozeman itself, we anticipate in the next three to five years a new municipal court/police facility at a location several miles from our existing victim services office. We are requesting additional funds to help support hiring an additional legal and victim advocate to ensure no victim goes un-served. A walk across a hallway can be a mile for a victim in crisis. A drive across town to get help can be insurmountable. Our current project is currently funded through September 30, 2014 with OVW funding. There will not be duplication of efforts, but rather quite the contrary. This funding will ensure our current, quality program continues and we can expand and enhance our services and programs to be even more effective. What will be done: Our goals and objectives are driven by the vision that binds all members of our Gallatin Project: Victim safety is the keystone of this proposal and is reflected in project goals: GOAL 1: Protect all victims from further harm by dealing directly, effectively and immediately with every reported occurrence of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, violation of civil orders of protection, and stalking throughout Gallatin County. Establish and sustain a community where our entire community is free from fear of violence, sexual assault and intimidation. 7 | Page Goal 1 - Objective 1: Provide access to Legal Advocacy, regardless of whether a victim has reported to law enforcement or to a non-profit advocacy group and regardless of whether a separate prosecution is commenced. Ensure all victims requesting orders of protection are given the assistance and guidance to obtain temporary or permanent orders as appropriate. Ensure legal advocate works closely with criminal justice victim advocate, prosecutors and law enforcement to ensure the orders of protection are obtained, served and applicable safety plans are completed. EXPECTED OUTCOME is a coordinated effort to provide no-contact or protection orders to help protect a victim from their offender. Goal 1 - Objective 2: Provide trained, specialized prosecutor to prosecute criminal violations related to domestic violence, stalking, violations of orders of protection, and sexual assault. During the three years of the grant this Prosecutor will: (i) continue to prosecute all domestic violence related misdemeanor offenses which occur within the City of Bozeman and on the campus of the Montana State University; (ii) serve as liaison consultant to other area prosecutors to assist with their particular challenges; (iii) continue to develop the technical ability to prosecute offenses regardless of victim participation; (iv) continue to work with and train law enforcement on best practices for investigations and evidence collection; (v) develop expert witnesses for use in hearings and trials; and (vi) participate in Gallatin Project educational efforts. EXPECTED OUTCOME is improved prosecution of offenders, holding offenders accountable and providing long term safety for victims. Assistance to other partners to improve their services through interaction with fully trained prosecutor. 8 | Page Goal 1 - Objective 3: Identify, adopt or revise existing policies that enhance victim safety; with a specific focus on underserved populations, to include immigrant victims and victims who self- identify as LGTBQ population. These policies will include review and enhancement of existing SART and DVRT protocols or practices. EXPECTED OUTCOME is improved victim safety for all survivors, to include improved ability and desire to report abuse and a better understanding and approach to assisting underserved populations. Goal 1 - Objective 4: Provide for emergency and transitional housing for victim’s safety. EXPECTED OUTCOME is ensuring survivors have a safe location where they are protected from their abuser. Goal 1 - Objective 5: Provide counseling services for primary and secondary victims. EXPECTED OUTCOME is improved mental well-being of survivors by providing guidance in addressing and coping with their fears and concerns. Goal 1 - Objective 6: Provide language and hearing impaired translation services for victims, as needed, to include similar services to witnesses if necessary for investigation and prosecution or for courtroom testimony. EXPECTED OUTCOME is to have improved communication with victims to ensure their needs are addressed and related investigations and prosecutions are improved and more likely to be successful. 9 | Page Goal 1 - Objective 7: Provide necessary transportation for victims to obtain services, provide courtroom testimony, provide for themselves or travel to a safe location. EXPECTED OUTCOME is that victims will receive the services they need and be more likely and able to safely participate and assist in follow-up investigations, prosecution and court proceedings. Goal 1 - Objective 8: Provide for expedited testing of suspected Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault evidence to enhance ability to focus related law enforcement investigation, help maintain cooperation from victims and provide timely and necessary evidence for prosecution of offenders. EXPECTED OUTCOME is to quickly provide an answer to a victim on whether they have had illicit drugs introduced into their bodies against their will and improve investigations by law enforcement and prosecution efforts. GOAL #2: Expand capacities to identify, assess and appropriately respond to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking throughout Gallatin County while sustaining and enhancing services currently provided to ALL victims of violence against women. Goal 2 - Objective 1: The Community Coordinated Response Associate (CCR Associate) will provide a greater organization in planning and education, development of coordinated policies and practices, and informing all partners of updates and changes as it relates to SART and DVRT efforts. EXPECTED OUTCOME is improved coordination between all partners of this project, to include improved communication, understanding of available resources and one-person liaison to ensure all shared products satisfy the needs of all partners and support the Project goals and objectives. 10 | Page Goal 2 - Objective 2: The Community Education Associate will identify and provide education or serve as liaison to arrange education by other project partners at least two times per month. This associate will work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies to at least 200 persons per year on topics related to identification, prevention or support regarding victimization from domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, court orders of protection, and stalking. EXPECTED OUTCOME is an improved understanding by our community of the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault. Improved support for survivors and an increase in reporting of abuse. Goal 2 - Objective 3: Strengthen Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) expertise and availability by providing training of existing or new SANEs and providing on-call pay for more immediate and timely response. This will ensure a trained SANE is available to properly gather forensic evidence and minimize additional mental trauma to the victim. EXPECTED OUTCOME is improved availability of trained SANEs to lower the stress and embarrassment of victims and provide stronger, more legally defensible, forensic evidence for related court procedures. Goal 2 - Objective 4: Provide advanced training to members of the Gallatin Project on current or new best practices regarding domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, violations of orders of protection, and dating violence. EXPECTED OUTCOME is a more comprehensive understanding of best practices for all partners and disciplines in their response to victim needs. 11 | Page Goal 2 - Objective 5: Hire additional legal advocate and criminal justice victim advocate in year three of the grant to continue services at current levels in response to the relocation of municipal law enforcement, prosecution, and courts to a new location several miles from the current advocacy and victim services offices and projected growth in our overall service population. EXPECTED OUTCOME is ensuring a legal advocate and criminal justice victim advocate are readily available throughout the Project area and victims get the services and safety they need. Goal 2 - Objective 6: Provide additional cameras and recording devices to all area law enforcement, especially smaller, more rural agencies, to ensure the gathering of evidence such as photographs and recordings of statements of victims, witnesses, and offenders are done in the best manner to support eventual prosecution. EXPECTED OUTCOME is to ensure law enforcement officers have the technology tools they need to properly gather audio, video and photographic evidence to support related investigations and prosecutions, help protect victims and hold offenders accountable. Goal 2 - Objective 7: Develop and enhance relationships with local low-income housing organizations to find and provide immediately available, long term housing for victims. EXPECTED OUTCOME is providing victims with a more stable, long-term safe place to live. 12 | Page Goal 2 - Objective 8: Identify gaps or deficiencies in service and work collaboratively to find and establish a solution to those gaps as identified. This would include meetings between Gallatin Project partners, the use of surveys, such as those found at the Office of Justice Programs, conducting forums with our community. EXPECTED OUTCOME is improved response to victim needs and ensuring that newly identified gaps in service are being addressed. Timeline and Tasks: Mo Assign to: Task 1 Project Director Upon notice of funding award, Director will conduct meeting with Gallatin Project Consortium (GPC) to review roles, responsibilities, commitments, goals, objectives, staffing plan and work plan. Subsequent meetings will be conducted at least quarterly to review progress towards goals and objectives. 1 City Attorney Develop and execute contracts with sub-recipients participating in and receiving funding through the project. Ensure prosecutor is trained and in place to prosecute offenses in fulfillment of this grant. 1 HAVEN/SACC Ensure Legal Advocate is trained and in place to assist victims 1 Gallatin County Ensure Criminal Justice Advocate is hired and in place to assist victims 1 SACC/HAVEN Ensure CE-CCR Associate is trained and in place and duties assigned 1 CCR Associate Identify and educate all partners on access to hearing and language translators 1 ALL Review existing brochures and education materials to determine needs to change, enhance or replace current materials ALL ALL Ensure all duties and services provided are in support of GOALS and OBJECTIVES and related reporting requirements are being met. ALL ALL Attend and participate in monthly SART/DVRT meetings and other meetings or collaborative efforts as identified. 2-3 MSU Voice+ Review and identify Immigrant and LGTBQ underserved needs and establish plan to address education and service delivery 4 LE Identify and purchase specific audio and video recording equipment. 13 | Page 4 ALL Complete semi-annual report 4 ALL Identify advanced training needs for LE, Prosecution and Advocate for attendance in months 5-12, as training available 5 Project Director Attend financial management seminar 7 ALL Conduct initial review of existing SART/DVRT protocols for areas to address underserved or enhance services 8 Hospital Complete advance SANE training for current or new SANEs 10 ALL Complete Semi-Annual Report 11- 12 ALL Review first year progress as a team and identify and establish 2 and 3 year education plan and areas of practice or policy that need enhancement or adjustment Year 2 Complete similar schedule as listed for months 1-12, year one. 21 City/Gallatin Co Ensure hiring material is prepared and advertising done to hire additional Criminal Justice Victim Advocate 21 HAVEN Ensure Program Manager is prepared to assist in year 3 of project. 24 City/Gallatin County/ HAVEN Hire additional Criminal Justice Victim Advocate and assign Program Director to assist in legal advocacy. Year 3 Complete similar schedule as listed for months 1-12, year one. 36 City Complete final report of grant Training: All training attended by project staff will be OVW-sponsored. After receiving OVW training, project staff will incorporate what they’ve learned into their individual organization trainings, practices and briefings. Members attending these training opportunities will include. • Members of the Gallatin Project. • City of Bozeman, Montana State University, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and other sworn law enforcement officers from local jurisdictions. • City of Bozeman prosecutor. • Gallatin County prosecutor. • Victim Service Providers throughout Gallatin County. • MSU campus community. 14 | Page As soon as funding is made available, the Project Director will identify specific training opportunities available through OVW for FY’s 2014-2016. The Gallatin Project has prioritized the following areas for additional training: • Sexual assault investigative techniques that protect victim safety while ensuring accountability for offenders. • Advance training for prosecutors, especially for stalking, domestic violence and sexual assault. • Community outreach, advocacy and education designed to overcome barriers to reporting and enhance community awareness regarding victim safety and confidentiality; and the need for offender accountability. • Methodology for establishing collaboration with courts without threatening court autonomy. • Enhancement of existing or future Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. • Continuing and accessible technical assistance from OVW on all of the above. As soon as training is received in any of the above areas, we will work with the Community Education Specialist and VOICE Director to develop training modules. Training modules will be practiced and tailored to specific audiences. Teaching aids such as brochures, Power-Point presentations, posters, etc. will be developed in coordination with the module content. All training will include post-session evaluation by participants. Products: Products developed through this project include brochures, posters and social-media/web- site postings. Victim safety will be the primary focus during the design and distribution of all 15 | Page products. When appropriate, multi-lingual products will be developed. Separate brochures will be designed for target populations including: • General community to increase awareness and generate advocacy. • Actual and potential victims of violence against women. • Members of the LGTBQ community at risk for violence against women. • Immigrant populations at risk for violence against women. Posters will be designed and distributed to announce community meetings and training. A mix of dissemination will be done, including electronic and printed forms to maximize the target audience of the messaging in the products. To the fullest extent possible, distribution will be through electronic media. Victim Safety and Autonomy: Ensuring victim safety is the highest priority of all members of the Gallatin Project. Preserving confidentiality is a cornerstone of victim safety and is the inviolable duty of everyone serving victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. Many members of the Gallatin Project are signatory to the Sexual Assault Response Team Protocol, as well as the Domestic Violence Response Team. We provide services to victims, regardless of whether they are requesting prosecution or not, helping to remove one of the barriers often confronting victims. Confidentiality and safety is preserved in other forms, such as providing emergency lodging at a local motel without need for providing a name or checking in. Track phones are provided to ensure victims can communicate and transportation is provided for those victims in need. Other keys to safety include issuing and enforcing orders of protection. The Legal Advocate will be providing all information about obtaining an order of protection, assisting with 16 | Page the completion of the petition, assisting in filing the order in the correct court, ensuring the client knows the outcome of the petition, arranging for service of the order of protection, preparing the petitioner for the hearing and attending the hearing for support. The process of obtaining orders of protection can be daunting, and it is crucial to have someone assisting the client through each step, especially since their life could depend on it. In addition to covering all of the steps from inception of the order to adjudication at the hearing, the Legal Advocate and Victim Advocate will help with meeting the client’s additional needs, such as housing, emergency income and childcare providers. All of HAVEN’s programs provide wraparound services necessary for living a life free from abuse. All signatories to the Project’s Memorandum of Understanding have policies in place for the protection of victims including physical safety within their facilities. Services provided by MSU VOICE, SACC and HAVEN emphasize victim choice and autonomy. Many victims are provided counseling and education regarding the legal system; and many receive the support services such as emergency shelter and childcare that give them the ‘breathing room’ to consider options. Funding of this proposal will expand these opportunities for victims and enhance the autonomy of all women and men served through this project. Instruments of local government, especially law enforcement, prosecution and courts, are not only dedicated to protecting the safety of victims, they are determined to hold offenders accountable. Persuasive arguments are made that the safety and autonomy of victims increase in direct proportion to the degree to which offenders are held accountable. The City of Bozeman, Gallatin County and City of Belgrade, amongst others, accept the immense responsibility of protecting victims by holding offenders accountable. 17 | Page Who Will Implement the Project: This project’s highest priority is to ensure we continue to provide and enhance the coordinated community response we have developed over the past two decades. While we are asking for funding as it relates to several staff positions, each comes with a matching in-kind share and a sustainment plan that allows our program to continue beyond this grant period. Funding is requested for a share of a full-time Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Prosecutor assigned to the City of Bozeman. Having a prosecutor focused primarily on domestic violence related cases provides immediate and focused response to officers, victims, and advocates as new domestic violence cases arise. The City of Bozeman’s commitment to sustain this project in coming years is demonstrated by the City’s current 50% match. By the end of FY16, the City will assume full pay for this position. Funding is also requested for a 65% share of a Legal Advocate assigned to HAVEN. An additional 25% match to the Program Manager is requested in year three to help with anticipated additional legal advocacy needs and the opening of the new municipal court/police facility. Both the Legal Advocate and Program Manager will provide assistance in obtaining orders of protection, assist with training and education and coordinate with other Gallatin Project members. Both the Legal Advocate and Program Manager will complete OVW domestic violence and sexual assault training programs, as available, and attend all training provided by the Gallatin Project on laws affecting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Our current Legal Advocate and Program Manager have been serving in their positions for nearly three years. As with the prosecutor, we have hired an additional Criminal Justice Victim Advocate to focus on advocacy for victims where their cases generally involve prosecution and/or law 18 | Page enforcement involvement. This Criminal Justice Victim Advocate will provide advocacy and coordinate victims’ services for all victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking who either contact the City or County directly or are referred by another member of the Gallatin Project. This Criminal Justice Victim Advocate will complete OVW domestic violence and sexual assault training programs, as available, and attend all training provided by the Gallatin Project on laws affecting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Our current criminal justice advocate has been serving in this position for two years. Currently, Gallatin County and the City of Bozeman pays 50% match for the position. By the end of FY16, these agencies will assume full pay for this position. We are adjusting a current full time Community Education position to 50% education and 50% Coordinate Community Response duties, or a CE-CCR Associate. We anticipate a more central, focused person to ensure our team can better communicate, share resources and complete products or policy changes that improve or affect the entire team. As a team, we have already received some specialized training and policies regarding Coordinated Community Response and how to improve upon existing practices. We currently have a person serving in this role, who has two years experience on our team in education. In the community education role, this position will assist with the development of all training and education modules, help ‘trained trainers’ with presentations, export training throughout Gallatin County, and serve as the primary presenter for community outreach and advocacy. Each agency already has at least one representative serving in a liaison role, with the newest additions to the Gallatin Project coming from the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Belgrade Police Department. Every partner agrees to attend OVW-sponsored training, when available, and incorporate technical assistance to develop best practices and improve protection 19 | Page of survivors. Every partner will help to coordinate the development and implementation of policies, protocols and procedures for the enhanced protection of victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence and Stalking. How Underserved Populations will be addressed: This proposal identifies two specific underserved populations: LGBTQ individuals and Immigrants. Individuals that come from different backgrounds and cultures are especially reticent to report because they fear they may be blamed, discriminated against, or even forced to leave their community or the country. The Gallatin Project hopes to address these fears by using education to create a “no wrong entry” model. Our anticipated outcome is: Regardless of where or how an Immigrant or LGBTQ victim seeks help they will be treated with dignity, respect and cultural sensitivity. It is additionally our hope that in engaging these two groups we can create a basic response model in our county that can be applied to any culturally specific or underserved group. Gallatin County is currently experiencing an increase in immigrant populations, especially the Hispanic population. Montana’s Hispanic population is 2.9%. According to the 2010 Census, three towns in Gallatin County exceed the State’s population average, the highest being nearly 17.4%. We also estimate, consistent with national studies, that about 10% of our population identifies as LGBTQ. We believe that an intensive educational effort is needed to create a common understanding of the situation and to implement common response. Towards this end we propose to: • Train disciplines on Immigration-safe resources to ensure each discipline understands local, state, and federal policies regarding information sharing about immigration. 20 | Page Provide training updates to disciplines on LGBTQ safe resources and local, state, and federal policies. • Educate the public about services that are provided to everyone regardless of immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. • Promote what services are available from community based service providers to the public in places that encounter immigrant and LGBTQ individuals including schools and medical providers. • Create materials that provide information and resources about Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking targeted towards Immigrant and LGBTQ populations, and assure that multi-lingual materials are translated accurately and appropriately. • Gallatin County’s Domestic Violence Response Team and Sexual Assault Response Team will review and discuss how to formalize possible remedies. Training on best practices activities, such as the use of the U-Visa certification form created by VAWA 2000 to provide relief for immigrant victims of crime, will be introduced and implemented through the Response Teams. The Gallatin Project hopes that through education, outreach and policy enhancements to and about underserved populations that victims will be able to enter (and exit) feeling safe, respected and having their needs met.