Supporting Marginalized Communities through Outreach and Overdose Prevention in Southwest New Mexico - Women in Leadership (WIL) will launch a one-year project starting in September 2024, aimed at supporting 150 participants through comprehensive programs that focus on mental health, substance use disorder, domestic violence, recidivism reduction, and family unity. The project targets detained women awaiting release, recently released women in early reentry, and high school students at risk. Project Description: The Women in Leadership (WIL) Empowerment and Support Program will serve 150 participants: 50 adult women detained and awaiting release, 50 adult women recently released or in early reentry, and 50 high-risk students/youth from local high schools. These participants come from diverse backgrounds, including African American, Hispanic, Indigenous, Immigrant, and Asian Pacific Islander communities, and face significant challenges such as displacement, income insecurity, domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse, and mental health issues. Strategies/Interventions: The project will implement bi-weekly teleECHO sessions, weekly life skills and job readiness classes, overdose prevention training, and one-on-one peer case management. Specific interventions for youth include suicide and gun prevention programs at five local high schools: Del Norte, Highland, La Cueva, Highland, and West Mesa. For the female incarcerated population, the program will provide weekly in-person training sessions (subject to Covid-19 restrictions) and monthly teleconference meetings over 36 weeks. Project Goals and Measurable Objectives: • Improve Mental Health and Well-being of Participants: Conduct 24 bi-weekly teleECHO sessions annually with at least 75% attendance and 80% positive feedback. Distribute 500 mental health educational materials. • Enhance Life Skills and Job Readiness: Develop two life skills and job readiness curricula, conduct 52 workshops annually with a 70% attendance rate and 80% positive feedback. Establish 10 partnerships to achieve a 30% employment rate among participants post-program. • Reduce Substance Abuse and Overdose Incidents: Conduct 52 overdose prevention and harm reduction training sessions annually, distribute 300 naloxone kits, and reduce overdose incidents by 10%. • Support Incarcerated Women with Reentry and Transition: Implement 36 weekly in-person training sessions and 12 monthly teleconferences annually, ensuring a 70% attendance rate. Provide reentry support to 50 participants, with 70% showing improvement in housing stability. • Provide Comprehensive Peer Case Management: Conduct at least 150 case management sessions annually, with 5 additional case managers trained and hired. • Increase Awareness and Advocacy Skills: Distribute 500 advocacy training materials and conduct 12 advocacy workshops annually with 80% positive feedback. • Strengthen Team Cohesion and Effectiveness: Conduct 4 team building sessions annually with a 90% staff satisfaction rate. Provide 12 professional development opportunities with 80% staff participation. • Ensure Project Accountability and Continuous Improvement: Hold 4 quarterly evaluation meetings annually, ensure 100% on-time submission of reports, and implement a data management system within 3 months with 90% accuracy in data tracking. By addressing these measurable objectives, the Women in Leadership project aims to provide comprehensive support that bridges existing service gaps, enhances participant outcomes, and fosters community well-being in Southwest New Mexico.
