Project Description:
The need for improved services for victims and potential victims of interpersonal violence, who also experience a disability, is well documented. This project targets training and technical support to: (1) providers of domestic violence and sexual assault and to providers of community based services; and (2) women and men with disabilities who are, or may be, vulnerable to interpersonal violence. The focus is two-fold: cross-train providers in the disability and interpersonal violence provider communities to better serve victims with disabilities, and provide peer-to-peer training to develop awareness and skills that can translate into safer living in the community.
Continuing a Train-the-Trainer curriculum to provide cross-train disability service providers and victim advocates on appropriate responses to Trust beneficiaries who have been the victims of violence. This project will continue to support the initial cadre of trainers (16 from 10 communities) began to deliver the training for fiscal year 2007.
FY07 Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) funds were used to (1) expand the Train-the Trainer curriculum developed in 2006, (2) continue contracts with trainers who were trained in Fy06 for an additional 9 months and to deliver training to groups and communities not reached in FY06, (3) modify existing training materials for use by AMHTA beneficiaries, specifically those with cognitive and intellectual disabilities and to assist consumer groups, (3) provide ?Master Training? to six consumers covering safety planning, reporting, and understanding the criminal justice system and (4) to provide financial support to consumer groups (National Association for the Mentally Ill, People First, etc.) to provide this training.
Goals ?
? Develop curriculum related to disability specific information and support strategies to augment the Train the Trainer curriculum.
? Provide financial assistance to Specialized Trainers to provide training in their communities.
? Develop a Train the Trainer curriculum for use by AMHTA beneficiaries.
? Train and support consumers to deliver training.
The benefits of this project will be: (1) increased awareness among Alaskans with disabilities as to the risk factors of interpersonal violence and strategies for minimizing that risk; (2) increased capacity within the service providing communities to effectively serve victims with disabilities; (3) a curriculum for peers training peers to live safer in the community; (4) a revised curriculum for providers to more effectively and respectfully serve victims with disabilities.
