Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
Project Summary: VOALA proposes to promote resilience and equity in South LA through 1) engaging a diverse coalition of stakeholders who will develop a needs assessment and strategic plan; 2) facilitating training for stakeholders on evidence-based practices; and 3) implementation of services to respond to identified needs, including behavioral health services, violence prevention services, and other culturally specific and developmentally appropriate strategies. Project Name: Volunteers of America of Los Angeles South LA ReCAST Populations to be Served: The project will serve residents of South LA (LA Service Planning Area 6), with an emphasis on youth and families. The population in South LA is primarily Hispanic (79%) and 18% Black. 31% of residents in South LA have incomes below the poverty line, and 44% of adults have less than a high school diploma. Strategies/Interventions: Strategies include: 1) Engaging a diverse coalition of stakeholders who will work together to develop a community-needs assessment and strategic plan; 2) facilitating training for community stakeholders on subjects including trauma-informed care, cultural competency and implicit bias reduction; and 3) implementation of services to respond to identified needs, including trauma-informed behavioral health services, evidence-based violence prevention services, positive youth development programming, and other culturally specific and developmentally appropriate strategies that address the needs of high-risk youth and families. Project Goals and Objectives: VOALA proposes to serve 525 individuals in Year 1 (375 through community engagement and 150 through partner trainings), and 600 individuals/year in Years 2-4 (50 through community engagement, 400 through direct client services, and 150 through partner trainings) for a total of 2,325 individuals served. VOALA has established the following goals and measurable objectives: 1) Increase community engagement amongst residents of South Los Angeles by engaging 375 individuals in needs assessment, strategic planning, and/or ongoing program meetings, as measured by the number of unduplicated individuals who participate in community assessment process and ongoing community planning meetings; 2) 80% of community members engaged during the needs assessment and/or strategic planning process will express an increased sense of ability to influence their community, as measured by pre-post-test surveys completed by community members; 3) 60% of youth/families engaged in direct participant services with identified behavioral health challenges will improve behavioral health functioning from program entry to exit, as measured by PHQ-9, GAD-7 and/or other evidenced-based tool at intake and exit; 4) 50% of youth and families engaged in direct participant services will show increased income from entry to exit, as measured by paystubs and/or public benefits award letters; 5) 60% of youth and families engaged in direct participant services with identified SUD issues will reduce substance abuse from program entry to exit, as measured by Addiction Severity Index or DAST-10 at intake and exit; 6) 80% of youth and families engaged in direct participant services will experience increased access to public/healthcare benefits from intake to exit, as measured by benefits award letters; and 7) 80% of participants in partner trainings will increase knowledge of trauma-informed approaches to services, as measured by pre-post tests administered at start and end of trainings.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
